There were 58,220 fatal American casualties during the Vietnam war, according to the Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File. (DCAS)

When we soldiers of the Vietnam war came home, unbeknown to us,, we brought something terrible back home with us. What we brought home with us has killed more than 300,000 of us since the end of the Vietnam war.

That terrible substance that we encountered was the most toxic substance known to man. Dioxin, the contaminant contained in Agent Orange is the culprit, Dioxin is totally man made and does not occur in nature. I was assigned the duty of searching for the optimum mixture of agent orange with diesel fuel and testing for the optimum spray rates on various landscapes and soils.

The US used the herbicide, Agent Orange, to kill jungle vegetation, so we could see the enemy approaching. We also used herbicide blue and white to kill crops, because the North Vietnamese had few supply lines and therefore lived off of the land.

Those of us who survive, deal with the life long effects of the the chemical compounds identified as 24D-245T every day. Our futures are predictable. We understand and accept the fact that we were expendable, and thus we are a part of the cost of war and freedom. We we would do it all over again for God, country, and family.

I signed on the dotted line, I joined. I did my patriotic duty, but I never knew that it would someday erase part of my DNA and be passed down to my children and their children for generations to come. I didn’t agree to that.

In 1967, I contracted Chloracne. that particular condition has eaten me alive, and is only associated with agent orange, ( dioxin) exposure). In 1997 I faced two heart attacks, My kidneys have crashed, At this time I am existing with the aid of my fifth implants AICD implanted device. In 2020 My body was reconstructed from my knees to my lower stomach. I have lost the use of my feet due to the agent orange exposure. Last week portions of my feet were amputated. Before this week is done, I will be institutionalized in a Tennessee State veterans home for a while.

I still ask myself, do I measure up in my community and my fellow veterans, and have I given all that I was asked to give? I know that there are others who have given so much more, to include some of my friends who gave all.

When I am around other veterans, I feel like a guppy amongst whales and I am compelled to do more.

James M. Cripps, SP-5, US Army,1967-1970

All reactions:

6Jim Cripps, Sandra Red Gregory and 4 others