Vietnam vets expect victory in Agent Orange battle

"05.10.2004, 1.00pm
After a 20-year fight, Vietnam veterans are expecting to hear MPs admit on Wednesday that exposure to Agent Orange in the 1960s affected the health of soldiers and their children. JULIA MAHONY of NZPA traces their battle for vindication.

New Zealanders who served in the Vietnam War say they have known for years that sprays of Agent Orange were linked to spina bifida, cancer, blindness, skin disorders and birth defects in them and their children.

Over 20 years, successive governments and Health Ministry-reviewed reports have denied a connection between the defoliant and sick veterans, even claiming New Zealanders were never close enough to be exposed to Agent Orange sprayed from American planes.

On Wednesday, MPs will report the findings of a year-long parliamentary inquiry, which is widely expected to confirm the troops were exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals, and that it harmed their health.

The inquiry was given new evidence which said soldiers did serve in an area defoliated by the United States, and were stationed close to where up to 350 spraying missions were probably carried out.



Veterans hope the parliamentary health select committee report will recommend free medical checks and that extra medical costs be paid for their health problems, on top of those already paid through the war disability pension.

But a crucial acknowledged link between Agent Orange and veterans' health could also open the way for compensation claims.

Mr Moller indicated to NZPA that individual veterans may have a case for punitive damages through the civil courts.

One veteran, John Jennings, 60, has already taken a case for compensation to the War Pensions Appeal Board.

His daughter Marakech, 30, is awaiting a heart-lung transplant, and has asthma, eczema, curvature of the spine.

Mr Jennings is blind in one eye and his grandson has a rare form of cyst on an eye.

"Politicians have to learn that they don't take servicemen for granted," he told the Herald on Sunday.

Many veterans just want an apology and the record set straight, after the previous reports which appeared to rubbish their claims of being close to Agent Orange showers."

New Zealand News: Vietnam vets expect victory in Agent Orange battle

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Hope they win. It�s about time justice is served.
They don�t deserve to be treated like this.

Hmmm. overwhelming support for this thread...
Anyway, Here�s the result:

Vets were exposed to Agent Orange, committee finds.

"New Zealand's Vietnam veterans have finally received official acknowledgement that they were exposed to Agent Orange.

Parliament's health select committee today released the findings of its inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliants.

"Overwhelmingly, the committee accepted that New Zealand Vietnam veterans were exposed to a very toxic environment," committee chairwoman Steve Chadwick said.

"That's our key recommendation for the Government to consider."

However, the committee stopped short of recommending compensation or an apology, saying most veterans who made submissions simply wanted acknowledgement."



"The committee made nine recommendations for the Government to consider:

* that it accept New Zealand's Vietnam veterans were exposed to a toxic environment;

* that it publicly acknowledge that successive governments have failed to recognise that Vietnam veterans were exposed to a toxic environment during their service;

* that it ensure all children of Vietnam veterans are entitled to reimbursement of extra costs associated with medical treatment for any condition listed as being related to dioxin exposure, and that any future needs are met should that list expand;

* that it establish a fund to support New Zealand-based scrutiny, analysis, surveillance and monitoring of international research literature on health outcomes resulting from dioxin exposure;

* that Veterans Affairs New Zealand develop an information package that clearly advises Vietnam veterans about their entitlement to pensions and other services, and how to access them;

* that Veterans Affairs be responsible for a campaign to inform health professionals about the specific health needs of Vietnam veterans, based on the presumption they were exposed to a toxic environment;

* that Veterans Affairs compile a list of health professionals conversant with the specific health needs of Vietnam veterans and give it to all veterans;

* that Veterans Affairs monitors the list of diseases and conditions which may have been caused by herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War and updates it regularly; and

* that it ensure a lead government agency maintains an overview of the commissioning of research when that research covers multiple policy areas to ensure there are clear and specific terms of reference.

The Government has 90 days to respond to the report."

Vets were exposed to Agent Orange, committee finds

Click link above for full article from New Zealand News...

If their government has to pay out to their vet's for agent orange exposure it will open up a whole can of worms with the depleted uranium exposure in our servicemen and women in this generation. I wish them all good luck, cuz they are going to need it. It's a shame the military uses all these great new types of military weapons and leading edge technologies knowing the side effects are going to be felt first hand by the citizens serving in the military. They have to test this stuff out before deploying it into the field you would think. So i'm sure they knew agent orange was bad before spraying it all over the jungles of vietnam while our troops were hiking it under the canopy of the forests. Think they cared....na I doubt it. And we all know anything with uranium in it can't be good for the environment or human body. But why pay to store it when you can dump it everywhere in enemy territory free of charge. Great concept

"Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange have finally got the acknowledgement they have sought for 30 years but are now warning they may sue for compensation.

Parliament's health select committee today released the findings of its inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliants.

It concluded that evidence considered during the past 18 months demonstrated "beyond doubt" that New Zealand defence personnel were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides."

The New Zealand Herald: Agent Orange legal action possible
Click link above for full article...

Originally posted by Natas313
If their government has to pay out to their vet's for agent orange exposure it will open up a whole can of worms with the depleted uranium exposure in our servicemen and women in this generation.

I guess you�re right.
And I wonder if this case will have any influence on the US vet�s...

Latest...

Appeal Against Decision by Agent Orange Victims Lodged (by submission)