Veterans of the war in Vietnam have faced many challenges that extended beyond their time in the combat zone. Too many of these great Americans have died decades too early from issues that attacked them after they returned home. As if the enemy they faced in battle and the societal enemies they faced back at home were not enough, their war would not end easily.
Post Traumatic Stress would haunt them as they attempted to reintegrate into civilian life. The enemy they faced was not only brutal on the field of battle, but also with their use of booby traps of all sorts, unconventional warfare tactics, and the use of civilians to kill for them has kept veterans awake at night to this day. The use of Agent Orange, a defoliant used to clear jungle vegetation, would be found to bring cancer to our veterans later in life.
As with their other issues, our government has been slow to respond to the needs of those that fought for our freedoms. The battle over Agent Orange was a long one, beginning in the late 70’s and being worked over with settlements in the 80’s that did little for the veterans themselves. A completely disabled veteran was to receive $12,000 over the course of ten years. A widow of an affected veteran would receive a paltry $3,700. This was just another example of the veteran paying more than once for our freedoms.
To read the rest of this article – pick up a copy of this weeks Fulda Free Press or subscribe to our e-edition at http://eedition.fuldafreepress.net/sub/account_login.asp
