Unfinished Business: The Wake of Agent Orange

The Cleveland Plain Dealer staff , has published a six part series of reports in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on the still lasting effects of the defoliants we used in our destruction of Vietnam. Reports from Vietnam as well as about the daughter of a brother Vietnam Veteran.

Unfinished Business: Suffering and sickness in the endless wake of Agent Orange

Nick Ut, The Vietnam Reporting ProjectFear of deformities from exposure to Agent Orange drives expectant mothers to storefront clinics like this one in downtown Hanoi, where many undergo multiple ultrasounds without doctors' referrals.

January 30, 2011 - Vietnam and the United States have a common enemy.

Its name is Agent Orange.

From 1962 to 1971, the U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of the herbicide, which contained the toxic chemical dioxin, to defoliate the jungles and forests that gave cover to Ho Chi Minh's northern forces in what was then South Vietnam.

At least 4.5 million Vietnamese, and the 2.5 million Americans who served there, may have been exposed to Agent Orange. These numbers do not reflect the possible impact on future generations. {continued}

Unfinished Business

Suffering and sickness in the endless wake of Agent Orange

* Part 1: The Vietnam War ended but a silent threat from Agent Orange remained

* Part 2: Friendship Village provides support to people affected by Agent Orange

* Part 3: Agent Orange leads Heather Bowser to connect with her father's past in Vietnam

Heather Bowser still haunted by Agent Orange Heather Bowser describes herself as a child of Agent Orange. Bowser, who was born without several fingers and is missing part of her right leg, is convinced the cause was Agent Orange. Her father, Bill Morris, fought in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange. Bowser is haunted by the aftermath of Agent Orange and visited Vietnam to meet other second-generation Vietnamese who also suffer from the same birth defects.

* Part 4: Agent Orange leaves its mark on the life of Heather Bowser

* Part 5: Heather Bowser, children touched by Agent Orange find a common bond in Friendship Village

* Part 6: Ending the lingering threat of Agent Orange begins with awareness

Related stories

* Mushroom Farm gives women veterans a place, a purpose, a life

* Agent Orange leaves behind a toxic footprint

* Background on how the report was constructed

* Vietnam War Chronology

* Good Morning, Vietnam: Connie Schultz (Parade.com)

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Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign