Hi- I am a mother of a 28 yr old child of a vietnam vet who is at the end. I have been to hell and back severl times and it doesn't end. At this point I don't care if this war was right or wrong--I just want to know if my son was another victim or if I totally messed up somewhere. I have done some research- his fathers death was directly linked to agent orange..But I never even heard of agent orange until he died. When I googled "psycological problems of children of vietnam veterans" most info went to this website. I love my country but we tend to neglect what we do not want to accept. When he was two and we went walking he would scream if another child would approach and I mean scream in fear. I feel I'm either making too much of this or I don't know..I would like to hear from others on this..is this just the price of all wars or just ones with chemicals involved?

It's quite possible. The United States used the chemicals in Vietnam. Many generations of Vietnamese children have been affected. Their lives have been destroyed by the effects, which are described below briefly in the wikipedia article.

"The U.S. Veterans Administration has listed prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple myeloma, type II diabetes, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida in children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange as possible side effects of their parent's exposure to the herbicides."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Use_of_chemical_defoliants

"I love my country but we tend to neglect what we do not want to accept."

True and it's a great shame.

"is this just the price of all wars or just ones with chemicals involved?"

For widespread generational and genetic damage, I would say any war that uses toxic chemicals or radoactive materials has this price.

"I just want to know if my son was another victim or if I totally messed up somewhere."

Hmm..only some specialists could determine the causes of your son's illness. And even then, you may need several expert opinions. There has been general political denialism over the decades for problems like this as well. Sometimes the truth only come out years or decades later.

Lindasandrew, I have taken a considerable interest in dioxins and other organo-chlorinated pollutants and I truly feel for you if your son's condition is related to his father's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

There is much to be learnt from the Seveso chemical disaster in Italy in 1976 and the Bhopal one in India.

Unfortunately, irresponsible governments, (including ours) prefer to remain in denial.

These catastrophes are a result of science gone mad and as usual involves Dow and Monsanto who, after these disasters, endeavour to squirm and wriggle out of paying compensation.

The USA as well, have declined to compensate the Vietnamese and their affected children, for the hideous results they have incurred from the spraying of Agent Orange.

The man-made chemical, dioxin is the most toxic known to man. This chemical has now pervaded every eco system on the planet and every human being is now contaminated to varying degrees.

Do not believe that Australian regulations are any better. I have been formally objecting for years over the Departments of Environment failure to regulate the uncontrolled, unmitigated release of dioxins from poorly combusted industrial stacks. I have witnessed reports which exceed the EU's "safe" emissions' limits by 10 times.

The lack of regulation has also seen the ghastly 2001 Bellevue chemical fire in WA - biggest in its history, managed by the Dept. of Environment and I shudder to think of the amount of dioxins released and still bioaccumulating, from that disaster. The subsequent parliamentary enquiry's recommendations have been totally ignored.

These chemicals are transboundary in nature and deposition can occur many thousands of miles from the source.

I suggest you access the following informative papers on dioxins:

www.safealternatives.org/report.html

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs104.html

Good luck and best wishes for a happier outcome for you and your son.

Hello there <lindasandrew...

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles with your grown son. Dealing with these sorts of issues, without the support and substantial assistance of your husband, certainly doesn't make it any easier for you, either.

I'm a vet, and I've got many health issues too. However, I don't believe that I was ever exposed to the dreaded AO. Many of my former mates were, and sadly, I've noted the steady decline in their general health. A couple of years ago I lost a very close and dear mate of mine (3 RAR, 1st tour) to a brain tumor. His premature death absolutely mortified me! I've never really got over it.

I won't labour on about that very sad event. However,his widow Sue, sent me an amazing little book, titled: 'Children of the Mist' - Agent Orange, Future Generations. Authored by : Jean R. WILLIAMS OAM (Australian Human Rights Award Winner - 2002). Published by: 'Homecoming Publications', 186 Coes Creek Road, Nambour, Queensland. This book may help you with many of the unanswered questions you have. Perhaps, a copy may be available from your local VVCS or even a Public Library ? Forget the RSL, they're pretty useless, in MY view - too interested in other things rather than worrying about the Widow of a Vietnam Vet ! Even Legacy could be of some assistance (you're certainly entitled to help from most of these organisations too).

Look, I won't carry on any longer except to wish you sincerely, all the very best in your time of need. Please take care.

Kind regards...sungwu