As of this writing there are 289 members of Congress who are co-sponsors
of House Bill HR-969 and 34 member of the Senate who are co-sponsors of
Senate Bill S.681. Both Bills are titled, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam
Veterans Agent Orange Act. There are enough co-sponsors Congress and
Senate to send these Bills to the floor for a vote. They are held up in
committee. Why? Are our veterans not worth the attention they deserve? A
budget has yet to be set for the care and wellbeing of this group of
veterans known as Blue Water Navy. Many are sick, many have died from
diseases caused by the herbicide Agent Orange. This deadly herbicide
floated out to sea. Our Navy ships in combat came in contact with this
deadly chemical. Some of our ships also transported barrels of Agent
Orange. In rough seas some of these barrels would break loose, the
herbicide would be awash on deck and had to be cleaned up. Unknowingly
the cleanup crews did not know they were cleaning up death.
Approximately 750,000 sailors served during the Vietnam War. Many have
fallen sick to the herbicide and many have died. Nearly all could not get
benefits as our Congress refused to pass a Bill that would provide these
Navy sailors with better quality of life. These ships at sea provided air
and gunnery support on targets inland, saving American troop's lives.
Does our government care about sick and dying Navy sailors? No. Their
lives are not worth the dollars. To the American people, write and call
your members of Congress and Senate to pass the Bills, Congress HR-969 and
Senate S.681. Freedom is not Free, it is costly.
End
By: John J. Bury, U.S. Navy, retired, Vietnam War Veteran
Media, Pa.
