While my dad, a Vietnam veteran, was undergoing evaluation for the effects of Agent Orange, The Plain Dealer published a special report written by Connie Schultz on this toxic chemical used to deforest areas of Vietnam so that the North Vietnamese army would not be able to use the dense foliage for cover.
I'd heard that Agent Orange had terrible effects on the people of Vietnam. What I had not thought about was its potential effects on American soldiers who served there. And I had no idea it still poses such a problem for the people of Vietnam.
Of the 11 types of diseases recognized by the U.S. government as possibly being related to Agent Orange exposure, my dad suffers from three. And he suffers. After reading the report written by Connie Schultz, I told my dad how proud I am of him for serving our country and how sorry I am that he is suffering because of it. (Well, first I cried.) In typical Marine/dad fashion, he said, "Don't worry about it. It was my duty."
Well, it's my duty as his daughter to care about him. I could not be more grateful for the folks at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, the Cleveland Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and University Hospitals for taking such good care of him.
Whether we agree with the reasons for going to war or not, I believe it's so important to take care of the men and women who serve in our armed forces. I know I'm not cut out for it, but I am grateful for those who are. It saddens me that serving has such drastic long-term effects.
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