Agent Orange

vietnam service

The Facts & History About Agent Orange During The Vietnam War

Agent Orange is the name to which all herbicides are referred (technically) in error during the Vietnam War. The name, Agent Orange, has become synonymous for, and collective of, all herbicides used during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange, is also the identification of the harmful effects from herbicides (again, in error). The reality is that people don't have Agent Orange disease, rather, a disease, or cancer caused directly or indirectly from exposure to a herbicide containing dioxin. The name, Agent Orange, was derived from the orange stripe on drums in which the herbicide was stored.

Agent Orange (Scientifically)

Agent Orange was one of several defoliants (herbicides) containing trace amounts of a toxic contaminant, TCDD (dioxin). Defoliants were used during the Vietnam War to kill vast areas of jungle growth. The real, Agent Orange, was a 1:1 mixture of the n-butyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). A byproduct contaminant of the manufacturing process for 2,4,5-T (used in all the agents during the Vietnam War) is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD is commonly referred to as dioxin.

This chart contains a list of the herbicides (agents) used during the Vietnam War, and the amount of TCDD (dioxin) contamination present in the agents (per the USAF Herb Tapes):

Brief History of Agent Orange

è In the early years of WWII, a grant was provided by the National Research Council to develop a chemical to destroy rice crops in Japan (the major food source of the Japanese). 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T (Agent Orange) was the result. A discussion between President Roosevelt and White House Chief of Staff, Admiral William D. Leahy determined that this heinous chemical should not be used. Agent Orange was not used during WWII.

è In 1961, President Kennedy signed two orders allowing Agent Orange to be used in Vietnam. One order to destroy crops, and another order to defoliate the jungle. [Note: These orders were signed prior to major U.S. intervention.]

è Agent Orange & other herbicides were used extensively thru 1970 (and thereafter until the end of the Vietnam War).

Grand Total: 8,165,491 Gallons Were Sprayed

South Vietnam Quadrants:

I Corps - 2,355,322

Location	Orange	White	Blue	Total Gallons
A Shau	53,550	2,550	6,128	62,228
An Hoa	6,500	1,800	11,250	19,550
Binh Hoa	8,220	0	1,600	9,820
Cam Lo	80,375	8,660	12,785	101,820
Camp Carrol	78,200	5,400	5,050	88,650
Camp Eagle	14,250	0	0	14,250
Camp Esso	53,410	5,600	0	64,510
Camp Evans	18,690	0	880	19,570
Camp Henderson	68,155	7,040	4,800	79,995
Chu Lai	12,170	4,150	1,598	17,918
Con Thien	84,700	12,460	10,925	108,085
Da Nang, China Beach	13,800	0	2,000	15,800
Dong Ha	54,385	5,060	9,935	69,380
Duc Pho, LZ Bronco	46,225	14,400	1,175	61,800
Firebase Jack	140,875	11,900	3,280	156,055
Firebase Rakkassan	150,145	23,900	2,510	176,555
Firebase West	15,405	3,690	18,480	37,575
Hill 63	20,500	3,200	0	23,700
Hill 69	11,620	4,150	1,598	17,368
Hoi An	17,520	3,000	13,950	34,470
Hue	41,395	0	5,070	46,465
Khe Sanh, Firebase Smith	43,705	3,040	4,300	51,045
LangCo Bridge	50,610	5,600	3,500	59,710
LZ Baldy	15,430	3,000	13,950	32,380
LZ Dogpatch, Hill 327	4,490	0	8,250	12,740
LZ Geronimo	22,535	14,000	468	37,003
LZ Jane, Firebase Barbara	91,150	6,750	3,700	101,600
LZ Langley, Firebase Shepard	72,105	7,040	4,800	83,945
LZ Profess, Hill 55	39,300	13,000	17,209	69,509
LZ Rockcrusher, Hill 85	47,800	0	0	47,800
LZ Rockpile	110,050	15,440	7,650	133,140
LZ Ross	15,405	6,720	18,508	40,633
LZ Sandra	118,780	20,210	24,755	163,745
LZ Snapper, Firebase Leather	11,350	0	3,000	14,350
Marble, Hill 59	15,405	6,720	18,508	40,633
Phu Bai	54,300	3,000	120	57,420
Phu Luc, LZ Tommahawk	78,250	4,000	0	82,250
Quang Nai	25,605	0	1,800	27,405
Quang Tri, LZ Nancy	68,000	2,750	3,700	74,450
2,355,322

II Corps - 1,054,406

Location	Orange	White	Blue	Total Gallons
An Khe, Camp Radcliff	37,810	6,400	5,610	49,820
An Lao, LZ Laramie	68,970	490	10,570	80,030
Ban Me Thuot	16,000	9,250	0	25,250
Ben Het	80,495	7,230	3,000	90,725
Bon Song, LZ Two Bits	80,643	630	6,000	87,273
Bre Nhi	6,600	0	0	6,600
Cam Ranh Bay	21,227	1,373	0	22,600
Camp Granite	59,310	2,075	5,390	66,775
Che Oreo	0	1,800	0	1,800
Da Lat	575	0	0	575
Dak To	49,460	600	34,800	84,860
Firebase Pony	43,490	0	3,800	47,290
Kontum	0	415	0	415
LZ Dog, LZ English	63,073	630	6,000	69,703
LZ Oasis	No Data
LZ Putter, Firebase Bird	50,095	0	7,200	57,295
LZ Uplift	43,455	3,220	275	46,950
Nha Trang	6,950	325	0	7,275
Phan Rang	110	2,075	0	2,185
Phan Thiet	5,000	330	220	5,550
Plei Ho, SF Camp	15,300	1,260	110	16,670
Plei Jerang	98,220	51,235	1,800	151,255
Pleiku	1,210	11,640	1,950	14,800
Puh Cat, LZ Hammond	29,700	7,210	0	36,910
Qui Nhon	53,215	1,800	4,125	59,140
Song Cau	5,650	55	0	5,705
Tuy An	13,215	3,740	0	16,955
Tuy Hoa	29,565	4,485	0	34,050
1,054,406

III Corps - 4,086,229

Location	Orange	White	Blue	Total Gallons
An Loc	77,000	79,830	0	156,830
Ben Cat	87,250	83,640	20,105	190,995
Ben Hoa	35,045	124,525	3,950	163,520
Cholon	320	0	0	320
Cu Chi	59,150	67,540	14,105	140,795
Dau Tieng (Michelin)	32,370	45,800	3,800	81,770
Dien Duc, Firebase Elaine	66,850	25,800	0	92,350
Duc Hoa	750	0	0	750
Firebase Di An	6,000	0	1,595	7,595
Firebase Frenzel	13,445	57,560	900	71,905
Firebase Jewel, LZ Snuffy	219,550	146,010	7,300	372,860
Firebase Mace	34,280	23,350	730	58,360
Katum	299,420	239,395	20,000	558,815
Lai Khe	57,120	22,300	1,800	81,220
Loc Ninh	46,660	103,710	1,800	152,170
Long Binh, Firebase Concord	13,445	57,560	0	71,005
LZ Bearcat	17,840	75,470	0	93,310
LZ Fish Nook	44,000	23,800	0	67,800
LZ Schofield	38,640	17,210	7,800	63,650
Nha Be (Navy Base)	119,725	121,925	6,000	247,650
Nui Ba Den, Firebase Carolin	50,020	66,500	2,100	118,620
Phouc Vinh	484,383	146,576	12,810	643,769
Phu Chong	39,848	62,230	12,055	114,130
Phu Loi	79,000	83,430	0	162,430
Qua Viet	50,610	5,600	3,500	59,710
Quan Loi	44,190	34,300	0	78,490
Saigon	No Data
Song Be	1,900	9,220