Honoring Loved Ones Lost to Agent Orange Exposure

On Memorial Day, we honor those who died in combat and from illnesses related to their military service.

Lyn May – 1946 to 1993

Agent Orange was a “tactical herbicide,” developed for combat. Unfortunately, Agent Orange contained traces of the dioxin TCDD, which is extremely toxic and classified as a human carcinogen by the EPA. Many veterans who served from 1962 to 1975 were exposed to this carcinogen.

The Vietnam Veterans of America says of Agent Orange: Some three million veterans served in Southeast Asia, and no one knows for sure how many of these veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. Some of these personnel were deployed in areas during and immediately after spraying operations, while others actually handled Agent Orange and did the spraying. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin contaminants have reported a variety of serious health problems and symptoms; these include chloracne, skin lesions, liver damage, loss of sex drive, changes in skin pigmentation and sensitivity to light, numbing or tingling in the extremities, sore joints, cancers, and birth defects in their children.


In 1978, the VA began a registry of veterans concerned about their exposure to Agent Orange. Almost 500,000 veterans – or 1 out of every 6 who served there – are on the registry.

My father served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, then later in the National Guard. During his duty in Vietnam, he was unknowingly exposed to Agent Orange. After the war, my father went on to serve a mission for his church, marry my mom, and become a wonderful Dad to four girls. He began experiencing strange pains in his 40s, never expecting they were service related.

Dad experienced pain on an off for about a year and a half and visited several doctors to find relief. In November 1989, he started more aggressively pursuing a diagnosis. The pain became so severe in December, he had difficulty sitting or standing. Doctors finally diagnosed him with a rare form of cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, in January 1990. The doctors removed a tumor the size of a grapefruit from his pelvic area, then he underwent radiation. Dad lived with his cancer until his death on October 21, 1993 at the age of 47.

My father’s illness was classified by the US Veterans Administration as a condition related to exposure to Agent Orange and the Agent Orange Act of 1991 recognizes that his cancer was service related. This legislation came about after years of advocacy from The Vietnam Veterans of America. They continue their efforts today to help veterans and their families exposed to Agent Orange understand who qualifies and navigate the complex VA system.

I am sharing this story today, not to generate a discussion about the ethics related to the use of Agent Orange or even to blame the government. In my mind, my father died from an injury received while serving the country he loved. There are many service men and women like my father; veterans who died from illnesses related to service years later. On Memorial Day, we should honor these veterans and remember their service.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall does not include the names of those lost due to exposure to Agent Orange. The website for the wall explains, Cancer victims of Agent Orange, and post traumatic stress suicides do not fit the criteria for inclusion upon the Memorial. Some have calculated that it would take another two or more entire Walls to include all the names in those two categories alone. 

My father’s name may not be etched on any memorial wall, but his memory is etched into the hearts of those who loved him. Today, on Memorial Day, I remember Dad and all those who lost their lives in service to our country and thank them for their service.

You can read more about our family’s experience with cancer in a series written in 2010.