At Fort Ord in Monterey County, California, veterans like Dean Osborn were exposed to the dangerous herbicide known as Agent Orange, not in the jungles of Vietnam, but on U.S. soil during their routine military training.
Today, decades after their service, many of these veterans are battling cancer and other severe health issues linked to their exposure to these toxic chemicals.
In the late 1970s, Osborn, like many young GIs, was stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey County, California. Their rigorous training sessions often led them through areas where, unbeknownst to them, a toxic threat was present.
Documents now reveal that these lands and waters were contaminated by the carcinogenic herbicide known colloquially as Agent Orange.
This powerful chemical was used extensively in the Vietnam War to clear dense jungles but was also deployed at Fort Ord to combat poison oak and other vegetation.
The military’s use of Agent Orange and similar chemicals on domestic bases like Fort Ord has been a contentious issue, especially as it becomes increasingly clear that veterans stationed at these locations have suffered long-term health consequences.
The most notorious component of Agent Orange, the dioxin known as TCDD, has been linked to several forms of cancer, chronic health issues, and even genetic damage in subsequent generations.
There is mounting evidence and substantial documentation for the use of Agent Orange at the base, including a 1956 article from The Military Engineer journal highlighting the use of these herbicides at Fort Ord.
“In training areas, such as Fort Ord, where poison oak has been extremely troublesome to military personnel, a well-organized chemical war has been waged against this woody plant pest,” the article says.
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has been slow to acknowledge the evidence.
The implemented a rule to compensate veterans affected from Agent Orange.
The VA also maintains a list of locations where exposure to Agent Orange is presumed; however, Fort Ord is absent.
This omission has left many veterans like Osborn without the disability compensation typically provided to those recognized as affected by this herbicide during their military service.
“Now we have cancers that we didn’t deserve,” Osborn said.
In his own battle with health issues including prostate cancer—a condition the VA has designated a “presumptive disease” linked to Agent Orange exposure—Osborn’s requests for benefits have been denied.
The VA contends that his ailments are more likely due to age rather than his military service, a stance that has sparked outrage and a sense of betrayal among affected veterans.
Environmental activists and some determined researchers have continued to push for recognition and justice for these veterans.
At the recent public comment period on the VA’s veterans proposed the rule to expand compensation to additional bases. Of 546 comments, 67 are from veterans and others urging the inclusion of Fort Ord. Hundreds of others have written in regarding the use of Agent Orange and other chemicals at their bases.
The situation at Fort Ord represents a broader issue faced by veterans exposed to hazardous conditions without adequate acknowledgment or compensation from the government.
The call for acknowledgement is not just about compensation but about recognizing the sacrifices made by those who served, often in unseen battles that continue long after their military careers have ended.