Hopefully as with many of Trumps so called Executive orders, it will be deemed unconstitutional or not doable by the courts. My brothers were both exposed, one now dead suffered from a brain deterioration disease the VA never gave a name to and only paid him disability after fighting them for the last ten years of his life. The other had two-that’s two serious cancers at the same time. While treating him for prostate cancer they discovered pancreatic cancer, in early stages so he survived it. That brother and I no longer communicate because of Trump so I know nothing of any benefits but I know he wasn’t treated at the VA, he didn’t trust it.
I am so sad to hear of how Agent Orange hurt your family. There are so many of us that lost loved ones or have loved ones fighting diseases caused by exposure, often with too little support, too late.
They were 18 year olds, one was my bro in law but was like a bother, the one with brain disease, they knew they’d be drafted as they weren’t the fortunate ones, like Trump, so they joined the marines. Served two and three tours. Never spoke on Vietnam. Couldn’t even watch the movie Platoon. When they came home from that hell, to avoid being attacked here at home by confused protesters, they came in by ship and had to sneak off in the middle of the night. No hero’s welcome for them and I’m sure that added to the trauma, nothing to be proud of so never spoke about it.
My uncle passed away in 1997 from lung cancer. When he was diagnosed, the doctors had told him that it was too late for them to do anything.
He had never married or had any children. The horrors of war had stained him for the rest of his life and he had a hard time coping with what he saw in Vietnam.
During his last days, he went and stayed with my grandparents and spent a lot of time out on the front porch deep in his thoughts. When he passed, he was just a shell of what he had once been.
About a year later, my grandmother recieved a letter from the VA stating that his cancer had most likely been caused by Agent Orange. But they couldn't say it for sure.
Just yesterday, I started treatments for my third bout With cancer. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2016 and underwent radiation treatments. In the summer of 2023, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the base of my tongue and lymph nodes on the left side of my neck and underwent radiation and chemotherapy for that. Now, the SCC is back on the right side of my throat and in my left lung and started immunotherapy just yesterday. I was in the US Navy from 1990 to 1996.
Right now, I can't say if any of my cancer is due to exposure to any toxins while I was in the Navy, but it makes me wonder for sure. I'd like to get in touch with some of the guys i served with to see if they are having any similar problems.
One thing is for sure, though. Trump does not care about veterans or active duty personnel. I believe General Mattis when he says that Trump thinks we are "suckered and losers". And I can't believe that any veteran or military member could ever support him at all.
Thank you. But please add that it was the PACT Act signed by president Biden in 2022 that added Agent Orange, Burn Pits, Gulf War Syndrome, and other toxic chemicals and waste to the Presumptive List. Meaning that a Veteran didn't have to fight for years (decades) with an attorney to receive benefits or health care. In 2023, 63,000 jobs were added to handle the additional care and benefits Veterans would be eligible for. Also, there had been a post pandemic shortage of doctors, nurses, hospital staff... and had *always* been a critical shortage of psychiatrists. The PACT Act and the hiring of 63,000 employees to the Department of Veteran's Affairs bridged that gap. With trump cutting 83,000 jobs, it's not only eliminating those gained that were *needed* to implement the additional 700,000 Veteran's who qualified, but 20,000 less! My terrible GOP U.S. Representative Jack Bergman writes emails saying a cut of 83,000 has zero impact on Veteran's care which is a horrific lie. As I'm sure all GOP Reps and Senators are telling their constituents. These lies must be shown for what they are. The *truth* of what these cuts cost Veterans in their care simply MUST be *messaged* and out there nonstop. They don't hear it on Fox or Newsmax and they won't watch anything else. With gutted agencies, gutted funding, building locations shut down... there's no care. No care for our Veterans.
I went and found sources to make sure. Who has the ability to remember numbers in this political shit storm?? Lol. Again, thank you for giving me this additional information.
Hopefully as with many of Trumps so called Executive orders, it will be deemed unconstitutional or not doable by the courts. My brothers were both exposed, one now dead suffered from a brain deterioration disease the VA never gave a name to and only paid him disability after fighting them for the last ten years of his life. The other had two-that’s two serious cancers at the same time. While treating him for prostate cancer they discovered pancreatic cancer, in early stages so he survived it. That brother and I no longer communicate because of Trump so I know nothing of any benefits but I know he wasn’t treated at the VA, he didn’t trust it.
I am so sad to hear of how Agent Orange hurt your family. There are so many of us that lost loved ones or have loved ones fighting diseases caused by exposure, often with too little support, too late.
They were 18 year olds, one was my bro in law but was like a bother, the one with brain disease, they knew they’d be drafted as they weren’t the fortunate ones, like Trump, so they joined the marines. Served two and three tours. Never spoke on Vietnam. Couldn’t even watch the movie Platoon. When they came home from that hell, to avoid being attacked here at home by confused protesters, they came in by ship and had to sneak off in the middle of the night. No hero’s welcome for them and I’m sure that added to the trauma, nothing to be proud of so never spoke about it.
It is tragic how they were treated. This has happened to far too many. My family that served rarely, if ever, spoke of their experiences.
This stories is spot on, Marie.
My uncle passed away in 1997 from lung cancer. When he was diagnosed, the doctors had told him that it was too late for them to do anything.
He had never married or had any children. The horrors of war had stained him for the rest of his life and he had a hard time coping with what he saw in Vietnam.
During his last days, he went and stayed with my grandparents and spent a lot of time out on the front porch deep in his thoughts. When he passed, he was just a shell of what he had once been.
About a year later, my grandmother recieved a letter from the VA stating that his cancer had most likely been caused by Agent Orange. But they couldn't say it for sure.
Just yesterday, I started treatments for my third bout With cancer. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2016 and underwent radiation treatments. In the summer of 2023, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the base of my tongue and lymph nodes on the left side of my neck and underwent radiation and chemotherapy for that. Now, the SCC is back on the right side of my throat and in my left lung and started immunotherapy just yesterday. I was in the US Navy from 1990 to 1996.
Right now, I can't say if any of my cancer is due to exposure to any toxins while I was in the Navy, but it makes me wonder for sure. I'd like to get in touch with some of the guys i served with to see if they are having any similar problems.
One thing is for sure, though. Trump does not care about veterans or active duty personnel. I believe General Mattis when he says that Trump thinks we are "suckered and losers". And I can't believe that any veteran or military member could ever support him at all.
Thank you for your service, Dave. Your experience breaks my heart. It seems unlikely it isn't related. Praying for your health
Thank you, Marie. That means a lot!
All I can think of is let’s hope the courts will overturn this inhumane monster “president’s cruel and inhumane policy.
He seems to hate veterans because his daddy got him out of conscription for Vietnam using bone spurs as an excitation. He a spoilt brat coward.
The government walks away a lot on veterans. Screw the promises, right ?
We must do better.
Thank you. But please add that it was the PACT Act signed by president Biden in 2022 that added Agent Orange, Burn Pits, Gulf War Syndrome, and other toxic chemicals and waste to the Presumptive List. Meaning that a Veteran didn't have to fight for years (decades) with an attorney to receive benefits or health care. In 2023, 63,000 jobs were added to handle the additional care and benefits Veterans would be eligible for. Also, there had been a post pandemic shortage of doctors, nurses, hospital staff... and had *always* been a critical shortage of psychiatrists. The PACT Act and the hiring of 63,000 employees to the Department of Veteran's Affairs bridged that gap. With trump cutting 83,000 jobs, it's not only eliminating those gained that were *needed* to implement the additional 700,000 Veteran's who qualified, but 20,000 less! My terrible GOP U.S. Representative Jack Bergman writes emails saying a cut of 83,000 has zero impact on Veteran's care which is a horrific lie. As I'm sure all GOP Reps and Senators are telling their constituents. These lies must be shown for what they are. The *truth* of what these cuts cost Veterans in their care simply MUST be *messaged* and out there nonstop. They don't hear it on Fox or Newsmax and they won't watch anything else. With gutted agencies, gutted funding, building locations shut down... there's no care. No care for our Veterans.
Thank you for the additional information, Tina. I will make an edit.
Thank you... I do hope you'll fact check my numbers... my brain is mush more than usual this past week. But the gist is correct. Thank you, truly.
I went and found sources to make sure. Who has the ability to remember numbers in this political shit storm?? Lol. Again, thank you for giving me this additional information.