Information On Agent Orange Spraying in South Korea

I have had an increasing amount of inquiries from former Korea veterans in regards to the spraying of Agent Orange in areas near the DMZ.  This spraying occurred during a period of heightened tensions along the DMZ where the North Koreans increased infiltrators into South Korea in an attempt to start an insurgency, ambush soldiers, attack US camps, bomb barracks, and even try to assassinate the South Korean President during a period that became known as the 2nd Korean War.  Agent Orange was sprayed along the DMZ areas in order to kill foliage in order to more easily spot North Korean infiltrators.  Agent Orange has since been proven to be the cause of a number of health defects with veterans that served in both Vietnam and Korea.

The spraying of Agent Orange in Korea has now been verified by the US government and the VA wants people who may have been exposed to it to come in:

The government is offering to examine Cold War American troops who served in Korea three decades ago for possible exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange.

In a little-publicized initiative, the Veterans Affairs Department expanded a program previously offered to Vietnam War veterans to include people who served in Korea in 1968-69.

The rule change follows by a year the Pentagon’s disclosure that South Korean troops sprayed Agent Orange, which contained the toxic herbicide dioxin, during that time along the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.

The decision to give vets free Agent Orange Registry exams, for diseases and medical conditions associated with exposure to the herbicide, is set out in a directive issued Sept. 5 and posted on the department’s http://www.va.gov World Wide Web site.

Agent Orange and other similar herbicides were used during the Vietnam War to eliminate forest cover by defoliating broad sections of jungle mainly to facilitate pursuit of infiltrators and supplies moving into South Vietnam from the north. After it appeared probable that the defoliant caused numerous serious illnesses and birth defects, the VA set up the Agent Orange Registry in 1978, three years after the war ended, for U.S. veterans with in-country Vietnam War military service. More than 300,000 veterans have participated so far.

“Now that we understand that it was sprayed there,” said VA spokesman Jim Benson, “we can say, `If you were in Korea, you may be exposed, and we would like you to come in.”’

The VA may want these veterans to come in, but they want them to prove they were in an area that was sprayed for Agent Orange, which may be tough to do for people that were stationed in units away from the DMZ and did a short temporary duty stint near the DMZ that may have exposed them to Agent Orange. The Pentagon claims that the Agent Orange was only sprayed along the southern portion of the DMZ which is the 2 kilometer wide strip of land on the South Korean side of the border.  Even if this is true the Agent Orange could still have washed into other areas and the water supply by rain I would think?

Here is the official list of units along the DMZ that were exposed to Agent Orange:

The four combat brigades of the 2nd Infantry Division, including the following units:

  • a) 1-38 Infantry
  • b) 2-38 Infantry
  • c) 1-23 Infantry
  • d) 2-23 Infantry
  • e) 3-23 Infantry
  • f) 3-32 Infantry
  • g) 109th Infantry
  • h) 209th Infantry
  • i) 1-72 Armor
  • j) 2-72 Armor
  • k) 4-7th Cavalry

Also, the 3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, including the following units:

  • a) 1-17th Infantry
  • b) 2-17th Infantry
  • c) 1-73 Armor
  • d) 2-10th Cavalry

This veteran’s site has a number of good links on it that should help people looking for information on Agent Orange in Korea for those who are interested.  However, does anyone else have any good information or links to share to help veterans that may have been exposed to Agent Orange?

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McFarland
McFarland
8 years ago

hay. ,just got 30. O/0. For a. Orange. 2. Years. I still have a way to go. B.p. Knees. Back. Feet. P t s d. Thank. You camp,Pelham . As you cansee there is not to much out there, it’s like it. Just was not there. But. Pelham. Was our home for a year, And. 4pa pa 1 aph. We know, and some of us are still. A round to talk . Abouht it

Don Johansen (Joe)
Don Johansen (Joe)
Reply to  McFarland
7 years ago

I was stationed at Pelham in 75-77. When were you there? Please respond.

Don Johansen (Joe)
Don Johansen (Joe)
7 years ago

Is anybody there?

Smokes
Smokes
Reply to  Don Johansen (Joe)
7 years ago

You’re replying to a year and a half old post. So no I don’t think he’s there.

ChickenHead
ChickenHead
7 years ago

Looks like we have potential star material for Mihami Vhice.

James
James
6 years ago

Well just got my 100% agent orange,and other things.2017. Took years just keep up the fight.

Sylvia Mahan
Sylvia Mahan
6 years ago

I am the widow of an Army Veteran who served in Korea, during 1968 and 1969. He was assigned to Co A 63rd Engineer Battalion. He was also at Camp Carroll during that time period. Steve was exposed. He died of diabetes and ischemic stroke I am needing your help, if anyone was in this battalion please contact me. very grateful! God Bless All who Served Our Country

Blanca melende
Blanca melende
5 years ago

Silvia Mayan, please contact the va administration for a possible compensation if your husband death was due to dbII and ischemic heart. You can have a widow cooensatiin.

Gerald Winningham
5 years ago

I was at Osan 48 miles from DMZ in 1967 thru 1970 Temp duty 59 days at a time from Japan and went back Active duty Full time to Osan agin in 970 thru 1973 I read article from June 2015 that Osan Air Active duty 1970 thru 1973 were approved as exsposure agent Orange IS THIS TRUE I have been Trying to convene my VA dotors for many years I have the orders but need back ground articles from government to prove my case HELP HELP PLEASE HELP

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago
Gerald Winningham
Reply to  setnaffa
5 years ago

Yes Avionics maintenance with 51st Air Base Wing Active duty 1970 thru 1973 Osan Air Base South Korea

Ricky James
Ricky James
5 years ago

In ROK August 69 to November 70, stationed with 567 Medical Amb, TDY to 2/71 Missle/ 335 Maint as Doc/ medic . Filed Agent Orange claim after prostate cancer in 99, disallowed 3 times, because could not document!

Steve Szakal
Steve Szakal
5 years ago

I was stationed in Yongsan Korea, Camp Coiner, from 1968 to June 4th 1970. I have prostrate cancer and have filed a claim. Anyone else that was stationed at Camp Coiner??

Margaret
Margaret
5 years ago

I am trying to find out what was sprayed at Camp Red Cloud ( between June 1967 to June 1968) around the perimeter of the golf course and what herbicides were sprayed on the grounds to control weeds. thank you

Gardener
Gardener
4 years ago

Seeking information regarding exposure to someone sent from Yokotoa Japan (twice) to work on F4 and F3 engines. He doesn’t remember much about where he lived or where the engine shop was in relation to the flight line. He did SOAP processing of oil and other things when he was TDY twice there. His performance reports mention his work and it says he did it for all aircraft. He is 84 and had mastectomy last year and then radiation for prostate cancer last year.

Linda Elmore
Linda Elmore
4 years ago

My husband, Elbert Elmore, was stationed at Kimpo Air Force Base, as an Air Traffic Controller, sometime between 1969 and 1971. He also played on some kind of softball team while there. He died in 2015 from N on-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I didn’t know until last year that there was a possibility that I could receive compensation from the VA. I filed a claim in Oct. 2018 and just received a letter wanting more proof that he could have been exposed to AO. I have no military records or anythjng… so where do I go from here? And…they want a response with documentation within 30 days.

setnaffa
setnaffa
4 years ago

Linda, please accept our sympathy for your loss.

First, you will want to get whatever records are available that you may not have. Visit the NARA website at https://www.archives.gov/veterans and fill out the appropriate record requests. If you need assistance, you may be able to call them.

You’ll probably need to look up *all* the bases he was at (possibly by looking up the units where he was assigned and where they were stationed) and comparing those to what is available here: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/agent-orange/agent-orange-summer-2015/exposure-locations.asp.

The “good news” is most bases will probably be listed in the info from the NARA SF180 or other form. Looking up the units on Wikipedia can probably help, too.

God bless you in your search.

Glenn R. Strange
Glenn R. Strange
4 years ago

Was stationed at radar site m-300, along DMZ in S. Korea 1970-1971. I was with 605th Tac. con control squadron from Clark Air base,Phillipines. We built a brand new radar site there. wasn’t near any town or other military bases. diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013. Filed claim in 2017, denied benefits, Filed disagreement wit decision 2018, no word yet.

James Rodgers
James Rodgers
4 years ago

Hey, I’ve read articles that agent orange was still being dumped at Camp Carroll as late as 1978. I was stationed in Camp Casey during that period and later on developed prostate problems. Am I pissing in the wind filing for compensation? My contention is that although I served after the VA ESTABLISHED TIMELINE, I’m asserting that environmental effects of agent orange have not disappeared.

Margaret Neil
Reply to  James Rodgers
4 years ago

I am wondering what herbicide was sprayed on the golf course at Camp Red Cloud. Is there any documentation? I have been denied my claim by the V.A because I have no proof. My husband died from a very aggressive prostate cancer that fit all the criteria for herbicide exposure. He was stationed and Camp Red Cloud and told me something was sprayed on the golf course but did not know what.Also where did CRC get there water and was it contaminated.

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