ROK Vietnam Veterans Win Agent Orange Lawsuit
Former ROK Army veterans who served in the Vietnam War recently won a lawsuit against the US companies responsible for manufacturing the chemical, Agent Orange, that was used to clear foliage in the jungles of Vietnam:
In the first Korean court ruling on compensation for illnesses triggered by the use of Agent Orange, a defoliant, during the Vietnam War, the Seoul High Court said yesterday that the U.S. chemical companies Dow Chemical and Monsanto must pay 6,795 Korean veterans a total of 63 billion won ($63 million).
“There is a high possibility that the plaintiffs, who were in Vietnam between 1965 and 1973, were exposed to the toxic chemical,” the court said. “We acknowledged the need for compensation for those who suffered 11 diseases that are the aftermath of exposure to Agent Orange, such as lymphatic gland cancer and larynx cancer.”
I think it is a good thing that these veterans won this lawsuit because it is pretty well documented the affects Agent Orange has had on Vietnam War veterans. A little known fact outside of Korea, is the fact that Korea had 47,682 soldiers fighting in Vietnam at the height of the war in 1968, at the US’s request and over 5,000 Korean soldiers were killed in the jungles there.
I have talked to many Korean Vietnam War veterans and every single one of them felt like they had been spurned and forgotten by the general Korean public. The US government at least should not forget about these veterans and help them get their compensation from the specified companies.
It will be interesting to see if President Roh will do anything as well to help these veterans. Remember this is the same guy that will not attend a memorial ceremony for six South Korean sailors murdered during a coordinated North Korean attack. With this in mind why would President Roh care about some old, sick Korean Vietnam War veterans?
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[…] of many atrocities during the war. However, little focus is ever given to the fact that many ROK veterans were exposed to Agent Orange and many veterans are now dying from this exposure today, plus these soldiers involvement in […]
That is good for The Korean Rock Soldiers, good for them, they deserve everything they can get for helping us, Bruce a Vietnam Vet, 1971-72, 597th trans, Phutai,Vietnam
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KOREAN VETERANS.
I AM A U.S. VETERAN. I HAVE GONE THROUGH
THREE PARTIAL FOOT AMPUTATIONS AGENT ORANGE
RELATED. I ALREADY AM COMPENSATED AT 100%
BY THE V.A.
I WANT TO SUE MONSANTO AND DOW CHEMICAL.
CAN YOU HELP ME?
STEVEN RADFORD
ABC@LLCCP.NET
What about the Vietnamese ppl? Where is the light for those civilians
What about not only the military members that are effected by Agent Orange and their spouses but there are children and grand children that suffer this loss of a loved one as well when they grow up the children already robbed of the time growing up to be spent with that father more so boys who get to watch as other dads teach their kids to play base ball hunt, fish go camping hiking and all the boy things because their fathers are absent off fighting wars or overseas on some assignemt the family can't go they are robbed of a father in child hood then robbed again in adulthood watching as their fathers slowly die suffering the effects of Aghent Orange i guess maybe the lucky ones go quick i dont know either way yu suffer greatly. Then the fact the grand kids are robbed of the joys of grandpa or ma because there are females who suffer this fate of agent orange. Then the fact that some facts they still are telling like how much where us brats exposed by the uniforms and personal effects our dads brought back home from war i recall alot of playing Army and pretending in our dads old uniforms how much of this chemical contaiminated these items and could this be a reason those of us with no real family history of cancers and heart attacks are suffering from these illnesses in our mid 40's when we come from families living up in to their 80's an 90's many drank an smoked and lived hard lives. Then the fact is why are these people not just being sued but also sent to Prison for Murder and attempted Murder and Treason against our own troop during war time.
I served with the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, U.S. Army in Vietnam, 1965-66. We were assigned to the ROK Tiger Division, based 14 Miles West of Qui Nhon at Lane AAF. It is a pleasure to see that the ROK Forces personnel who served there got compensation from the U.S. Chemical Companies because thousands of U.S. Veterans were cheated out their compensation in the MDL in the Federal Courts in the U.S. when the so called "Master" allowed the fund to go bankrupt.
Most American veterans were not even notified the fund had gone banksrupt and many never received compensation . However, there is no doubt in my mind that the soldiers of the ROK Tiger Division and the 5th Rgt of the ROK Maines who served in
Vietnam were entitled to compensation. I am happy to the that the Courts in Republic pf South Korea had the wisdon to make sure that companies like Monsanto, et al had to pay compensation.
The ROK Forces performance in Vietnam was absolutely outanding and meritorous. We were happy to support the Division and its elements in Vietnam. South Korea was a true allie, I wish you all a long life. The South Korean Army and Marines also participated in an outstanding humanitarian missions in Vietnam, rebuilt roads, schools and helped establish medical aid stations and many other projects during the war. The U.S. and South Korea were not alone in Vietnam. There some 27 nations who were allied with the U.S. and South Vietnam government.
However, ROK forces had excellent leadership
and the NCO's and men in the ranks demostrated true professionalism. America owes South Korea a debt of gratitutde for being a true allies at a time when the South Vietnamese were being systematically murdered by the communists.
Again, I wish those who served with the ROK forces a successful long life. Brave and true patriots you were. Best regards,
Jay. 1965-66, Vietnam, (New York, USA)