MSI Press Blog

  Agent Orange is often described as a wartime herbicide, but for the men exposed to it, it became something far more personal: a lifelong biological companion. Its toxic contaminant, TCDD dioxin, is now classified as a known human carcinogen. But the story of Agent Orange is not only a medical one. It is a story of disrupted lives, altered futures, and the emotional toll of fighting for recognition long after the war ended. 1. Medical Consequences: A Slow‑Moving Injury The medical effects of Agent Orange are among the most thoroughly documented toxic exposures in U.S. history. Dioxin accumulates in fat tissue, persists for years, and interferes with immune regulation, hormone signaling, and DNA repair. The result is a pattern of illnesses that often emerge decades after service. Major medical outcomes include: Cancers with strong evidence of association: Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic B‑cell leukemias (including CLL), soft‑tissue sarcoma, and MGUS (a precursor ...

  Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military sprayed more than 19 million gallons of Agent Orange across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to strip away jungle cover and destroy crops. What was intended as a tactical advantage left behind a toxic inheritance. Health impacts on veterans and civilians : Exposure has been linked to cancers (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, prostate cancer), diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and now, newly confirmed connections to rare blood cancers like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Generational effects : In Vietnam, millions still live with disabilities and birth defects attributed to dioxin contamination. Families continue to face challenges decades after the war ended. Environmental damage : Dioxin hotspots remain across dozens of provinces, contaminating soil and water, perpetuating harm long after the spraying stopped. Advocacy and recognition : Veterans and their families have fought for decades to have these conditions recognized for care and benef...

  Chris Richards, author of  Nothing So Broken , was recently interviewed by  Colonel Len Samborowski    on DFN Podcast: "Nothing So Broken: Vietnam War and the Power of Community."  Listen to the podcast HERE . Description of the podcast: Chris Richards is the Director at Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust and the author of Nothing So Broken . His powerful book details the impact of the Vietnam War on his family and the importance of community as a way to manage the pain. Along the way we discuss – War, Always About the Families (3:30), A Single Soldier (4:15), Agent Orange, the Spray (10:00), Mill Town America (16:10), Engineer-like (20:45), Aloneness vs. Loneliness (23:45), Perceptions of War  (25:45), and DFN (28:15).   Additional outtakes from a second interview from 34:20 to 41:30. You can grab a copy of Chris Richards’ book at MSI Press. When asked “Have a coupon?” – use the code “Luke” for a 25% discount. With this code, ALL proceeds from...