Hi David,

I think the VA is eluding to the fact that the use of the Tactical Herbicide (Agent Orange) under the code name "Operation Ranch Hand" officially ended in 1971, two years before you got there. That being said, there is scientific evidence that support a very long life for the Agent Orange Dioxin. The Agent Orange Dioxin is a highly persistent chemical that only slowly degrades in the environment. Dioxin present in surface soil may take from 9 to 15 years to degrade to half its concentration. (Source: http://www.agentorangecanada.com/dioxin.php ) The question may be, did any of that dioxin saturated soil (dust) get blown around into the area where you worked. You were there when the Agent Orange Dioxin was only 2 years fresh into its 9 to 15 years of its potent life expectancy.

It is my opinion that the effects of Agent Orange lived on for many years after the official date of its termination in 1971. Probably well into the early 80's. AO is real nasty stuff.