Forgotten Civilians of Eglin Air Force Base

During the Vietnam War the U.S. military defoliated large swaths
of Vietnam with Agent Orange to deprive enemy forces of jungle
cover. In the process it exposed American soldiers to this toxic
chemical as well.


Our own civilians back in the U.S. were also exposed to Agent
Orange, along with other herbicides. They were involved in
testing herbicides at an Air Force base in Florida throughout the
1960s. Dozens of civilians involved in the testing at the base
say that more than 40 years after their exposure, they are ill
and dying. (Billy McLean (L) and Von Jones pictured. Credit: Jon
Kalish)


Jon Kalish reports from the Florida panhandle on Agent Orange and
"The Forgotten Civilians of Eglin Air Force Base."


 


Learn more about Agent Orange. 


Terell Ratlin died soon after being interviewed by Jon Kalish for
this story


Lawyer Victor Yannacone on the left in the dark suit. Kerry Ryan,
a child born with profound birth defects attribute to Agent
Orange, is in the wheelchair. Her father, Mike Ryan, then a cop
on Long Island, is on the right in the light jacket. Both Kerry
and Mike are deceased. This was taken at the very beginning of
the Agent Orange litigation, which reporter Jon Kalish covered
from 1979 to 1986. Photo credit: Andrew Popper


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