Why US veterans are returning to Vietnam

 

Nearly 40 years after the war, American vets who live in Vietnam are working to foster reconciliation between the two countries, while other former US soldiers are traveling there to find 'closure.'

"I wanted to make up for what I had done during the war," Kleven says of his English-teaching career. "I now have a second chance to do things right. I have the chance to be a teacher here instead of a soldier."

Kleven is just one of thousands of American veterans who have returned to Vietnam since the end of one of the most divisive conflicts in American history.

Many former soldiers have journeyed there out of curiosity to see a land and people they once fought or to seek closure for a war that continues to weigh on their minds.

 

Continue Learning:  http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/1110/Why-US-veterans-are-returning-to-Vietnam

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Cover-Up Hinted In Navy Letter

Government watchdogs and environmental advocates said they interpret the letter as further evidence of a Navy effort to evade culpability for what many call the worst and largest drinking water contamination in U.S. history. 

As part of its research, the disease registry must map the entire water system on the base, past and present. And for the findings to be credible, the registry must release all of the information, so other scientists can review or replicate the results. The Navy's pressure could stymie that effort.

Ensminger and other advocates said they are concerned that the letter represents another maneuver by the Navy to cover up its actions and inactions, and to delay justice for the estimated 1 million Marines and family members who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune over 30-odd years.

Legislation is currently pending in the House and Senate that seeks to provide healthcare to Camp Lejeune residents suffering as a result of exposure to the contaminated drinking water. The Senate bill passed the Committee on Veterans' Affairs over the summer and awaits further action. Legislators are on the hunt for offsets to cover its $340 million price. The House version of the bill, named after Janey Ensminger, has yet to move out of committee.

Ensminger called Camp Lejeunethe "tip of the iceberg." With over 130 contaminated military sites around the country, he said, "that makes the DOD the nation's largest polluter."

The Navy letter to the disease registry "is completely ignoring the new law on the books," said Angela Canterbury, director of public policy for the nonpartisan Project On Government Oversight. "The Navy, the department being investigated by the agency, is requesting that information be broadly withheld without specific authority under the law.

"This smacks of coercion," Canterbury added.

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My name is Chris Crawford I am a herbalist and a new author for Agent Orange Legacy

I am writing this to introduce myself to the Agent Orange community. I am a Gulf War and OIF veteran. I served just over 7 years split from 1989 to 1991 then again from 2004 to 2008 with two trips to Iraq. As a combat veteran I have been diagnosed with TBI, PTSD, Gulf War Syndrome and a long list of other medical issues. While I was still in the Army and for almost a year after I got out I was on 18 pills mostly narcotics for pain that took me almost a year to wean myself off of. The purpose of me writing on this Blog will be to help those who want a safer more natural way to treat them self and to help people learn ways to use herbs in place of medications.. I am not a doctor and anything I suggest and talk about should be discussed with your doctor before starting so not to cause drug interactions. Many of the things I will talk about on here will be to help general heath and to boost the body naturally and safely and if there is any concern about taking with medications I will make sure and note (should be discussed with your doctor before taking).

My father served in the Navy during the end of Vietnam so Working with those with Agent Orange and to be asked to write for this Blog is something I consider a privilege . As a veteran I find myself feeling obligated to share my herbal knowledge to my fellow vets so that they can also enjoy a better drug free quality of life. I currently do not have a blog or a web page, baby steps is where I am at and working here for you is a good start for me. In time I hope to have my own web page and blog but till then you can find me on Facebook and Google+. Links to my profiles are below.

https://plus.google.com/100982395811024555599/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001496887729

I look forward to getting to know all of you and helping you gain a better quality of life through herbs.

Chris Crawford

Veteran / Herbalist