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Operation Ranch Hand: The Heart Of Vietnam

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Operation Ranch Hand: The Heart Of Vietnam
Operation Ranch Hand; 1961-1972; The heart of the Vietnam War, and the U.S. needs an advantage. “[The military] sprayed more than 19 million gallons of herbicides over 4.5 million acres of land in Vietnam...Agent Orange, which contained the chemical dioxin, was the most commonly used of the herbicide mixtures, and the most effective,” (“Agent”). In total, this agent accounted for 11-13 million gallons of the total herbicides released. Agent Orange was later found to be the origin of various health problems; these include tumors, birth defects, skin irritation, psychological changes, and cancer. The herbicides main purpose was to clear the vegetation, allowing the front line to detect approaching enemies in time for defensive action; the

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