Page Contents:
-
Cancer and the Korean War
- Atomic Tests
- Cancer Incidences Study - Australians in Korean War
- Blue Water Navy.Org
-
DDT Use During the Korean War
- Korean War Memoirs
- Reference Books
- Poetry
-
Asbestos Exposure During the Korean War
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center
- Korean War Memoirs
-
Cold Weather Injury
- Videos, magazine articles, veterans' memoirs
-
Agent Orange
Cancer and the Korean War
Atomic Tests
Thousands of American veterans were exposed to nuclear radiation during atmospheric nuclear testing
that took place during the 1950s through 1963. To learn about the importance of obtaining a Film
Badge Radiation Exposure History and how to get it, visit the
Atomic Veterans website. You or your loved
one may be eligible to receive compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
Cancer Incidences Study - Australia
View the entire study of cancer
incidences as they relate to Australia's Korean War veterans. The study was funded by the Australian
government in 2003. The significance of this study to American Korean War veterans is that Americans
served in the same areas in Korea as the Australians. The conditions were the same for both
nationalities.
Blue Water Navy.Org
Cancer issues are being brought to the forefront by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association at
www.bluewaternavy.org. Blue Water Navy provides Agent
Orange information to veterans. There is a special section on their website seeking information from
Korean War veterans who might have been exposed to cancer-causing agents in Korea. View the Blue
Water Navy website here.
DDT Use During the Korean War
DDT was used during the Korean War to delouse American troops, foreign troops, and native Koreans.
Details about this use are referenced on many Internet websites. The following information can be
found within World Wide Web resources.
Korean War Memoirs
Reference Books
- War and American Women: Heroism, Deeds, & Controversy by William B. Breuer. See reference
to Cpt. Anna McGoff Robie, Army nurse at the 14th Field Hospital Korea 1951. She notes that the
nurses were sprayed twice weekly with DDT.
Poetry
- See the poem "Beggar-lice" written by Korean War veteran
Taylor Jones.
Asbestos Exposure During the Korean War
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center - The Center's website reveals the fact that more than 300
products, particularly those used by the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s, contained asbestos.
That website states:
"Clearly, virtually no portion of a naval ship was asbestos-free between the '30s and mid-70s, making
Navy veterans and shipyard workers one of the most at-risk groups for developing asbestos-related
diseases."
Thousands of veterans developed mesothelioma, particularly those who served in the U.S. Navy. To
learn more about veterans' exposure to asbestos, visit www.asbestos.com.
- Korean War Memoirs - See also the story of Allen
Johnson on the Korean War Educator.
Cold Weather Injury
Thousands of American veterans (in fact, more than 5,300 in just the first winter of the Korean War)
suffered frostbite during the extreme cold temperatures in Korea during the war years. Many of them were
evacuated and received treatment in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, however, too many others did not have
that chance due to the battle conditions they were in at the time. The latter lost fingers and/or hands,
toes and/or feet, and had to endure the anguish of frostbitten noses and ears. Decades later, these Korean
War casualties are still experiencing the after effects of frostbite. Some receive medical assistance and
compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. But there are still thousands of Korean War veterans
who either don’t know they are eligible for disability benefits based on their cold weather injuries, or
they can’t get anyone in the VA to believe that their current health problems are service-related. To
learn more about cold weather injuries in the Korean War, visit the Weather
- Topics page of the Korean War Educator.
Agent Orange
"VA does have significant information regarding Agent Orange use in Korea along the DMZ. DoD has
confirmed that Agent Orange was used from April 1968 up through July 1969 along the DMZ. DoD defoliated the
fields of fire between the front line defensive positions and the south barrier fence. The size of the
treated area was a strip of land 151 miles long and up to 350 yards wide from the fence to north of the
"civilian control line." There is no indication that herbicide was sprayed in the DMZ itself.
Herbicides were applied through hand spraying and by hand distribution of pelletized herbicides. Although
restrictions were put in place to limit potential for spray drift, run-off, and damage to food crops,
records indicate that effects of spraying were sometimes observed as far as 200 meters down wind.
Units in the area during the period of use of herbicide were as follows:
The four combat brigades of the 2nd Infantry Division, including the following units:
- a) 1-38 Infantry
- b) 2-38 Infantry
- c) 1-23 Infantry
- d) 2-23 Infantry
- e) 3-23 Infantry
- f) 3-32 Infantry
- g) 109th Infantry
- h) 209th Infantry
- i) 1-72 Armor
- j) 2-72 Armor
- k) 4-7th Cavalry
Also, the 3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, including the following units:
- a) 1-17th Infantry
- b) 2-17th Infantry
- c) 1-73 Armor
- d) 2-10th Cavalry
Field Artillery, Signal, and Engineer troops were supplied as support personnel as required. The
estimated number of exposed personnel is 12,056.
Unlike Viet Nam, exposure to Agent Orange is not presumed for veterans who served in Korea. Claims for
compensation for disabilities resulting from Agent Orange exposure from veterans who served in Korea during
this period will be developed for evidence of exposure. If the veteran was exposed the presumptive
conditions found for Agent Orange exposure apply."
Source: Gary D. Moore, 5161 Howard Road, Smiths Creek, MI 48074-2023, USA. Website:
http://www.gmasw.com:80/index.html. |
