The Honorable James Hansen
2466 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Hansen:

I was killed in 1971 by the United States Government! I just didn't know it until 1998, when I discovered that I had lung cancer. Unlike President Clinton, I did inhale. Unfortunately for me, it was not marijuana I inhaled; it was the deadly chemical Agent Orange. As lung cancer was diagnosed, my doctors kept asking me if I smoked. They were very surprised when I said no. I started doing research on the Internet to discover alternative causes for my disease. I soon discovered "Agent Orange" and "Cancer" were two words that went together. I determined the following:

1. Studies have been done on the relationship between Agent Orange and disease. Nine diseases are presumed by the VA to be related to exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. Lung cancer is one of the diseases.

2. I spent my first six months in Vietnam at Quang Tri, which was one of the most concentrated spraying areas in Vietnam.

3. I am just one of many who are going to die prematurely, and have to also endure the pain of loved ones who have to face a much less certain future. As I read the many stories of people in similar situations, I wept. The way my brothers in battle and their families have been treated is a national disgrace.

As I went through test after test, I was disheartened, as each test result had an unfavorable outcome. My cancer has progressed to the final stage, stage IV. I would have had a much better chance of survival had the cancer been detected earlier.

The government had an obligation to make me aware of the risks of cancer that were caused by exposure to Agent Orange. I was never warned. Uncle Sam was certainly able to find me when I was drafted! The fact that the government has the knowledge of the risks of Agent Orange, and my life is in jeopardy because the information was not provided to me, is unforgivable. Death will be inevitable for the many who remain uninformed. I cannot understand the irresponsibility!

My situation was unnecessary, and could have been prevented by what appears to be an indifferent government. If detected early, my cancer could have been cured with surgery.

In my opinion, Vietnam veterans have been short changed by the media leading to an incorrect perception by the public. The combatants in World War II were portrayed in movies as patriotic, brave, heroes of the nation. Actors portraying the WWII participants were people like John Wayne, Charlton Heston, and the like. In comparison, the Vietnam combatants were portrayed as being psychotic, complicated, dangerous, near criminals.

The characters representing the Vietnam soldiers were often unknown actors who didn't make it to the end of the film because they were killed while doing a drug deal or robbing a bank. Would you want your daughter to marry Rambo? No one welcomed us home. The Vietnam vet is often blamed for the unpopular war. A vast majority of the veterans that I served with did not want to be involved in the war. For the most part, our sacrifice and service has never been truly recognized. It appears that many people, including our own government, would just like us to disappear.

This stereotype of the Vietnam vet is wrong. Most of the men that I served with were honorable, patriotic, and very confused about the overall purpose of the war. We trusted our leaders to do the right thing. We did not run to Canada to avoid service. If the war was wrong, blame the leaders, not the soldiers who acted with integrity and the best of intentions. It is past time that the general public know this about the men that served.

I have heard a great deal in recent months about the evils of the cigarette manufacturers. Many ideas have been presented as to placing heavy taxes on cigarettes, and placing heavy fines on the manufactures of cigarettes, even though cigarette smokers have been advised for many years by the Surgeon General that smoking may be hazardous to one's health. The Government should be held at least to the same standard imposed on the cigarette manufacturers, as their "consumers" were acting out of duty to their country, rather than out of pursuit of personal pleasure. The United States Government, by dumping millions of gallons of poison on the troops, and not notifying us of the health hazards, has a much greater liability and responsibility to those of us who were poisoned.

Here are a few of the ways that I will be effected by Agent Orange:

1. I am going to miss about twenty years with my wife Karen, daughter Angela, son Steven, and other loved ones.

2. Cancer is not the easiest way out of this life.

3. I am the primary breadwinner for our family. My family will have to figure out how to come up with the $1,500,000 that I would have earned over the next twenty years.

4. Karen has only a high school diploma, and suffers from constant migraine headaches. The family will probably be forced to move, and will have a very difficult time making it financially.

5. Karen has resigned from her job to take care of me. We will have medical bills and her loss of income to deal with.

6. There are many things in our marriage partnership that I do that Karen does not know how to do.

It is time for the government to take responsibility for their actions in a reasonable way. Here are some suggestions:

1. Notify all Vietnam veterans in writing about the potential danger of Agent Orange. Many lives are at stake!

2. Aggressively get public service announcements in the media to inform those affected.

3. Process VA claims within 30 days of submission, and provide benefits from the start of the illness, not the date the claim form was submitted. I have been told by the VA that they are not sure if I will be reimbursed for my medical costs, which are substantial. Eliminate the technicalities in the law.

4. Provide free cancer screening and treatment for Vietnam vets at the location of their choice. This could be done through the Medicare Program, by providing a special class of Medicare coverage for veterans that covers specific illnesses, and requires no deductible or co-pays.

5. Provide free life insurance coverage for Agent Orange related deaths.

6. Provide fair compensation to survivors, that would insure that they would not suffer financially from their present life style. The compensation should cover at least lost wages over the average life expectancy of American citizens.

7. Add the names of those lost to Agent Orange to "The Wall" and properly recognize them as casualties of war.

8. Fund the above items, by taxing companies that produce goods that cause cancer, such as cigarette companies and companies that produce chemicals like Agent Orange.

9. Treat veterans' claims expediently with compassion, concern, and competence.

Unless the veterans are truly taken care of, the draft will never work again. My situation is not unusual.

Sincerely

Lynn N. Harris