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Ohio House passes resolution honoring US soldiers exposed to Agent Orange

The Ohio House of Representatives has unanimously passed a resolution honoring the 2.6 million American soldiers exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The U.S. Armed Forces used Agent Orange to destroy crops and vegetation between 1961 and 1971 as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand. During that 10-year period, more than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed, exposing soldiers to the dangerous chemicals, according to a news release from state Rep. Daniel P. Troy’s Office. Troy sponsored the resolution.

Many service members developed severe and often fatal illnesses upon returning home from duty. Approximately 300 deaths occur every day among Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, the news release stated.

“This resolution ensures the heroism of every soldier who sacrificed their health and wellbeing in Vietnam is properly acknowledged,” Troy said in a statement. “It is my hope that our work in the Ohio House will encourage the federal government to take additional action and provide Agent Orange victims with the benefits they have earned.

“I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support and recognize Lake County resident and Vietnam veteran Arnold Stanko, who recently passed away, for his steadfast advocacy and impassioned committee testimony,” he added. “Without question, his efforts were crucial to the resolution passing.”

Stanko enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. and volunteered for deployment in Vietnam as a combat engineer. Stanko spent 38 years in law enforcement following his military service, including 17 years as a police chief. Stanko, 70, died Jan. 16.

Stanko gave proponent testimony for the resolution during a Nov. 17 Ohio House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.

“There are private organizations and foundations out there that recognize Agent Orange,” Stanko said. “Understandably, the names of Ohio Vietnam veterans that died from Agent Orange are not on the (Vietnam Veterans Memorial) wall in Washington D.C. Those suffering from Agent Orange exposure were wounded internally, not externally and our only guarantee is a lifetime of pain and suffering. A battle with this disease will ultimately end in death for Vietnam veterans.”

Stanko said it was his mission to make Ohio one of the first states to pass a measure honoring soldiers exposed to Agent Orange.

“Ohio warriors are not asking for a Purple Heart,” he said. “We don’t want a Purple Heart. We understand that. Or our names to be inscribed on a wall in D.C. We know that. But we surely earned, and are entitled to, recognition and honor.”