AOKorea

This page is devoted solely to stories about the use of Agent Orange in Korea. There are many good websites devoted to AO's usage in Vietnam and in Korea, but many Vets still find it difficult to receive recognition from the DOD for their handling of AO, which has caused them any number of illnesses. I have collected some stories here and I hope this will be a place for more of these stories to be found. I will list the stories using your time in country as my guide. Thank you all for your service .

1968-70

I served in Korea at Ascom Depot from Dec 1968 to Feb 1970. I was assigned to Company B, Supply and Transportation Division. As noted in your book on page 46 you make mention to the abandoned compounds being guarded and once the transfer point of Agent Orange and all stuffs needed at the DMZ and ect… Our unit was the one responsible for storing, shipping and transporting Agent Orange to the DMZ and at times these barrels would get punctured by the forklifts causing this chemical to leak out and getting in contact with our skin. We would then patch these barrels to be shipped out.

What I also remember is alongside of our warehouse and storage yard, there was a small canal that ran along side of it on the east side and across the canal was the back of several buildings from the villages...there were many times kids and adults would open the windows and doors to wave at us. The storage yard was a really large area south of the main warehouse.....

As you might be aware, Agent Orange has and continues to cause health issues to veterans of Korea and Viet Nam. I for one have serious heart disease and high blood pressure which was detected back in 1975 while still on active duty. After I left Korea in Feb 1970, I volunteered and went to Viet Nam in April 1970 from Ft Hood, Texas. As of now the VA does not recognize certain Korean Vets serving in country during 1968 to 1969 as being exposed to Agent Orange except certains areas along the DMZ. Ascom Depot of course was not near the DMZ but we did store the barrels of Agent Orange and thus being in direct contact with the chemical. I h ave to file a VA Claim for my heart disease and hypertension which has now been linked to Agent Orange but not presumptive for disability at this time. This would help thousands of other veteran's who suffer from illnesses caused by AO and that served in Korea at Ascom Depot.

Thank you
RW - Neosho, Missouri

1968-71

I remembered ascom and surrounding areas as 45 compound, gate 8 (Main Entry), gate 5 (delivery entry), etc. The main area (if you are facing gate 8) in question for agent orange is located to the left of the next gate on the right of gate 8. The area had huge storages of items. I forget the name of the area but this was where it may have been. Is there a more detailed map of ascom city?

SEPARATE ENTRY...
...for the most part, I was stationed at the ASCOM DEPOT. There was very little vegetation (including grass) inside or surrounding the ASCOM compound - it was virtually desolate. Rocks and gravel like stones were used for landscaping. I recall a building in the depot with barrels of TOXIC HERBICIDES stacked up on the side of it. I now know it was Agent Orange. The barrels had the “Hazardous Materials” symbols and warnings on them. The barrels were 55 gallons in size. I was sometimes detailed to help load them on pallets and onto 2 ½ ton trucks that would then depart for units. We also moved them from one area of the depot to another area. We stacked them on pallets in a gazebo like building .There were more than a 100 barrels, OD green in color and I think some were black. I recall something was written on them in white or yellow lettering with an orange strip around the barrels.

Since leaving the service, I have been diagnosed with Diabetes II, Neuropathy, Hypotension, Hepatitis C, Myopathy (muscle disease), Depression and Anxiety. I have sleep problems almost constantly and I have Erectile Dysfunction. I believe that these problems are a result of exposure to Agent Orange during my time at ASCOM in South Korea.

REW, ASCOM, Korea 2/69 - 3/70

1966-67

I contacted, by phone, my former CO (................) about any spraying in and around ASCOM. He didn't seem to want to answer or discuss anything else, however my instinct tells me he knows. ASCOM was a big compound housing just about everything brought in country (through Inchon or Kimpo) and disbursing it out. Hence, Agent Orange was there in one form or another. My hunch, maintenance stored it and released it upon requisition (which included field testing and compound spaying in 1967).

I have Type II Diabetes which I attribute to it. Keep me posted,
WJ - ASCOM 66-67

SEPARATE ENTRY...
Did you remember that Ascom was the main supply depot? That was where agent orange arrived in country. The area was soaked in the stuff. The barrels were off loaded by forklift and the arms sometimes punchered the barrels and there were spills.
WM - Ascom City (date unknown)