Attn. Nam and Korean vets

[mike webb]

The chemical company(Dow, I think) had a major fund to pay out compensation to those affected by exposure to chemical defoliants but as usual in these cases many who had no business collecting applied and were awarded damages. The Canadian government administered the funds here in New Brunswick, home of Base Gagetown, a military training area since the early 50's.
Civilians were eligible if the lived in the areas adjacent to the base during the years it was used. There is a laundry list of ailments as long as your arm of things that enable compensation, heart disease, diabetes, hyper tension etc, many things that affect most in their later years WITHOUT exposure to chemicals. Thousands received a one time benefit cheque of $20,0000 each with just a doctor's signature that they suffered from SOMETHING on the list. I know people who were paid out for diabetes when every one of their family members was diabetic including those who didn't live in the area, same for heart disease. A man sixty years old who smokes like a chimney and was 100 lbs overweight got heart disease from Agent Orange? Right!!!
I am all for people who were genuinely affected being compensated but their was next to no due diligence here regarding who qualified. And to be honest most were civilians who were employed on the base as adults and are long dead.
Seemed like a big cash gravy train for dishonest people in my area. End of rant.