The Lasting Devastation of Napalm

My friends and I spent a somber three hours in the War Atrocites Museum in Saigon.   The following photos are from an exhibition by Japanese and Vietnamese photographers taken in the US, South Korea, and Vietnam. 

The lasting impacts of napalm cross borders.  What scientists invented this horror?  And what people allowed it to be used?  

While the US victims have received some compensation, no compensation has been provided to the Vietnamese victims.  And the genetic legacy of this terrible war continues.

 

Eight year old Do Duc Duyen jokes around with his mother after breakfast.  Duyen's instinct for living has enabled his parents to overcome their difficulties, and he continues to givem them strength through hís joy in life. 

Nguyen Hoai Thuong wants to touch a flower.  She was born in 2008 to Mrs. Tran Thi Cam Giang,
living in Cu Chi District in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, born in 1964, in Vinh Long Province.  He sufers from Recklinghausen disease.

Dan Loney has many symptoms related to toxic chemical exposure--numbness, nausea, and headaches.  His wife has suffered several miscarriages, and hís daughter was born with an arm that ends below her shoulder.  She is very beautiful.

Mr. Ke Van Bac was born in 1988, in A Luoi District, Thua Thien Hue.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chot ís 62 years old, the mother of 2 children.  Her husband, Nguyen Sat, was a soldier in the old regime and was based near Hoi An City.  One of her children, 38 year old Nguyen Vinh, began to manifest severe health problems at the age of 2, when his legs and arms began to shrivel.  Day in and day out, he lives in a bed.  Hís only interruption comes every 3 days when his mother carries him outside to bathe him.   

Mr. Nguyen Van Loc, with his mother and two sons, in Quang Tri Province.

Pham Viet Tuong was born in 1990 in Quang Nam Province.  Tuong was the best student in hís class
for several years and wơn the silver prize for chess in Quang Nam Province.

Nguyen Hoang Anh, born in 1991, is always eager to learn.  He lives in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is the radiant face of Thuy Linh, whose miraculous legs have helped her overcome
being born without arms.  She is a gifted painter.  Linh's grandfather,
a helicopter pilot, handled Agent Orange from 1962-1970 and pased away from
leukemia in 1972.  Now Tu Du Hospital in Hoa Binh village is caring for Linh.

Dan Jordan is officially acknowledged as a victim of Agent Orange.
His son (above) has congenital deformities of his hands. 
Dan Jordan and other veterans took the lead in the class action law suit
against the chemical company that produced Agent Orange. 
The suit was settled in 1983 for $180 million.  



Ms. Pham Thi Vuong ứa bỏn in 1978 in Quang Ngai Province. 
At age 27, she is only 0.8 meters tall and weighs only 12 kilograms.  
The lower half of her body is paralyzed. 
She helps support her family by making and selling crafts.