The evening of my last night in HCMC - November 2008 - I was invited to a reception by the City’s People’s Committee, held at the City Hall. There with friends and distinguished guests, and in the presence of the media, I met with Mr Nguyen Thanh Tai, Vice-Chairman of the People’s Committee.
During the course of the meeting Mr Nguyen Thanh Tai expressed thanks on behalf of the city for the work on Agent Orange and the letters I had sent to the nearby office of Monsanto, inviting them to come with me to see the children affected by Agent Orange at the Tu Du Hospital. Monsanto was one of the 37 companies that manufactured Agent Orange.
There was much laughter when I injected and told the vice-chairman that Monsanto had moved their office, and that if he would let me know where their office now was, I would send them another invitation.
After asking the media present to give more publicity to the city’s victims of Agent Orange, which on asking to say a few words, I gladly endorsed, Mr Nguyen Thanh Tai presented me with the Medal and Certificate and stated you are now an Honorary Citizen of our City.
The military used Agent Orange to clear the surrounding areas of the American and allied military bases in South Vietnam and the foliage by the roadsides. Later it was used to destroy forests to expose the Vietnamese forces opposed to the Americans and their allies. It was also used to destroy the crops that the U.S. felt would be useful to the forces opposing them.
On 30th April 2009, Vietnam National Day to commemorate their Victory of 1975, the BVFS set-up a New Online Petition addressed to President Obama and Members of Congress calling for Justice.
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