Vietnam Veterans' children sick!

 

A Government study reveals deformity, illness, and 700 tragic deaths through accident and suicide.

We Vietnam veterans are angry and we are scared for our children. These numbers confirm what we Vietnam veterans have been saying for over twenty years. Some of them are far worse than anything we could have imagined. The number of children affected is not fully known but the greatly elevated rates of cancer, spina bifida, and many other normally rare diseases are disturbing. The study reveals that the number of Vietnam Veterans children who have died from the combined causes of accident and suicide is 250% higher than for other young Australians.

This is not the first study that has been done, but it is the most thorough, completed by about 85% of all Vietnam veterans it shattered all records for response to a Government survey.

The bottom line is that Vietnam veterans, our spouses and our children suffer from a range of illnesses far greater than the rest of the population:

 

Added to this a very high number of veterans partners have sought treatment for stress related illness, sleep disorders and depression.

 

What we want from the government is for it to fulfil its promise, and to acknowledge responsibility. We have done our duty for this country; it is time for the government do to theirs. The government should institute health and education programs to treat and prevent illnesses. Then look at assisting disabled children of Vietnam veterans. Paying for treatment, medication, accommodation, building and vehicle modifications, and a lot more.

If any have life long illness or disability then they should be compensated through the payment of a pension. (Compensation)

 

While we Vietnam veterans’ may have been prepared to wait for the wheels of government and the Dept of Veterans’ Affairs to turn as painfully slowly as they have in looking at our illnesses and disabilities, we are not prepared to give the same ground when it comes to the health of our children or of our wives/husbands and partners. WE WANT THEM LOOKED AFTER NOW!

 

Gary McMahon.