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Agent Orange brings Vietnam veterans together

SWATARA TWP., Dauphin County (WPMT) — Over 100 Vietnam veterans and family members gathered Saturday night to discuss the effects of Agent Orange, the che...

SWATARA TWP., Dauphin County (WPMT) -- Over 100 Vietnam veterans and family members gathered Saturday night to discuss the effects of Agent Orange, the chemical used by the United States military in the Vietnam War to destroy jungles, but often times, harmed their own men.

The town hall meeting allowed people to learn which diseases are covered by Veterans Affairs, and what still is not. A list of covered conditions can be found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

"They come here they get information, because a lot of guys didn't really know what was going on," said local Vietnam veteran Jim Imperato.

Many U.S. soldiers were in the Vietnamese jungles when Agent Orange was sprayed by planes and helicopters. They thought it was mosquito spray, Imperato said. It wasn't until years later they learned the effects of Agent Orange.

"I'm diabetic, have a heart condition, and my skin breaks out in the summer," Imperato said.

Imperato estimates hundreds of thousands of Americans still live while being affected by Agent Orange.

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