DeKalb Times

Illinois 14th Congressional District candidate James Marter highlighted Agent Orange Awareness Month, stating, "In the United States, 300,000 veterans have died from Agent Orange Exposure," in an October 8 Facebook post.

"October is Agent Orange Awareness month," said Marter, according to Facebook. "In the United States, 300,000 veterans have died from Agent Orange Exposure. Most veterans impacted served in the Vietnam War. Never forget their devotion and sacrifice for our freedoms."

According to the History Channel, Agent Orange is an herbicide used during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. The U.S. military sprayed various herbicides to destroy forest cover and crops that North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops used for concealment and sustenance. More than 20 million gallons of herbicides were sprayed over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, with Agent Orange being the most commonly used. It had multiple mixtures known as Agent Orange I, II, III, and Super Orange.

Screenshot of James Marter for Congress' Oct. 8 Facebook post | James Marter for Congress Facebook page

Military.com reports that the military used Agent Orange to clear nearly 12,000 square miles of jungles. The chemical can have a half-life of 20 years but may persist for over a century if buried or in river sediment. Military personnel are affected by various health conditions potentially caused by the chemical's use; however, not all these conditions are considered presumptive by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Cleveland Clinic lists several issues that could be caused by Agent Orange exposure, including AL amyloidosis, birth defects, Type 2 Diabetes, hypothyroidism, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, porphyria, Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism, respiratory cancers, and multiple types of cancer. The dioxin in Agent Orange can damage or destroy vital organs, the immune system, and hormones. The clinic notes that more than 300,000 U.S. veterans and over 400,000 Vietnamese people died after exposure to Agent Orange from 1962 to 1971.

Marter is an experienced political figure who currently serves as the Kendall County Republican Chairman. He also holds positions as Deputy on the GOP State Central Committee for Illinois' 14th District and trustee on the Oswego Library District Board. Additionally, he has a background as an Illinois 2020 14th District Presidential Elector.