As the following Oregonian article documents, claims related to Agent Orange exposure for veterans who served aboard C-123 aircraft during the Vietnam War-era continue to be a contentious issue for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently held hearings to discuss the medical and scientific literature debating exposure issues while service aboard C-123s. It is worth highlighting that Rutgers own, Professor Peter Kahn, provided testimony (I believe around hour three of the oral testimony) stating:
“What the government has been doing . . . [is] putting up the façade of scientific objectivity in order to avoid action. I regard it as a failure of political courage and moral courage.”
There is an excellent website devoted specifically to the C-123 issue at http://www.c123kcancer.blogspot.com for those veterans who need additional information.