Barrels of Misery at Fort Chaffee

The following is a personal story submitted to Civilian Exposure and published as part of our new series: “Contamination Chronicles: Personal Stories of Exposure”. If you would like to submit your story, you may fill out our form here or send directly via email to share-@-civilianexposure.org.

Do you have information as to how long it takes for Agent Orange/Blue to dissipate from the environment? Do you have pictures of the hundreds of 55-gallon barrels/drums stored in warehouses at Fort Chaffee after Agent Orange/Blue was tested in 1967-68? Do you have any information about how the hundreds of 55-gallon drums stored in the warehouses at Fort Chaffee were disposed of in April of 1975?

I have filed a claim with VA for exposure to Agent Orange/Blue, which has been denied.  I am in the process of appealing and need all information I can obtain.

On April 14, 1975, an Army SP5 was sent to Fort Chaffee from the 471st Transportation Company in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The SP5 reported to WO4 Wright of US Amy Caretaker Detachment at 1600 hours. On April 29th , 1975, the SP5 along with 20 other soldiers and 25 civilians using 15 trucks were ordered to collect all of the Agent Orange, Agent White and Agent Blue stored in warehouses at the Chaffee Airfield.

All the toxins were stored in 55-gallon drums and stacked from floor to ceiling. The personnel moving the toxins were told that they were all harmless herbicides. All the warehouses were emptied and the toxins were taken to the Post Engineer and Lawn Care section. They were then sprayed along all roadways, around all buildings, the airfield, Razorback Bombing range, Potato Hill, other firing ranges and fire brakes.

If anyone reading this has any additional information on this, it would be very much appreciated.

Note from the Editor: The author currently resides in Washington. The account/editorial is verbatim from the author without edit, with only the omission of their name to preserve anonymity.