A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised new concerns about an overlooked chapter in veterans’ health history: the use of open-air burn pits during the Vietnam War. While burn pits from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been widely documented, studied, and linked to a range of long-term health issues, similar practices in Vietnam remain largely unexamined. This gap in research leaves a significant population of Vietnam veterans without the recognition or benefits that might address the health consequences of their service.
The Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, U.S. military personnel routinely used open-air burning to dispose of waste. These pits were not limited to paper and trash; they often included plastics, solvents, human waste, chemicals, and even classified documents. Many of these burn sites were situated dangerously close to where service members lived and worked, meaning exposure to thick smoke and toxic fumes was a daily occurrence. Veterans have described the air as suffocating, with odors that lingered and clung to clothing and equipment.
The health toll of such exposure is becoming clearer, even decades later. One decorated Army lieutenant, for instance, now suffers from emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and serious cardiac complications. She attributes these conditions to the burn pit exposures she endured in Vietnam, yet the link remains officially unacknowledged. Her story mirrors those of thousands of veterans from later conflicts who fought for years to have burn pit illnesses recognized as service-connected.
Today, nearly 1.4 million Vietnam veterans are still alive. Yet, unlike exposure to Agent Orange—another toxic legacy of the war that eventually resulted in presumptive VA benefits—there are no specific disability benefits or presumptive conditions tied to burn pit exposure in Vietnam. This leaves veterans in a challenging position: they must individually prove that their illnesses are directly connected to their service, often without the support of scientific studies or VA policy.
The PACT ACT
The passage of the PACT Act in 2022 was a historic moment for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, expanding access to benefits for those exposed to toxic substances, including burn pits. However, Vietnam-era burn pit exposure was not explicitly addressed in the legislation. The GAO report points out that more research is needed, especially research that includes veterans’ own accounts of what they were exposed to. At the same time, the Department of Veterans Affairs has warned that relying heavily on veterans’ testimony may present challenges due to “recall bias,” as memories fade over decades.
Veteran advocates disagree with this cautious stance. They argue that if Vietnam veterans could stand behind younger generations of service members in advocating for burn pit recognition, they deserve the same acknowledgment in return. After all, the chemical and environmental hazards of burn pits are not unique to any one conflict—they are part of a broader pattern of exposure risks faced by U.S. service members across eras.
The GAO’s findings
The GAO’s findings serve as a call to action. Without proper study, thousands of veterans may continue to live with debilitating health conditions linked to exposures that are officially ignored. Just as the government eventually recognized the consequences of Agent Orange, a similar commitment is needed for Vietnam burn pits. For the nation’s veterans, recognition is not only about benefits—it is about justice, validation, and honoring their sacrifice.
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