Napalm
Napalm is a very destructive weapon. It is a mixture of plastic polystyrene, hydrocarbon benzene, and gasoline (Napalm, Agent Orange - The Vietnam War. (n.d.). Napalm, Agent Orange - The Vietnam War). Napalm is a gel like substance, which allows it to stick to whatever it comes into contact (Silverman, J. (2008, December 15). How Napalm Works. HowStuffWorks). If it come to contact on a person, the ignited napalm will cause unimaginable pain, which will commonly cause the person’s death. Napalm, when ignited, can burn from 1,500 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (Napalm and Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. (n.d.). About.com Asian History). Napalm was used in World War II by both the United States and Germany as fuel for flamethrowers. In 1944, it was developed into a bomb and was used by the United States on the Tinian Islands(Silverman, J. (2008, December 15). How Napalm Works. HowStuffWorks). The United States started using napalm for the Vietnam War in 1965. Dow Chemical Company produced napalm for the war from 1965 to 1969, often receiving criticism from the American public (Silverman, J. (2008, December 15). How Napalm Works. HowStuffWorks). Napalm was used in Vietnam by the United States to burn forests, villages, and people.
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is a herbicide that was used by the United States in Vietnam to destroy forests, since they were used by the Vietcong and the NVA to stage ambushes on U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. In January 12, 1962, Operation Ranch Hand was initiated. Its purpose was again to destroy forests and expose the roads and trails used by the Vietcong (Operation Ranch Hand initiated. (n.d.). History.com). Over 19 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides were sprayed 10 to 20 percent of Vietnam and parts of Laos from 1962 to 1971 (Operation Ranch Hand initiated. (n.d.). History.com). Almost five million people were exposed to these herbicides during the war and had deadly consequences. Agent Orange contained dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals known to humanity (The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the Vietnam War. (n.d.).). The World Health Organization has recognized dioxin as a carcinogen (The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the Vietnam War). When sprayed, Agent Orange caused a huge amount of damage to the environment. Forests and jungles in large parts of South Vietnam were destroyed due to contamination (The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the Vietnam War. (n.d.). ). Animals that lived in these forests and jungles were at the brink of extinction (The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the Vietnam War. (n.d.). ). Rivers and groundwater were also contaminated (The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the Vietnam War. (n.d.). ). Agent Orange, Even today, is still affecting the people of South Vietnam and their health.