Who the hell is Elmo Zumwalt and what the heck is he doing in my autograph collection?!?!? Let me splain, Lucy. 

“I am a lawyer and I don't think I could prove in court, by the weight of the existing scientific evidence, that Agent Orange is the cause of all the medical problems – nervous disorders, cancer and skin problems – reported by Vietnam veterans, or of their children's severe birth defects. But I am convinced that it is.” – Elmo Zumwalt to the New York Times in 1986 

As a highly decorated Naval Officer, Zumwalt was appointed the Chief of Naval Operations by Nixon and was an integral player in Vietnam.  He was ahead of his time, changing policies to reduce sexism and racism.   

But most outstanding is his connection with and statements about the spraying of Agent Orange.  Both his son (who served in one of Zumwalt’s patrol boats in Vietnam) and his grandson suffered from lymphoma, Hodgkins and learning disabilities – and Elmo Zumwalt made a point of publicly stating that both his son and grandson suffered their inflictions due to Agent Orange.   

Agent Orange was the highly toxic chemical that Admiral Zumwalt had sprayed all over the Mekong Delta in Vietnam to “kill vegetation”.  Who in their right mind would have thought such a chemical wouldn’t possibly harm humans and be passed down to future generations?  Vietnam historians have written volumes about Agent Orange and their citizens have been affected for generations – as well as American and other soldiers who fought there.   

I think some people are still skittish discussing biological warfare, especially the Agent Orange fallout, deaths, injuries and disabilities. No offense or disrespect to Admiral Zumwalt, because neither commander nor soldiers realized what was being unleashed.  But “War! Huh! Yeah! What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!” – Edwin Starr spoke the truth, especially about the “American War” (in Vietnam), as the Vietnamese call it. 

I’ve been to the War Museum in Saigon and it’s 100% brutal to see pictures of what Agent Orange did to people.  So no, I don’t want that booster shot. 

“War, war is stupid. And people are stupid.” – The War Song by Culture Club