Agent Orange buried in S. Korea, vets say
U.S. soldiers load tanks onto rail cars at Camp Carroll in South Korea. Three veterans say Agent Orange is buried there.
May 20th, 2011
02:57 PM ET

Agent Orange buried in S. Korea, vets say

The U.S. military command in South Korea says it is investigating veterans' claims that they buried barrels of the toxic herbicide Agent Orange at a U.S. facility there in the late 1970s.

Arizona resident Steve House told CNN affiliate KPHO in Phoenix that in 1978, he was ordered to dig a long trench for "disposal" at Camp Carroll, where he was stationed as an Army heavy equipment operator.

He wasn't told what would be buried in the trench, but he says he saw it.

"Fifty-five-gallon drums with bright yellow, some of them bright orange, writing on them," House told KPHO. "And some of the cans said Province of Vietnam, Compound Orange."

The U.S. military sprayed Agent Orange from planes onto jungles in Vietnam to kill vegetation in an effort to expose guerrilla fighters. Exposure to the chemical has been blamed for a wide variety of ailments, including certain forms of cancer and nerve disorders. It also has been linked to birth defects, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The military has always said that all leftover Agent Orange was incinerated at sea, but it is investigating nonetheless.

House's story was supported by Robert Travis, who served with him and now lives in West Virginia, according to the station.

"There was approximately 250 drums, all OD (olive drab) green," Travis told KPHO. "On the barrels it said, 'Chemicals type Agent Orange.' It had a stripe around the barrel dated 1967 for the Republic of Vietnam."

Travis recalled wheeling the barrels out of a warehouse at Camp Carroll, which GlobalSecurity.org says is home to the U.S. Army Material Support Center-Korea.  The camp is about 20 miles north of the major South Korean city of Daegu.

"This stuff was just seeping through the barrels," Travis said. "There was a smell ... I couldn't even describe it ... just sickly sweet."

Another former Camp Carroll soldier, Richard Cramer of Decatur, Illinois, told KPHO the same story. All three men report lingering medical problems they attribute to exposure to the chemical.

"I am aware of and concerned with news reports alleging burial of Agent Orange at Camp Carroll," Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, said in a news release. "Both Americans and Koreans live and work in and around Camp Carroll, and I share the concerns of the government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean people living near the installation. If any substances of concern are found, we will dispose of them properly."

South Korea's Environment Ministry has asked the Pentagon to verify the men's claims, a spokesman told Stars and Stripes. South Korean analysts started examining the Camp Carroll area on Friday and will soon begin collecting soil and water samples, the spokesman said.

House told KPHO he decided to come forward now because he thinks he may die soon.

"If I'm going to check out, I want to do it with a clean slate," he said.

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Filed under: Health • Military • South Korea • Vietnam • War • World
soundoff (37 Responses)
  1. Ted Barker

    Steve House first called me in early 2000 after I forwarded a newspaper article dated Nov 17, 1999 with revelations of AO being sprayed on the DMZ. The program was conceived in 1966, planned and executed by ROK soldiers under supervision of US. Since then, I have had many vets make assertions of varying types about their personal experience or symptoms of chemcial intoxication.

    USFK has taken aggressive steps to address this revelation along with ROK officials. We shall see about disposal claims and I hope address the issue of US vets that may have intoxication by chemicals.

    May 26, 2011 at 8:11 am | Report abuse |
  2. Grace

    Thank you for this post, especially during the 58th anniversary since the signing of the Korean War Armistice. Please also check out Christine Ahn's piece on Agent Orange: http://www.fpif.org/articles/agent_orange_in_korea
    Also, http://www.fpif.org and

    July 22, 2011 at 2:48 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Robert B.

    I was stationed at Camp Carrol 2001-2002. I have been to the building they are talking about it is still standing. I have been deeling with lots of health problems over the last several vears including nerve pain that has not been able to be diagnosed and lung problems that have come from nowhere. Thank you for this posting. It will help many in the long run.

    January 26, 2012 at 7:24 pm | Report abuse |
  4. david

    I also have problems i believe is related to agent orange poisoning. I was stationed at Camp Carroll in 1989. I have neuropathy among other ailments. If im looking at the correct site on the map, my lline shack was right next to it. If you know anyone whom was stationed there in 1989, PLEASE tell them to get in touch. my email is barbergoss@yahoo.com

    February 4, 2012 at 11:31 am | Report abuse |
  5. Chester Culbertson

    When Stationed at PhuCat Air Base in Vietnam in November or December of 1971 Myself and one other NCO Invetored and preped 250 55gal. drums of agent orange to be shiped . We spent 7 days checking drums tightning bungs that were leaking and inventoring drum numbers. Barrels were loaded on C141 transport plains and flown out at night. All flight all together two load.two seppret nights.

    March 10, 2012 at 9:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. rick

    I was stationed at Camp Carroll 1980. I have deabetes, numb fingers, high cholesterol, hight blood pressure, chronic back pain, pain in bottom of my feet. Does anyone else stationed there at this time have these same symptoms?

    July 31, 2013 at 4:36 pm | Report abuse |
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