Operation Ranch Hand

Operation Ranch Hand was a U.S. military mission during the Vietnam War, primarily from 1962 to 1971. Its goal was to defoliate forests and destroy crops to reduce cover and food for enemy forces. This was accomplished using a herbicide called Agent Orange, which had devastating effects on both the environment and human health, leading to long-term issues for veterans and Vietnamese civilians. The operation aimed to weaken the Viet Cong, but it also sparked widespread controversy and concern over the ethical implications and lasting consequences of chemical warfare.