Agent Purple: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:30, 16 February 2025

Agent Purple[edit]

Agent Purple was a herbicide and defoliant used by the United States military during the Vietnam War. It was part of the "Rainbow Herbicides" program, which included other herbicides such as Agent Orange, Agent White, and Agent Blue.

Composition and Use[edit]

Agent Purple was composed of a mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, two phenoxy herbicides. The 2,4,5-T component was contaminated with dioxin, a highly toxic compound that has been linked to various health issues. The primary purpose of Agent Purple was to remove foliage that provided cover for enemy forces and to destroy crops that could be used to feed them.

Deployment in Vietnam[edit]

Agent Purple was used in the early stages of the Vietnam War, primarily between 1962 and 1964. It was applied using aerial spraying techniques, often from C-123 Provider aircraft as part of Operation Ranch Hand. The image to the right shows a UC-123B aircraft spraying defoliant in Vietnam in 1962.

Health and Environmental Impact[edit]

The use of Agent Purple, like other herbicides in the Rainbow Herbicides program, has been associated with significant health problems for both Vietnamese civilians and veterans of the war. The dioxin contamination in Agent Purple has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health issues. The environmental impact was also severe, leading to long-term damage to ecosystems and biodiversity in affected areas.

Related Pages[edit]

Template:Vietnam War

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Defoliant and herbicide used by the U.S. military}}
+== Agent Purple ==
-{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-'''Agent Purple''' was a powerful [[herbicide]] and [[defoliant]] used by the [[United States military]] during the early stages of the [[Vietnam War]]. It was part of the "[[Rainbow Herbicides]]" group, which included other chemicals such as [[Agent Orange]], [[Agent White]], and [[Agent Blue]].
+[[File:UC-123B_Ranch_Hand_spraying_1962.jpg|thumb|right|UC-123B Ranch Hand aircraft spraying defoliant in Vietnam, 1962]]
-==Composition==
+'''Agent Purple''' was a [[herbicide]] and [[defoliant]] used by the [[United States]] military during the [[Vietnam War]]. It was part of the "[[Rainbow Herbicides]]" program, which included other herbicides such as [[Agent Orange]], [[Agent White]], and [[Agent Blue]].
-Agent Purple was composed of a mixture of two [[phenoxy herbicides]]: [[2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid|2,4-D]] and [[2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid|2,4,5-T]]. The latter component, 2,4,5-T, was contaminated with [[2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|TCDD]], a highly toxic [[dioxin]] compound, as a byproduct of its manufacturing process.
-==Usage==
+== Composition and Use ==
-Agent Purple was primarily used to destroy [[foliage]] and [[forest]] cover that provided concealment for [[Viet Cong]] and [[North Vietnamese Army]] forces. It was also used to clear [[jungle]] areas around [[military base]]s and [[airfield]]s to improve visibility and security.
-==Health and Environmental Impact==
+Agent Purple was composed of a mixture of [[2,4-D]] and [[2,4,5-T]], two [[phenoxy herbicides]]. The 2,4,5-T component was contaminated with [[dioxin]], a highly toxic compound that has been linked to various health issues. The primary purpose of Agent Purple was to remove [[foliage]] that provided cover for enemy forces and to destroy [[crops]] that could be used to feed them.
-The use of Agent Purple, like other [[herbicides]] in the Rainbow Herbicides group, has been associated with severe [[health]] issues and [[environmental]] damage. The presence of TCDD in Agent Purple has been linked to [[cancer]], [[birth defects]], and other serious health problems in both [[Vietnamese]] populations and [[U.S. military]] personnel exposed to the chemical.
-==Historical Context==
+== Deployment in Vietnam ==
-Agent Purple was one of the first herbicides used in [[Operation Ranch Hand]], a military operation aimed at defoliating large areas of [[Vietnam]]. The operation began in 1962 and continued until 1971, with Agent Purple being used primarily in the early years.
+Agent Purple was used in the early stages of the [[Vietnam War]], primarily between 1962 and 1964. It was applied using [[aerial spraying]] techniques, often from [[C-123 Provider]] aircraft as part of [[Operation Ranch Hand]]. The image to the right shows a UC-123B aircraft spraying defoliant in Vietnam in 1962.
+== Health and Environmental Impact ==
+The use of Agent Purple, like other herbicides in the Rainbow Herbicides program, has been associated with significant [[health problems]] for both [[Vietnamese]] civilians and [[veterans]] of the war. The [[dioxin]] contamination in Agent Purple has been linked to [[cancer]], [[birth defects]], and other serious health issues. The environmental impact was also severe, leading to long-term damage to [[ecosystems]] and [[biodiversity]] in affected areas.
+== Related Pages ==
-==Related pages==
 * [[Agent Orange]]
+* [[Rainbow Herbicides]]
+* [[Vietnam War]]
+* [[Dioxin]]
 * [[Operation Ranch Hand]]
-* [[Vietnam War]]
-* [[Herbicide]]
-==Gallery==
+{{Vietnam War}}
-<gallery>
+{{Herbicides}}
-File:UC-123B_Ranch_Hand_spraying_1962.jpg|A UC-123B aircraft spraying defoliant in 1962
-</gallery>
 [[Category:Herbicides]]
 [[Category:Vietnam War]]
-[[Category:United States chemical weapons program]]
+[[Category:Military history of the United States]]