FILE- A warning sign stands in a field contaminated with dioxin near Danang airport, during a ceremony marking the start of a project to clean up dioxin left over from the Vietnam War, at a former U.S. military base in Danang, Vietnam, Aug. 9, 2012. The sign reads; “Dioxin contamination zone – livestock, poultry and fishery operations not permitted.” (AP Photo/Maika Elan, File)
At a recent Utah Agent Orange Veterans Foundation (UAOVF) fundraising event in Sunset, Robert F. Smalling was awarded the Orange Heart Medal (OHM) by UAOVF Chairman Larry Kerr.
Robert is a Vietnam veteran who was exposed to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. As a result of his exposure, he has dealt with some extremely serious health issues over the years.
The OHM was created to honor victims of Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides for their internal injuries. It is similar in shape to the Purple Heart, which honors service members for external wounds.
Unlike the Purple Heart however, the OHM is not currently an official military award. Nevertheless, the OHM has been approved by lawmakers in a number of states and is considered a prestigious medal.
The OHM was designed and created by Vietnam veteran Ken Gamble, founder and president of the Orange Heart Medal Foundation in Springfield, Tennessee. Ken envisions the medal eventually being approved in all 50 states.
The pinning ceremony in Sunset’s Rachael Runyan Memorial Park on Aug. 9 was the latest ceremony of its type in Utah. There is little doubt that other deserving Utah veterans will also be awarded the OHM.
Nelson Thibault, Salt Lake City