To: Prof. Kenneth Herrmann, Director
    SUNY Brockport Vietnam Program

I am writing this letter in response to the appeal you made in the Thanh Nien Newspaper on May 24, 2004.

My name is Nguyen Thi Thach and I was born in 1970. I am living in Que Lam, Que Son, Quang Nam. I was born and raised up in the area where the US troops had dumped lots of chemicals. We were not aware of the effects of these deadly chemicals. So we continued to eat and drink all of the contaminated vegetables and water. Since then, I have begun having diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, ulcerous skin, and arthritis.

My parents were also affected by AO and they passed away at early age. I married in 1991. My first daughter, Nguyen Thi Thang, was born in 1992. She is a normal and healthy kid. My second son, Nguyen Son Tung, was born in 1997. His head is very soft, he has seizures all the time, and his muscles are atrophying. He cannot recognize anyone or anything. My third child, Nguyen Thi Vy, was born on July 10, 2000. She is experiencing the same symptoms as her brother.

My family life is very difficult now. My hope is that my letter will be read by humanitarian organizations and caring individuals.

Prof. Herrmann, please forward my letter to the companies that produced Agent Orange. Tell them that they must assume the responsibilities for what they have caused to my family and millions of other Vietnamese families.

Thank you.

Nguyen Thi Thach

I attached a picture of Nguyen Son Tung and Nguyen Thi Vy.

trans. Nguyen Thi My Hoa