Hello to all. It has taken a long time for me to reach this point, but here I am. I served in Vietnam in 1965-66, with the 1st Admin Company, 1st Infantry Division, at Di An. Having worked for the division IG, I had a good (relatively safe) job in comparison to many of my fellow soldiers. And, I often have guilt feelings because of it, even after all these years. I know many of you men and women had it much rougher than I did, and, no doubt, many of you continue to lead a troublesome life today because of the ill effects from that war. Although I wasn't out in the jungles and rice paddies, I, too, suffer from being exposed to Agent Orange: diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, depression, and severe panic disorder. Of course, anxiety and depression are not listed as being caused from Agent Orange, but I know in my mind that it had its effect nonetheless. I read recently read that a study was done involving Vietnam veterans in New Zealand, and it was discovered that all who were tested had their DNA altered, and, more than likely, the DNA of their offspring had been altered as well. It makes me wonder what I have done to my two sons and two grandsons. Both my sons suffer from anxiety and depresson, both are pre-diabetic, and my oldest son has leukemia. Can you imagine the guilt feelings I have because of all this? In 2002, I published a book entitled River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood. Chapter 13 describes my Vietnam experience. If you wish to read it, you can visit a website called AuthorsDen. Please copy and paste the following address: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewshortstory.asp?id=15544. There are other chapters from the book on this site as well. In closing, I would like to say that I pray for the remainder of what years God gives you to be pleasant and painless, both physically and mentally. If you are one who is in close contact with our Creator, then please whisper a prayer for me as well. From the hills of West Virginia, I am,

Sincerely yours,

David Lee Thompson