Book excerpt: The hottest war zone this country has ever been in was being fought by eighteen- and nineteen-year boys, you can call them men if you want. Since I was once a soldier and later an officer, I must point out the facts of being a teenager and being a man. Most of them enlisted and many were drafted to go fight the war in Vietnam. While the United States of America was being defended planes began to return to the states loaded down with the bodies of these young eighteen and nineteen-year-old soldiers in body bags. If you are not knowledgeable about the Institute of Medicine (IOM). You would think it is the Veterans Administration (VA) fault why the Vietnam Veterans have not gotten their benefits. I would advise you to continue reading. Then I want you to ask the question why nongovernmental researchers are being hired to do the research on “Agent Orange?” I also want you to know the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is no longer under the same name. They have the same function but a new name called the Health & Medicine Division which is also nongovernmental. As concerned citizens we must ask the question of why nongovernmental agencies are being allowed to research “Agent Orange?” I am certain the results will not shock you as to why the VA is not able to advance the Vietnam Veterans benefits because they are receiving their reports from the (HMD) stating there is no correlation with “Agent Orange” to the sickness the Vietnam Veterans have. The VA gets these reports every two years. Another well kept secret is the number of agents used in Vietnam. While many of you think there was just “Agent Orange.” My research shows it was a total of six different agents used.