Operation: Ranch Hand (jan 9, 1962 – jan 15, 1971)

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Vietnam is known for its dense jungles which impair vision, conceal the enemy well, and provid breeding grounds for many annoying insects such as mosquitos. The United States utilizes herbicides and defoliants to clear much of the flora throughout Operation: Ranch Hand. By the end of the war, over 21 million gallons of a substance known as "Agent Orange" are used throughout 6,542 sprays by the US Air Force. It is called so because of the orange stripe used to mark its container. The substance ends up being notoriously toxic, causing lasting effects on the soldiers and civilians who are exposed to it, including cancer and birth defects.

Other herbicides and defoliants include Agent Blue, Agent White, and others. As a whole, they are referred to as "rainbow herbicides."

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