Civilians who were exposed to Agent Orange on Guam should be entitled to the same assistance and compensation as military service members.

That's the point of a resolution by Sen. Jesse Lujan urging the U.S. Congress for fair treatment of civilian victims.

Many showed up for a hearing Monday night, to tell their stories about how they believe they were exposed when the military used to spray chemical herbicides throughout the island such as to kill weeds at the fuel pipelines.

Former fire chief, and Vietnam vet Joseph San Nicolas spoke at the hearing.

"As soon as they spray those things, the foliage just dies out, and it takes a couple of months and even years for it to come back," he said. and I see this also in Vietnam as an experience when I was out in the jungle and even right now I'm thinking, why did my son die of cancer? Why are we all dying from cancer, I've got cancer myself, I've got severe diabetes."

Former educator Lorraine Okada said as a young woman just starting a family in the late 70's she worked at Andersen Airforce Base.

"I gave birth to a fine healthy young boy whom I thought was healthy only to find out that my baby was diagnosed with cancer," she said. "Well, we find out years later that my late husband was exposed to Agent Orange and it was service-related due to his time in Vietnam. I thought it was an avenue for me to seek help from the veterans administration from my son. Since my late husband passed away I had no other means for help or support. I went to the VA only to be declined because the military and the veterans administration claim they have no responsibility over me and my son because we are civilians."

"I know there are many other civilians who have suffered the way I did. have suffered the way my son did. but they are non-military and they seem to have nowhere to go."

Plainly speaking, local doctor Vince Akimoto said the spraying of Agent Orange in Guam made our people sick.

"The nonmilitary use of Agent Orange on Guam has more likely than not contributed to the development of certain cancers and presumptive conditions such as type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, thyroid disease, and lung disease," he said.

If passed, the Lujan resolution seeking redress for civilian victims will be sent to the U.S. Congress.