Malaria Pills

Company A

227th Assault Helicopter Battalion

1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

Malaria Pills, An Update
by (Former) WO-1 John L. Keller, 1st Flt Plt, A/227, April 1966-1967

This is not really a "story," but a followup on an article I wrote for the VHPA Newsletter that was printed in August, 1995. It was reprinted in the 1st Cavalry Division Association's SABER for November, 1995, VHCMA Newsletter March, 1996, and the Black Hawk Association "Hawk Talk" of April, 1996. The forty seven responses I received were somewhat eye-opening and very informative. The respondents were current or former U.S. Military personnel from World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. This was not a scientific study, but it did prove helpful for some former Viet Nam veterans to attain V.A. review of their cases for various related illnesses.
To begin with, those of us in the Central Highlands of South Viet Nam during 1966, were required by Order of the Division Commander to take a 500MG CHLOROQUINE-PRIMAQUINE PILL each Monday of our tour. At one point, the Division CG put out another ORDER that if any personnel of the First Cavalry Division were diagnosed with Malaria, they would be subject to a Court Martial! In late 1966, some medical personnel determined that the Mosquito-spread version of Falciparum Malaria was becoming "drug resistant" to the CHLOROQUINE we were taking. CHLOROQUINE is a Malaria prevention drug, while the PRIMAQUINE portion was a Malaria treatment drug. Both drugs in one big, ORANGE pill, totaled 500MG. The little, white DAPSONE pill of 25MG was added to the mix and was required to be taken everyday!
Many of us had numerous side-effects from the pills, but you may remember runny diarrhea, itching, headaches, and vision problems. If that wasn’t enough, quite a few people had Liver, Kidney, and Heart problems from daily ingestion of the DAPSONE in the 25MG dosage. Other side effects of the CHLOROQUINE-PRIMAQUINE; after dosages of at least three months, may be depression and anxiety.
Several respondents reported going to the V.A. Hospitals with severe retinal problems. One WWII/Korea Veteran had taken the CHLOROQUINE for six total years. He was diagnosed as legally blind due to severe retinal damage. It took him until 1995 to get a 100% disability for his drug caused blindness! A respondent from Florida fought the V.A. for over nine years before he was awarded a 100% disability for his severe retinal damage. It was backdated to the first time he filed for compensation and was summarily denied. He had requested several times to stop the Malaria pills, due to severe headaches, nausea, and vision problems while in the Viet Nam Central Highlands. His request to be tested for severe reactions was denied by the Flight Surgeon.
The U.S. Army Surgeon General responded to one Congressional request for information with the less than accurate claim that the Malaria pills we took in 1966 were NEVER in excess of 200MG! However, a respondent to my article was a Combat Medic at Pleiku and still had a large bottle of the CHLOROQUINE-PRIMAQUINE pills clearly marked as: 500MG! When the Medic went through training at Fort Sam Houston, his class was told that there were at least 1,000 deaths from the drug and more than 10,000 casualties! Based on an article by Colonel (Retired) David Hackworth, the pills were "experimental" at the time and were not FDA tested for use in the United States. Being a "test subject" while in Viet Nam was actually more dangerous than getting shot at?
One Medic reported a returning Special Forces SFC had taken the pills for five years. At Fort Sill, while in the Army Hospital, the SFC died and the autopsy report showed that his Liver had turned to stone! Many of the drugs we take go into the Liver and Kidneys and stay there for great lengths of time. Other respondents had reported severe to limited bouts of bleeding through the skin; with no known cause when tested by Medical Doctors.
If you are concerned over issues of health that may be related to your tour or tours in Viet Nam and the pills we were required to take, you may wish to file a claim with the Veteran's Administration. Others are now starting to see their claims settled with adjudication as; SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY! Good luck and thank you for your service!