“We don't have time, we're running out of time,” Retired U.S. Army Captain Agnes “Irish” Bresnahan prophetically whispered as she explained her Vietnam-era Agent Orange exposure in an April 2008 Valley Patriot interview. “There is no cure, no treatment. It just keeps coming and we are dying,” she explained referring the many former soldiers who shared her illness.

On March 11, 2009, less than a year after honoring the Valley Patriot as our May 2008 Valley Patriot of the Month, and just two days after providing testimony for her Agent Orange exposure in Washington, D.C., Capt. Bresnahan passed at George Washington University Hospital.

In our 2008 interview, the frail yet spiritually spunky (then 57-year old) attributed her long illness to state-side Agent Orange exposure during basic training in the 70s at the U.S. Army's Chemical Center and School at Ft. McClellan in Alabama. Over the years, Capt. Bresnahan has been tireless in her efforts to inform Congress and the Veteran's Administration about the plight of state-side Agent Orange exposure, and the long-term effect of toxins. She has served as a rallying beacon for many, reaching out and creating a network between hundreds of former military men and women who are suffering long-term disabilities due to chemical exposure.

During the past year, the Valley Patriot has followed the plight of Capt. Bresnahan. Reviewed countless e-mails, documents, and testimony from her and others, and have been honored that she chose to include The Valley Patriot in her information network.

Capt. Bresnahan was the beloved daughter of the late John C. Bresnahan and Agnes Scanlan Bresnahan. Born in Methuen, MA, raised in neighboring Lawrence in a family of 12 children, four brothers, seven sisters, Irish had attended Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, Massachusetts and graduated from Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont on the ROTC program in 1972. She studied at the University of Texas in the post-graduate program.

Irish trained with the U.S. Army at Fort McClellan in Alabama and proudly served her country stateside and in Germany from 1971 until 1977. She earned The Army Commendation Medal four times, twice with the First Oak Leaf Cluster; she also received The National Defense Medal twice. After retiring from the military, she worked at the IRS as a computer systems analyst until 2005. She was a staunch advocate for veterans' rights. She was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans of America, the United Female Veterans of America, and the American Legion, among other veterans' groups.

In 1971, “Irish” was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and began Boot-camp training at Ft. McClellan in Alabama. Fort McClellan was home of the Women's Army Corps School, and the U.S. Army's Chemical Center and School. In addition to the Chemical School, Fort McClellan hosted the U.S. Army's Combat Developments Command Chemical Biological-Radiological Agency.

It was here, she claims, that her life took an unexpected and unwarranted turn.

“Training exercises involved exposure to various gases which we were told were quote/unquote not in a quantity to inflict permanent harm. We thought it was tear gas” she had told the Valley Patriot. Following an extreme skin reaction after exposure, Capt. Bresnahan said she began a downward spiral of medical problems. She was later transferred to Camp Richie in Maryland and from there received her diagnosis at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in D.C. and began a long road back to stability.

Irish is survived by her mother, Agnes J. Bresnahan of Lawrence, Pamela Sullivan of Windham, John and Leslie Bresnahan of North Andover, Michael Bresnahan of York, Maine, Kathleen and Al Augevich of Haverhill, Patricia and Charles Gately of Wareham, Mary Bresnahan of Methuen, Claire Bresnahan of Houston, Texas, James Bresnahan of Pacifica, California, Thomas and Janice Bresnahan of Haverhill, Theresa Bresnahan of Lawrence, Margaret and Ernesto Hernandez of Houston, Texas, Maureen Bresnahan of Lawrence, many nieces and nephews, one great nephew, and many, many friends.

She was predeceased by her father, John C. Bresnahan, a former Massachusetts state representative.

In our 2008 interview, Capt. Bresnahan explained “Agent Orange doesn't care where you were exposed. It's an equal opportunity poison. You could be here or in Vietnam or anywhere,” she said. “People think the baby boomers are going to drain Social Security. We're not. Because we'll be lucky to make it to 60 or 62. You try to get the word out,” she explained.

“Everybody has to fight on their own. I have so much documentation through my medical records…what I tell the people is to use my case. Here's my heart break. How old do I look?” she queried. “It's caught up with me and it's killing me…I gave my life to my country,” she said.

We at the Valley Patriot, pause to honor and thank Capt. Bresnahan and her service and post-service to the veterans of our Country.