. The herbicides stored on Johnston Island were burned at sea in approximately 1977. Those who had served at one of the military bases in Thailand listed in the below URL and the locations at those bases identified, and experiencing any of the ailments considered possibly caused by Agent Orange (including prostate cancer) may now be eligible for VA treatment and compensation. you viewed to avoid repetition. He reported that he took time to ride with a mobile unit Security Alert Team around NKP bases perimeters, [and] while going along the east perimeter a crew from civil engineering with a truck with a tank sprayed what Mr. Hogstad believed to be Agent Orange. It is imperative to note that sworn statements of Airmen referenced throughout this report predate the Air Force Historical Research Agency discovering and/or releasing documents showing movement of herbicides from Vietnam to Thailand. I was with a group that arrived 3 days before the cbs. L still remember the smell of the spaying of defoliant while we were living in our hardback tents.I too have skin and prostate cancer and both are malignant. "This update was necessary to improve accuracy and communication of information," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. The government made no distinction between these herbicides in the 1970s and 1980s either. Although these missions were classified, they demonstrate the robust relationship between U.S. military in Thailand and Operation RANCH HAND. I have lived 50 years since then, and it has been a been a rewarding and, sometimes disappointing life.No ones fault but myself. As of the enactment of the PACT Act on August 10, 2022, veterans who served in Thailand are eligible for presumptive service connection,regardless of their MOS or where on the base they were located. The 6/11/15 News Argus has a article stating that 2 democratic senators want to know why the VA is delaying the disability bennifits to the 1200-2000 reservist who served 1972 1982 flying and working on the 123s and are coming down with the AO symptoms. The similarities between base defense in Vietnam and Thailand were highlighted in the 1969 CHECO Report titled 7AF Local Base Defense Operations: July 1965 December 1968. This report provides a general analysis of Air Force base operations. Similar to the Air Force unit histories in Thailand, the 1979 hearing noted that herbicides were used around bases in order to maintain base security. This directly coincides with Air Force documents stating that defoliation operations around the Udorn perimeter occurred during this period. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 From December 29, 1968, to January 2, 1969, RANCH HAND aircraft flew Agent Orange missions out of Udorn. Veterans who qualify and . If you served in Vietnam or Thailand, or in or near the Korean DMZand your child has . I now live in Laurel Mt. I reminded my colleagues of the legislation to help these veterans and encouraged them to keep these veterans and their families in mind as we improve veteran benefits policies. . Joe, In its report, GAO called the list inaccurate and incomplete, and urged DoD to update the publication, which hadnt been updated in more than a decade. 38 C.F.R. Sign up for the free quarterly Advanced Prostate Cancer Newsletter. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Until 2009, VA made no distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. The Department of Defense has released a new list of locations outside Vietnam where herbicides like Agent Orange were tested and stored, a compilation that could provide some veterans proof of exposure needed to support their VA disability claims. Children who have certain birth defects and are biological children of Vietnam-era veterans may be eligible for VA compensation, healthcare and vocational training. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. I have a VA Dr. appointment today and will try to get these matters looked at. We heard from VA officials about the agencys decision-making process when determining benefit eligibility forveteranswhose illnesses were caused by exposure to toxic hazards while on active duty. DOD will continue to be responsive to the needs of our interagency partners in all matters related to taking care of both current and former service members. The training is an indicator that Air Force leadership took a cohesive approach regarding the application of herbicides on Thailand bases. Veterans who served in Vietnam, the Korean demilitarized zone or other areas where Agent Orange was sprayed may be eligible. Thailand Agent Orange Claim Denials VA's Herbicide Problem Introduction: Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used by the United States during the Vietnam War. Marine served rosegarden may 1972 allen boyden iams sick. However, these stayed claims did not involve claims due to herbicide exposure around Thailand bases or their perimeters. VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides has no basis in federal statutes or regulations. Command Sergeant Major Witkin stated that he personally observed Udorn-based grounds personnel often spraying herbicides, including Agent Orange, on the vegetation located in and around the barracks areas and on the base perimeter. He stated the personnel spraying around the barracks told him the herbicide was Agent Orange. For the last 20 years, Nam Phuong restaurant has transformed itself originally from a small restaurant into a well-known restaurant today in the north-east region of the U.S. At Nam Phuong, we know how important our guests are, and we always strike our very best to make our guests come back time after time. John Scott, an Airman stationed at Ubon from 1969 to 1972, stated that he assisted in loading barrels ofAgent Orange onto C-123sduring the first part of his tour. The Truth About Agent Orange and Other Herbicides in Thailand During the Vietnam War, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School. Click the link below to learn more. 3.307(a)(6)(i). Elem. I understand you have to get the doctor to enter in your records that the problem could be related to herbicide or better agent orange contact. yet assertive representation for our clients. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. From start to finish. Is there any ruling from the VA on Nam Phong? There is a group of reservist vets who flew the 123s that came from Man which sprayed AO in Nam. I am investigating as to whether or not I may have been exposed to Agent Orange and if so what should I do. The author of a 1982 article published in the Journal of Legal Medicine, titled Agent Orange: Government Responsibility for Military Use of Phenoxy Herbicides, states that [e]very American who served in Southeast Asia was potentially exposed to Agent Orange, as the herbicide was used to clear areas before construction and to defoliate compound perimeters, landing zones, and fires bases. For support, the author cites to an appendix to the 1979 hearing on Senate Bills 741 and 196. Because the spraying equipment on RANCH HAND aircraft and the barrels containing herbicides were known to leak, the risk of exposure throughout the flight lines as well as storage areas on Thailand bases was significant. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/thailand.asp. Patricia Kime is a senior writer covering military and veterans health care, medicine and personnel issues. I am fortunate to not have cancer like other guys. The directive delegated authority to approve defoliation requests using hand spray and ground-based power spray methods. Postal Service. His claim was denied because the location he served in is not recognized as having been treated with herbicides. Whats disappointing is. Claire Szewczyk is a Digital Content Coordinator for Hill & Ponton, PA in Florida. For instance, which pages you go to most. VAs previous requirement that Thailand veterans must prove their duty position entailed working on the perimeter was unreasonable. The term is used only in the Memorandum for the Record and in individual cases wherein VA uses the distinction to deny benefits. Buddy statements from anyone who served with Special Forces at Nam Phong would be helpful. The district office and the train station are about 7 km east of the main settlement, Ban Nam Phong. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 741 and S.B. Eligibility for health care Throughout the Vietnam War, RANCH HAND aircraft utilizedbases in Thailand. Further documentation and sworn statements contradict that claim. Several veterans services organizations told Military Times their analysts are comparing the old list, which dates to September, 2018 and was published by the Government Accountability Office in November, 2018, and the new version. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Information within those records was assessed against stringent joint VA-DOD criteria for what constitutes a location where tactical herbicides were tested, used and stored, Prichard said. In the Memorandum, VA states that the 1973 CHECO Report does indicate sporadic use of non-tactical (commercial) herbicides within fenced perimeters. This statement is misleading because the CHECO Report never distinguishes between tactical and commercial herbicides useit refers only to herbicides.. specifically: 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. 38 C.F.R. VA clearly cannot support its long-held position that routine base maintenance activities were only performed by use of commercial herbicides that could not satisfy the 3.307 requirements. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? we represent clients nationwide. The Department of Defense has released a new list of locations outside Vietnam where herbicides like Agent Orange were tested and stored, a compilation that could provide some veterans proof. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used by the United States during the Vietnam War. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 In his appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals, Thailand veteran Ronald Switzer stated he was a material handler of Agent Orange and that after the 1969 attack on Ubon, the perimeter was pushed back and the trees lost their foliage. This correlates to documents showing the recommended use of herbicides in 1969 and their subsequent use in 1970, 1971 and 1973. Although VA recognizes there was significant use of herbicides at numerous Thailand military bases, it only recently granted Thailand veterans the presumption of exposure afforded to Vietnam veterans. Although the SOP is not available or remains classified, the development and enforcement of the SOP highlights the prevalence of herbicide use and the concern of misuse on Thailand bases. The Agent Orange litigation team relied heavily on perimeter spraying, which is noted in its 1984 files. When Congress enacted this law, it stated that the term herbicide agent means a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975. 38 U.S.C. It stands to reason that this remaining herbicide was used at other bases since 21,000 gallons was far more than necessary for a single base. Agent Orange exposure can cause several serious illnesses, as well as birth defects in the children of veterans who were exposed to the chemical. 1116 is a dual-function statute titled:Presumptions of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents; presumption of exposure for veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam.. Hi, Just found this site. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) Directive 525-1 (1966) highlighted the procedure for requesting aerial spray, power spray, and hand spray in Vietnam. age 60 but have had most of these for years, Terry Good luck and take care of yourself. This benefit is a tax-free monthly, There are a wide variety of benefits that we have found, which every veteran should know about. being employed within. These veterans have been left behind by the current limitations on the presumption of toxic exposure to Agent Orange. ; Delta des Roten Flusses: Diese fruchtbare Gegend rund um die Hauptstadt Hanoi (H Ni) erstreckt sich bis zum Golf . Leakage from empty herbicide barrels was also noted because it was difficult to drain the last two or three gallons. For veterans like Rhodes who served in Nam Phong, Thailand, this is a policy they are calling on Congress to change. Provinces. Bases in Thailand, including Korat, Nakhon Phanom (NKP), Ubon, Udorn, and U-Tapao, were subjected to sniper fire, perimeter penetration, and sapper (combat engineer) attacks. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Additionally, the1973 CHECO Reportstates that soil sterilization and herbicide use was approved by the embassy in 1969 in accordance with the Rules. The VA offers health registry exams, health care, disability compensation and other benefits to eligible veterans affected by Agent Orange toxic exposure. He wrote in a sworn statement that he was twice assigned the task of diagnosing and repairing a Buffalo Turbine fogger/sprayer unit which sprayed the base consistently for insects and defoliated the base perimeter and other areas on the base. He witnessed drums with orange, blue, or white bands being stored in a shed at the AGE facility surrounded by defoliated soil. U.S. Army Manual 3-3 (dated 1971) advises that a 500-meter buffer zone must be maintained to avoid damage caused by drifts while ground spraying herbicides. When Congress enacted these laws, it did not limit potential benefits to those veterans who served in Vietnam. I was stationed at cck in the usaf Taiwan and went tdy to nam phong tailand. These presumptions result in the award of VA benefits, such as disability compensation, health care, etc. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide. The remarks come amid a growing debate in the halls of Congress over how the Navy is meeting the legal requirement to operate Col. Meghann Sullivan, commander of the 5th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 5th SFAB, faces allegations of assaulting at least All of these veterans, who used education benefits earned in the military to pay for the training, had signed agreements Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story sustained an estimated $3 million in damage from Sunday's tornado in Virginia Beach Two boaters were rescued from a marshy island in Virginia after they were stranded in poor weather, the U.S. Coast Guard said A federal watchdog agency says the Defense Department has taken steps to ensure that it is not buying products containing the A Marine veteran was killed last week in an eastern Ukrainian city where the country's military has been locked for months in Military and overseas voters will effectively get more time to return absentee ballots under a bill Gov. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. In October 2020, the VA denied Xenia resident and Thailand veteran Paul Skinner compensation for what Skinner believed was Agent Orange exposure, with the VA informing Skinner in a letter: "Your personnel records still fail to show that during your duties you were exposed to Agent Orange or tactical herbicides while performing daily duty Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Gymnastics will be held on May 6-9 at the Olympic Stadium Centre's Marquee Tent in Phnom Penh. Thank you Chuck Maack, for calling this information to my attention. This shows a robust relationship between the 315th Air Division and the movement of herbicides. Please contact me me via email at philamdia@yahoo.com. Thailand was a staging area for aircraft missions over Vietnam, and many veterans who assisted with these missions received the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for their support of the war effort. Somebody back at the Pentagon noted there was an airfield originally constructed in 1967 for the Air Force 60 miles south of Udon Thani at Nam Phong, Thailand that was only being used covertly by Army "Green Beret" special forces for training Thai and Laotian counter-insurgents - the USAF TC-121 squadron originally planned for Nam Phong in 1968 where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once! A key fact leading topresumptiveherbicide agent exposure for Vietnam veterans was that herbicide records were incomplete, making it impossible to determine who was actually exposed. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used to defoliate the thick jungle in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, such as the Korean Demilitarized Zone. VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides is therefore misguided, arbitrary, and contrary to law. Japan Nov. 1971 - July, 1972; Nam Phong Thailand, July 1972 - Nov., 1972. Contactour office today for a free consultation with a member of our team. Not sure what your veteran health care benefits are? Congress must enact H.R. Prichard said locations where exposure occurred under conditions already granted presumption of exposure such as Vietnam and the Korean DMZ were not included on this list. I was one of the first to arrive. We started receiving equipment from Danang. And with Vietnam vets, there are two presumptions. The name "Agent. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. And while the new list contains six locations in Thailand, it adds a new clarification to those locations descriptions: No herbicide was sprayed in Thailand.. and was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. While we still have our home base in Florida, The location must have been a DoD installation, land under control of DoD or a non-DoD location where service members were present during testing, application, transportation or storage. Brothers, I was a Marine stationed in Nam Pong from June 1 , 1972 until I rotated back to the world in late May, 1973. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. I served with MAG 15 H&MS 15 in Nam Phong, Thailand Feb Sep 1973. The news comes on the heels of the Jan. 1, 2020, VA expansion of Agent Orange benefits to veterans who were exposed to the herbicide during their service. It was the closest . 3.307 (a)(6)(i) defines an herbicide agent as a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam . Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 The military used herbicides to clear foliage from the jungles and base camps of Vietnam. VAs regulation38 C.F.R. Before Congress granted the presumption of exposure, government records showed that determining the level of exposure was impossible. Agent Orange exposure is associated with a number of medical conditions, some of which are serious. I was part of the mobile construction battalion 5 (mcb 5) seabees that built the rose garden. Due to attacks on Thailand bases, military leaders ordered the use of herbicides. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Gretchen Whitmer Copyright 2023 Military.com. Agent Orange Registry exams are free exams that help eligible Vietnam War-era Veterans understand their health and help VA to better understand and respond to their health needs. Ambassador to authorize herbicide operations. But it deletes or alters at least 50 previously identified locations, removing some dates and omitting testing sites like Hawaii, where the DoD previously said field tests were conducted, Puerto Rico, where herbicides were sprayed in forests between 1956 and 1967, and locations in Korea where components were stored. The class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. They routinely use this distinction as justification for denying Thailand exposure claims. The DoD list is instrumental in helping support many of these veterans claims. The similar exposure situations between Vietnam and Thailand merit equal protection, to include the presumption of exposure, for all Vietnam-era veterans who served in Thailand. On January 17, 1969, seven RANCH HAND aircraft flew to Ubon to conduct an attack the next day against a special target in Laos. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure VA presumes (assumes) exposure to Agent Orange for Veterans who served on any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976. In turn, this supports veterans statements regarding the use of herbicide to clear bases in Thailand during this period. Total Area Sprayed (sq. The Nam Phong district is surrounded by Non Sa-at (in the Udon Thani province ), Kranuan, Sam Sung, Mueang Khon Kaen, Ubolratana, and Khao Suan Kwang . They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] In Sidney Chancellors sworn statement, he noted that his duties in an engineer unit from June 1967 to November 1968 included spraying herbicides along NKPs perimeter so that a fence could be installed. Agent Orange was made up of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T. Its contaminant TCDD is a highly toxic byproduct of producing Agent Orange. The Marines were coming. Given no more credit than those who lived stateside during same time . On the herbicide school application, the listed purpose of the training was to train and certify Thailand based personnel who will be handling herbicides for chemical vegetation control and train personnel on the use, application, dangers and safe handling of herbicides.. Ten of them cluster around one of the three air bases that became the most contaminate with dioxin: Da Nang, Phu Cat and Bien Hoa. With those mandates, VA instituted a systematic process that restricts the law and ensures that otherwise qualifying veterans and their families are denied benefits. VA 38 U.S.C. Notably, Mr. Pippengers statement and the time period in which he served at Udorn coincide with official records of the delivery of 28,000 gallons of Agents Orange and Blue to Udorn in 1969 and the use of some of those herbicides by C-123 aircraft. He also saw an aircraft spray the kennel area, and he remembers vegetation in that area dying shortly thereafter. However, per the 1971 CHECO Report, only 7,000 gallons of this herbicide, mostly Agent Orange, were dispensed in Laos. . Joel. Once VA lifted the stay, these claims still required adjudication. Agent Orange was made up of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T. Its contaminant TCDD is a highly toxic byproduct of producing Agent Orange. I was at Nam Phong from Nov 72 Feb 73 working on the flight line and sleeping within a few yards of large fuel blatters of jet fuel. Further, in a 1986 transcript of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee Agent Orange panel, the committee noted that the potential of exposure at base camps would appear to be considerable because of the regularity of spraying. Moreover, the subcommittee determined that levels of exposure are likely higher from exposure in the camps than from Ranch [H]and spraying.. "I'm spending out of pocket . The letter addresses the scientific shortcomings and erroneous assumptions of VAs position by noting, skin absorption is a primary occupational route of exposure for dioxin-contaminated pesticides.. I left Iwakuni Japan to go to Danang with Task Force Delta on th way are plane ran into mechanical problems and we landed in the Philippines. I have had 3 stints placed in my heart for ischemic heart dz, peripheral neurapathy, and high BP. Because of these risks, Congress eventually enacted laws providing benefits to those who were exposed if they subsequently developed certain diseases associated with the exposure. VA should afford the same presumption of exposure to Thailand veterans that it affords to Vietnam veterans because the same herbicides agents were used in Thailand. To reinforce their message, I brought the letters and orange envelopes to a recentSenate VA Committee hearing on toxic exposure. Our job was to off load air craft. The latest additions to the Agent Orange presumptive list comes from Sec. Aircraft mechanic George Collins testified in a sworn statement that he worked on a RANCH HAND aircraft after it made an emergency landing in U-Tapao. The Department of Veterans Affairs lists these conditions as presumptive. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 He stated, back at our base, we would get buckets of Agent Orange and fill pump fire extinguishers with AO [Agent Orange] so we could spray around our local area.. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 Mr. George Collins was assigned to the Aero Space Ground Equipment (AGE) unit in U-Tapao for seven months beginning in 1969 and ending in 1970. This notion is further strengthened by the fact that the civil engineers developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) specifically for the disposal of herbicides due to fear that indiscriminate use of herbicide could be a source of pollution. In 1972, vegetation control on Korat was regarded as a serious issue because dense growth provided the enemy with the opportunity to access the KC-135 parking ramp. The new toxic exposure bill/Agent Orange Act ( Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 ) broadens presumptions for Agent Orange exposure in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll! Herbicides were also used to kill crops to diminish the enemys food supply. Agent Orange Registry health exam: this is a free exam for possible long-term health problems related to herbicide exposure. From 1965 to 1968, 5,727 Communist insurgents in Thailand were either killed, arrested, or surrendered. But veterans with one of the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related conditions who were exposed outside Vietnam face the burden of proving exposure. Malecare is the world's leading men's cancer support and advocacy nonprofit organization. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 By Telephone. and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox. In James Trapps affidavit, he stated that during his assignment in Takhlis warehouse, he saw barrels labeled 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D. Additionally, he stated the barrels had white destination labels signifying they were for the 315th A/C Sq. Historical Air Force documents from the 315th Air Division verify that 28,000 gallons (approximately 509 barrels) of Agents Orange and Blue were airlifted from Phu Cat, Vietnam, to Udorn in February 1969. The VA is looking at that data now to determine if changes should be made. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Rank Among Most Heavily Sprayed Provinces in Vietnam. According to DoD spokesman Chuck Prichard, the new list replaces the one from 2018 and is the result of DoDs thorough review of the records for use, storage and testing of Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides outside of Vietnam.. He recognized in a draft report that the number of military personnel exposed is unknown because most military bases had vehicle-mounted and back-spray units available for use in routine vegetation control. Dr. Youngs documents indicate that herbicides, including Agent Orange and its counterparts, were used for routine vegetation control programs. After developing illnesses linked to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, Rhodes filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Furthermore, there are several reference reports admitting herbicide use throughout bases in Thailand. . Moreover, the load class in the record, Y4, is the same load class that was noted in an Operation Steel Tiger mission in South Vietnam the primary goal of which was defoliation. In such a strict application, VA arbitrarily ignored its own policy of conceding herbicide exposure for veterans who served near the perimeter. These conditions include: The addition of these conditions means that many more veterans will be eligible for VA disability benefits. The directive empowered the Commander U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (COMUSMAV), and the U.S. Likewise, if a veteran were then diagnosed with certain diseases, the government would concede that the disease was related to the exposure. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. VAs policy on herbicide exposure around Thailand base perimeters did not even exist when FL 09-20 was issued in 2009. Agent Orange was a weed killer sprayed on the jungles of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War to eliminate forest cover and crops for North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops.
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