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. Many of us were exposed to herbicides which were used extensively all over the site. Permalink: https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/10/improving-benefits-for-veterans-exposed-to-agent-orange-during-service-in-thailand, Improving Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange During Service in Thailand, https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/10/improving-benefits-for-veterans-exposed-to-agent-orange-during-service-in-thailand, Boozman Shares Service Memories of Lavaca Veteran, The Hill: American generosity has saved 25 million lives and counting. The article Viet Cong Right or Wrong, published in the National Guardsman in 1966, notes the Defense Departments Advance Research Project Agency was moving forward with defoliant improvement projects in Thailand. In researching I have come across several fellow marines that I served dead from cancers and others having similar problems I am curently appling for benefits for these problems. specifically: 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. (Emphasis added.) Joe, We also offer a free ebook The Road to VA Compensation Benefits, to help break down the claims process from start to finish. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. 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. Keep reading to find out if you may be eligible. Fast Letter 09-20 dealt exclusively with Haas-related claims from Thailand veterans that had been stayed. These attacks resulted in both U.S. and enemy causalities. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] In approximately September 1958, 2,4,5-T was adopted for use by the government under Specification O-H-210 and Federal Stock Number (FSN) 6840-577-4201 for a 55-gallon drum, and then later under FSN 6840-616-9159 for a five-gallon can. Health Care and Agent Orange Registry Health Exam: 1-877-222-8387 (Ask to speak to the Environmental Health Coordinator or Patient Care Advocate) Compensation and Other Benefits: 1 800 827-1000. 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.. Agent Orange is just one of the rainbow herbicides that the United States used. Furthermore, the Memorandum for the Record contains erroneous and misleading statements. Click the button below to get more information. Brothers, I was a Marine stationed in Nam Pong from June 1 , 1972 until I rotated back to the world in late May, 1973. Veterans who served in Vietnam, Korean demilitarized zone or other areas where Agent Orange was sprayed may be eligible. That expansion includes Navy veterans who served in the territorial waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as veterans of all branches who may have been exposed in other locations, including stateside bases. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? 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. Total Area Sprayed (sq. We started receiving equipment from Danang. VA now recognizes thatany servicemember with active military naval, air, or space service who served in Thailand,at any U.S. or Thai base,between January 9, 1962 and June 30, 1976were likely exposed to Agent Orange. 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 restriction arbitrarily disqualifies veterans who may otherwise be able to prove their exposure, regardless of their assigned duties during their time stationed in Thailand. From February 2 to 5, 1969, RANCH HAND flew Laos missions from Udorn. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Thailand veteran Wayne Hogstad was stationed at NKP from April 1967 to April 1968 and was assigned to the police squadron. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. It was where the French first landed in the 19th Century in their quest to control the area and where . In fact, they specifically pointed out that defoliants VA now labels as tactical were commercially available. 7 Things Every Veteran Should Know About Agent Orange Video. "This update was necessary to improve accuracy and communication of information," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. I say I was exposed in Thailand due to direct contact with the contaminated equipment form Da namg in 1972 at Nam Phong I have been turned down and I filed a Notice of disagreement and submitted new proofs. So, when a stack of orange envelopes arrived in my Washington, D.C. office in mid-September it caught my attention. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Yet, VA has used this Memorandum and the so-called distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides to deny thousands of herbicide-related disability claims by Vietnam-era Thailand veterans. 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. (Agent Orange didn't appear orange, though it looked like that to Pilsch.) Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Agents Blue, White, and Orange all known to contain chemical agents outlined in 3.307, were also available in the federal supply system. To learn more about current Agent Orange presumptions for Thailand, please visit CCKs PACT Act breakdown. At the hearing,I pressed VA officials on the departments policy of limiting benefits for Thailand service as well as the process for implementing changes, and I encouraged them to revise the rule. Yeah from what I have read and through diagrams I have obtained (google Agent Orange Korat Thailand) they did spray the perimeter of the base I was also there from 73-74 I was a 462 Weapons Mechanic at the perimeter every day. This significantly enhances the credibility of these statements by confirming the veterans knew exactly to what they were exposed all along even though the government continued to deny the exposure. The Rules provided authorization for, and limits on, the employment of herbicides throughout the Southeast Asian conflict. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. On January 17, 1969, seven RANCH HAND aircraft flew to Ubon to conduct an attack the next day against a special target in Laos. While there is a proposed legislative fix, Rhodesand his fellow veterans who served in Thailand and suffer from Agent Orange-related illnesses arecontinuing to press Congress to take action to update the presumption policy through the orange envelope letter-writing campaign. The Department of Veterans Affairs has released an updated list of locations outside Vietnam where tactical herbicides such as Agent Orange were used, tested or stored by the military. U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, 1972 The National Archives return to top Previously, only veterans who were exposed to the dangerous weed killer while serving in-country Vietnam were eligible for any VA benefits. widows, dependent children and dependent parents, Agent Orange Babies: The Effects of Agent Orange on Veterans Offspring, Benefits Every Veteran Needs to Know About (including 100 VA Disability Benefits) - 2023 Edition. If a veteran served in an area other than Vietnam, such as Thailand or Korea, but was nonetheless exposed to the same herbicide agent as used in Vietnam, then they were to be awarded the same benefits as would a Vietnam veteran for the diseases associated with such exposure. Further documentation and sworn statements contradict that claim. 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. VA has constructed an arbitrary distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides. In view of the above, a mowing operation for vegetation control will be impossible. Now, veterans who served at any U.S. or Thai base from January 9, 1962 to June 30 1976, without regard to the Veterans MOS or where on base they were located, are eligible for presumptive service connection. Agent Orange exposure is associated with a number of medical conditions, some of which are serious. Despite this evidence, VAs position is that RANCH HAND aircraft and herbicides were either temporarily staged, or never staged, on Thailand bases. This shows a robust relationship between the 315th Air Division and the movement of herbicides. 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. This benefit is a tax-free monthly, There are a wide variety of benefits that we have found, which every veteran should know about. I have pictures of Thais using elephants to remove foliage that was dead from spraying and cleared from our base. They routinely use this distinction as justification for denying Thailand exposure claims. Several sworn statements and unit histories show there are numerous veterans who served in Thailand and would have met Dr. Youngs criteria. specifically: 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. 38 C.F.R. In turn, this supports veterans statements regarding the use of herbicide to clear bases in Thailand during this period. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Now he and many others are fighting for medical benefits from the VA. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. We have spent a lot of time on the Price of Freedom . The 26 July 1968 attack on Udorn RTAFB was the first overt, hostile action by either communist-inspired insurgent forces or military units of North Vietnam against United States Air Force personnel and resources located in the . The directive empowered the Commander U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (COMUSMAV), and the U.S. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request, VA Releases Updated List of Agent Orange Exposure Locations, Survivors of Vets Who Died from PACT Act Illnesses Can Reapply for Benefits, Health Care Enrollment Up 17% at VA Since Passage of Toxic Exposure Law, VA Warns Against PACT Act Fraud Targeting Veterans, Making Sure Vets Get PACT Act Benefits Is New House Veterans Affairs Chairman's Top Priority, 1st Woman to Take Top Enlisted Job at Army Special Ops, Some Private Companies Charge Hefty Fees to Help Veterans With Disability Claims, 'I Let Down the Combatant Commander': Marine Leader Regrets His Forces Weren't Available for Recent Crises, Female Commander Investigated over Alleged Sexual Assaults of Male Subordinates, Pattern of Harassment. A recently declassified Department of Defense report written in 1973 titled, "Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand 1968-1972," contains evidence that there was significant use of the herbicide Agent Orange along the fence-line perimeters of military bases in Thailand to remove foliage that provided cover for enemy forces. He, too, stated that the barrels often leaked. The legal team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD has done extensive research on the use of herbicides in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Although most of the Air Force bases in Thailand were seen as staging hubs for operations within Vietnam, military personnel located throughout Thailand were also subjected to hostile attacks from Communists. These admissions correlate with sworn statements provided by several Airmen. The name "Agent. VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides has no basis in federal statutes or regulations. The VA is warning veterans to avoid PACT Act fraud and to be wary of third parties such as non-VA-accredited law firms Rep. Mike Bost said he sees no signs that the VA is being overwhelmed, noting that the law also gave the department the Command Sgt. Watch below for our full discussion into the latest update of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. we represent clients nationwide. 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. 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. For veterans like Rhodes who served in Nam Phong, Thailand, this is a policy they are calling on Congress to change. Congress must enact H.R. He also saw an aircraft spray the kennel area, and he remembers vegetation in that area dying shortly thereafter. 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. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 What Benefits Do I Get From Agent Orange Exposure? . Diese Region ist Siedlungsgebiet von vielen ethnischen Minderheiten, wobei die Stadt Sa Pa am Fue des Phan-xi-png die meisten Touristen anzieht. 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. Agent Orange exposure can cause several serious illnesses, as well as birth defects in the children of veterans who were exposed to the chemical. We pulled perimeter guard and walked thru the dead foliage and barbed wire. And with Vietnam vets, there are two presumptions. Exposure to herbicides in a location other than Vietnam or the DMZ, such as by loading, transporting, or storing them while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. More specifically, herbicides were used to improve visual observation of the base perimeter. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Trump appeared to confuse napalm with Agent Orange and he reportedly got the idea from an iconic movie set in the Vietnam War David Choi 2018-08-17T23:51:55Z Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 However, these stayed claims did not involve claims due to herbicide exposure around Thailand bases or their perimeters. Rick, While we still have our home base in Florida, 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.. you viewed to avoid repetition. Specialties: Welcome to Nam Phuong restaurant. Agent Orange was an herbicide that the United States military used during the Vietnam War. 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. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Called a Vietnam era vet same . Moreover, VAs previous position that herbicides were only used along the perimeters is contradicted by documented evidence and sworn statements. You can read the full set of eligibility requirements on the VA website . I have also been denied compensation for herbicide exposure and am awaiting a hearing. Thank you Chuck Maack, for calling this information to my attention. As Mr. Raymond Gross, a PACAF agronomist, conducted the training, the herbicide manual was most likely employed throughout Southeast Asia. consider passing this info on to them. Honoring Our PACT Act Expands Eligibility for Thailand Veterans and more, Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions List Updates, New Conditions on The Agent Orange Presumptive List. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for: Agent Orange Registry health exam, a free exam for possible long-term health problems related to herbicide exposure. If you have recently received a favorable decision from the VA on your Agent Orange claim, you may think that the long fight with the department of veterans affairs is, If you were wounded or injured or became sick as a result of your military service, you may be entitled to VA disability compensation. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. The threats toward Air Force bases were legitimate and a serious concern for military units stationed in Thailand. Chemical Corps described these products as expandable supply items to be available to all users, meaning they were meant for use by facility engineers as an herbicide for grounds keeping (i.e., brush and weed control).. VA followed suit by drafting regulations to coincide with the statute by defining the term as follows: herbicide agent means a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam[,] . The Department of Defense had legitimate concerns about the threat to U.S. personnel and equipment, which led to the decision to use herbicides within base perimeters as a means of preventing ambushes in Thailand.6. The new law adds an estimated 420,000 to 560,000 veterans to those already eligible for care and benefits for possible exposure. 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. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. This delivery would have resulted in the exposure of the aircraft crew; the loading, unloading, and storage crew; the crew involved in spraying the herbicides; and the service members in and around the sprayed areas. After developing illnesses linked to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, Rhodes filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.. Worked in 196, Congress considered perimeter spraying. National Archives records also reveal that herbicides were delivered to Takhli on April 7, 1973. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. Agent Orange Registry health exam: The Agent Orange Registry is a program administered by the VA since 1978. The directive delegated authority to approve defoliation requests using hand spray and ground-based power spray methods. I have had skin cancer at least 15 times, prostate cancer, high BP, neuropathy in my feet. As a result, a conscientiously controlled program of vegetation control through the use of herbicides must be applied. 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. 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. These veterans have been left behind by the current limitations on the presumption of toxic exposure to Agent Orange. The Air Force leadership argued that adherence to the SOP should eliminate any misuse of herbicide application on Takhli. Figure 1.1 lists (and Figure 1.2 illustrates) the chemical composition of each of the herbicide agents as well as the time period in which they were used in Vietnam. In response to a 1971-72 Congressional record, an Air Force consultant wrote, [t]he Air Force does not and has not used any defoliants that are not in general use in this country. Later, in the 1980s, the government did indeed ban the use of all 2,4,5-T based herbicides for the same reasons it previously stopped the use of Agent Orange (a 2,4,5-T based herbicide) in Vietnamcontamination with 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or TCDD.. Gallons of Herbicides Sprayed. The bill provides expanded Agent Orange presumptive locations for those dealing with herbicide exposure: If you served in these areas, during these dates, the VA will now assume (or presume) that a Vietnam veteran was exposed to Agent Orange. The updated list includes Agents Orange, Pink, Green, Purple, Blue and White and other chemicals, used to create the defoliants, Esper said in a release. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. 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National Archives records reveal that herbicides were transported from Vietnam to Takhli on April 7, 1973. All of the vegetation I saw on the base was reddish brown and wilted. I was stationed at cck in the usaf Taiwan and went tdy to nam phong tailand. If you are intending to appeal a denied claim, you can contact us for an evaluation. Due to attacks on Thailand bases, military leaders ordered the use of herbicides. As noted in a 1986 report to the White House, only two percent of military records were preserved in the National Archives, and herbicide records were not regarded as a priority for retention. Copyright 1999-2021 Malecare, Inc | All Rights Reserved, Important Agent Orange Information for Those Who Served in Thailand. The Agent Orange litigation team relied heavily on perimeter spraying, which is noted in its 1984 files. A bipartisan bill introduced Thursday would allow Vietnam veterans who served in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War to qualify for disability benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. Until 2009, VA made no distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides. The government made no distinction between these herbicides in the 1970s and 1980s either. Children who have certain birth defects and are biological children of Vietnam-era veterans may be eligible for VA compensation, healthcare and vocational training. The class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. Rhodes and his fellow veterans who served in Thailand and suffer from Agent Orange-related illnesses are continuing to press Congress to take action to update the presumption policy through the orange envelope letter-writing . Air Force documents confirm that herbicide deliveries not associated with RANCH HAND were transported to and from Thailand. Udorn was again utilized August 31, 1969 to conduct an operation in which RANCH HAND aircraft flew 28 sorties from Thailand to target Laotian crops with Agent Blue using five UC-123s during a seven-day period. This is an up-to-date list of conditions on the VAs Agent Orange presumptive list. 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. Sign up for the free quarterly Advanced Prostate Cancer Newsletter. When addressing the adequacy of facility security, official documents state that herbicides were applied to the fenced in area around the ammo storage, facility, around all perimeter guard towers, and the areas around runway overrun lights. The 1973 CHECO report also states that herbicides were used on areas within the perimeter. (Emphasis added.) VA created the Memorandum as part of Fast Letter 09-20. Provinces. "I'm spending out of pocket . The military used herbicides to clear foliage from the jungles and base camps of Vietnam. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most. Disabled Veterans Sign up for a Career Change. The new DoD list contains nearly 150 testing and storage locations, with updates that include specific dates of release or containment, as well as 26 additions, including places like Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and Johnston Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. Jeanne Stellman, an Agent Orange expert at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, and Fred Berman, the director of the Oregon Health and Science Universitys CROET Toxicology Information Center, along with 14 other doctors, toxicologists, and environmental scientists, signed a letter in November 2012 that refutes VAs boots on the ground approach to Agent Orange exposure. BBC News, Da Nang, Vietnam. RANCH HAND was also not prohibited from herbicide spray missions in Thailand. I served with VMFA -115 72-73 Nam Phong.. At age 53 I had a six way heart bypass. As stated above, prior to the passage of the PACT Act, veterans could only be eligible for presumptive service connection if they served near the perimeter of specific bases. yet assertive representation for our clients. 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. Yet VAs past policy application eliminated even these veterans from receiving benefits based on their exposure to herbicide agents. If you have kept in touch with any former comrades-in-arms from those bases who did not make the military a career, or their spouses if they have already died, you may