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. Brothers, I was a Marine stationed in Nam Pong from June 1 , 1972 until I rotated back to the world in late May, 1973. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. June 73 to Sept 73 Nam Phong Security Element Rotated to 2/4 th Marines Okinawa S-2 Sniper program after Nam Phong 74 rotated to 2/6th Marines in Camp Lejuene . I was in Nam Phong when the SeaBees were knocking down the jungle to build hooches. PDF Issue Brief: Agent Orange in Thailand During Vietnam Era - Dav Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Congress must enact H.R. The VA is looking at that data now to determine if changes should be made. U.S. Bases in Thailand During the Vietnam War and Agent Orange Important Agent Orange Information for Those Who Served in Thailand Eligibility for health care 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. In the 1968 Contemporary Historical Examination of Current Operation (CHECO) Project Southeast Asia Report: Attack on Udorn, the Air Force recognized that Thailand was a prime target of Communist expansion, and the interest of the Communists was intensified by the USAF presence. The report also noted that there were an estimated 15,500 Communist insurgents and sympathizers in Thailand. "VA depends on DoD to provide information regarding in-service environmental exposure for disability claims based on exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam.". From start to finish. 7 Ways to Improve Your VA Agent Orange Thailand Exposure Claims. I served in The Rose Garden from April,1973 till October,1973. . Keep up with all the changes and details. This directly coincides with Air Force documents stating that defoliation operations around the Udorn perimeter occurred during this period. Phong is determined to finish top of the podium next month. PDF Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in the Vietnam War - VSPA VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the update was necessary to improve accuracy and [for] communication of information.. I am fortunate to not have cancer like other guys. The district is located along Mittraphap Road (Thailand Route 2) and the Northeastern Railway. Improving Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange During Service 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bailey, a member of RANCH HAND, noted that the pressurized aerial spraying tanks would leak herbicides inside the aircraft. and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox. The Marines were coming. I was stationed at cck in the usaf Taiwan and went tdy to nam phong tailand. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 I was one of the first to arrive. The government made no distinction between these herbicides in the 1970s and 1980s either. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. With Agent Orange exposure, there are presumptions. I am presently applying for benefits. Joel. The Memorandum for the Record, which VA often cites in these cases, is outdated, contains erroneous and misleading statements, and was never intended for perimeter policy cases. 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. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure - Public Health 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. Ambassador to authorize herbicide operations. 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. That leaves 21,000 gallons of herbicide unaccounted for with their last known location in Thailand. 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. 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. 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. What did VA Cover Up in Thailand Agent Orange Data Release? VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides is therefore misguided, arbitrary, and contrary to law. 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. Currently residing in Grand Rapids, MI; email harley50@attbi.com Fogg, Gary N. VMFA 115, E-3 ,1972-1973, Metal Shop, e-mail res0fmwe@verizon.net Folse, James" Butch" SGT; Served inNam Phong ( The Rose Garden ) from January '73 to Sept '73. In his request, the Commander stated: Application must be by air because area is overgrown and ground application would be extremely dangerous due to live munitions in the area., In order to create a uniform standard for the use of herbicides, military leadership established annual training and standard operating procedures. Thats why I introduced legislation to eliminate existing barriers to benefits for veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War. 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. Since that time, we have provided compassionate . Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere. being employed within. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. This benefit is a tax-free monthly, There are a wide variety of benefits that we have found, which every veteran should know about. The district office and the train station are about 7 km east of the main settlement, Ban Nam Phong. Why Hire CCK for Your VA Disability Appeal? These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Mr. Dennis Oliver, who was stationed in Thailand from 1966-1967, stated that during his assignment to the bases munition storage area, he witnessed 55-gallon drums being stored near the revetments and observed barren land throughout the perimeter and base. PDF Agent Orange in Thailand - DAV 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. 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.. These veterans have been left behind by the current limitations on the presumption of toxic exposure to Agent Orange. I am fighting the VA now. Da Nang is one of Vietnam's major ports, a city rich in history. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 Mr. Collins stated there were several defoliated areas within U-Tapao including around the Aero Space Ground Equipment (AGE) facility, the baseball fields, and the viewing area for the Bob Hope Christmas Show. After the attack on U-Tapao, the 635th Security Police Squadron used herbicides to clear a 100-foot zone on both sides of the perimeter fencing. The training is an indicator that Air Force leadership took a cohesive approach regarding the application of herbicides on Thailand bases. To learn more about current Agent Orange presumptions for Thailand, please visit CCKs PACT Act breakdown. Agent Orange is just one of the rainbow herbicides that the United States used. However, per the 1971 CHECO Report, only 7,000 gallons of this herbicide, mostly Agent Orange, were dispensed in Laos. If you have a health condition caused by exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. With those mandates, VA instituted a systematic process that restricts the law and ensures that otherwise qualifying veterans and their families are denied benefits. BBC News, Da Nang, Vietnam. On Korat, for example, the physical training area and Non-Commissioned Officer building were located within the drift zone, and living quarters were only meters away from the perimeter. Nam Phong district - Wikipedia 38 C.F.R. The new list covers tactical herbicides including Agents Orange, Purple, Pink, Green, Blue, White and their active ingredients. Because of the impossibility of determining which service members were exposed to what levels of toxicity, Congress decided that veterans who served in Vietnam would be presumed exposed to the harmful herbicides. Rick, With the GAO report, DoD compelled to come up with a more comprehensive list, not go back and revise what they already confirmed.. . 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. National Archives records also reveal that herbicides were delivered to Takhli on April 7, 1973. I have had 3 stints placed in my heart for ischemic heart dz, peripheral neurapathy, and high BP. VAs regulation38 C.F.R. Section 1116 of title 38 of the United States Code and 38 C.F.R. 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. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong - Wikipedia You and your brothers should not have to fight this battle. Bill seeks to expand eligibility for Agent Orange-related benefits - UPI She has also spent several years working with the Department of Veterans Affairs audiology programs in Salt Lake City, UT and Pocatello, ID. All of the vegetation I saw on the base was reddish brown and wilted. 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. The distance between base perimeters and other base activities was normally well below 500 meters. From 1966 to mid-1968, insurgents conducted 331 assassinations and 1,087 armed encounters. From February 2 to 5, 1969, RANCH HAND flew Laos missions from Udorn. 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. Nam Phong Roster In November 1969, the NKP Commander requested RANCH HAND assistance to defoliate the ordnance drop area. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. 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. 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 class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. Also, they must have been used in application at test sites, in labs or greenhouses, while being transported on vehicles or ships or stored. 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. I have pictures of Thais using elephants to remove foliage that was dead from spraying and cleared from our base. Aircraft used for RANCH HAND, UC-123Ks, launched from airbases in Thailand including Ubon, Udorn, NKP, and Takhli on numerous occasions to conduct missions against targets in Vietnam and Laos. Ive heard that Agent Orange wasnt used there and Ive heard that it was. As Mr. Raymond Gross, a PACAF agronomist, conducted the training, the herbicide manual was most likely employed throughout Southeast Asia. Agent Orange Newsletter - 2022 - Public Health When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Regarding base defense, the survey stated: A continuing vegetation control program is required for cleared areas under and between perimeter security fences. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Thailand AO Exposure | Veterans Claims Help His claim was denied because the location he served in is not recognized as having been treated with herbicides. Joel. There were 35,000 . 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. VA created the Memorandum as part of Fast Letter 09-20. In turn, this supports veterans statements regarding the use of herbicide to clear bases in Thailand during this period. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once! . After developing illnesses linked to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, Rhodes filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 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. If you served in Vietnam or Thailand, or in or near the Korean DMZand your child has . In August 1963, the government of Thailand requested aerial spraying services from RANCH HAND aircraft to assist with its locust problem. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Benefits Overview for Agent Orange Exposure - Public Health (Agent Orange didn't appear orange, though it looked like that to Pilsch.) Vietnam News Headlines April 29/2023 "Agent Orange" refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and around the Korean. . 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 VAs policy on herbicide exposure around Thailand base perimeters did not even exist when FL 09-20 was issued in 2009. VA depends on DOD to provide information regarding in-service environmental exposure for disability claims based on exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam, Wilkie said in a statement. From December 29, 1968, to January 2, 1969, RANCH HAND aircraft flew Agent Orange missions out of Udorn. Agent Orange was an herbicide that the United States military used during the Vietnam War. National Archive records also reveal that herbicide missions launched from Thailand on July 6, 1966, August 29, 1966, December 15, 1967, June 7, 1967, April 18, 1969, and March 25, 1970. yet assertive representation for our clients. 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. The team also focused on exposure resulting from procuring, shipping, storing, or loading herbicides. VA 38 U.S.C. 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. Disabled Veterans Sign up for a Career Change. Command Sergeant Major Kenneth Witkin stated that grounds personnel informed him they were using Agent Orange when he observed them spraying around barracks. 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. However, as of the passage of the 2022 Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act on August 10, 2022, VA has officially established a Thailand presumption for veterans. 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.. The intended result was to expose enemy forces who relied on the trees for cover. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices A substance containing any of these five compounds is an herbicide agent as a matter of law, regardless of its purpose or name brand. 3.307(a)(6)(i). 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. Fast Letter 09-20 dealt exclusively with Haas-related claims from Thailand veterans that had been stayed. 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. you viewed to avoid repetition. 196, Congress considered perimeter spraying. Despite this evidence, VAs position is that RANCH HAND aircraft and herbicides were either temporarily staged, or never staged, on Thailand bases. He stated that when the weather was bad, the crew would stay in Thailand at Ubon, NKP, or Udorn. 3.307 and 3.309 provide the legal authority and framework for awarding benefits to Vietnam veterans with herbicide agent-related diseases. 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 They routinely use this distinction as justification for denying Thailand exposure claims. 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. 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. Their dependents and survivors may also be eligible for benefits. The VA has recognized certain cancers and healthcare problems associated with Agent Orange, as outlined above. Agent Orange Wasn't the Only Deadly Chemical Used In Vietnam - History These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. I have lived 50 years since then, and it has been a been a rewarding and, sometimes disappointing life.No ones fault but myself. Throughout the Vietnam War, RANCH HAND aircraft utilizedbases in Thailand. Thailand veteran Michael Williams, who was stationed at Ubon from May 1969 to May 1970, asserted that he was assigned to a detail that involved defoliating the perimeter of the base. Soldiers lived, worked, and conducted recreational activities near the perimeter and in areas well within the 500-meter drift zone. The name "Agent. Due to the concerns over the integrity of studies completed for VA, the scientific community created a unified response rebutting the reasoning behind VAs policies. These days, there are fewer and fewer letters delivered to the Capitol by the U.S. 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. In other cases, the VA gets new information about exposure to toxins or side effects that make veterans eligible for additional benefits. Rank Among Most Heavily Sprayed Provinces in Vietnam. 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. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Click the link below to learn more. we represent clients nationwide. Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976, Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 30, 1980, Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977, Parkinsonism: A condition with symptoms of Parkinsons Disease, including, Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. I was a vehicle mechanic. The name came. This shows a robust relationship between the 315th Air Division and the movement of herbicides. Contact Us The 1986 Scientific Feasibility of Agent Orange Ground Troop Study noted that the group could not gain a clear indication from exposed verses non-exposed veterans because the records were incomplete. Specialties: Welcome to Nam Phuong restaurant. 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. Task Force Delta Overview - RTAFB Nam Phong Before Congress granted the presumption of exposure, government records showed that determining the level of exposure was impossible. In December 2019, DOD published its updated list of locations where Agent Orange and other herbicides were tested, used, or stored outside of Vietnam. They also employed Agent Blueand Agent White, among many others. Have Questions About Agent Orange Benefits? 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. 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I was part of the mobile construction battalion 5 (mcb 5) seabees that built the rose garden. VA representatives said the Department of Defense has provided updated information about Agent Orange use in new areas. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114
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