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. (Butch) Pvt. From December 29, 1968, to January 2, 1969, RANCH HAND aircraft flew Agent Orange missions out of Udorn. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Thailand veterans harmed by Agent Orange hope Congress will hear them Agent Orange Wasn't the Only Deadly Chemical Used In Vietnam - History The directive highlights U.S. assistance to local government in requesting, supplying, and planning defoliation operations. Agent Orange exposure and VA disability compensation Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. 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. MCAS Rose Garden - RTAFB Nam Phong Once Operation Ranch Hand began, around 20 million gallons of Agents Green, Pink, Purple, Blue, White, Orange,. Hence, the records suggest the movement of herbicides to and from Thailand was not exclusively associated with RANCH HAND missions and that herbicides were used throughout Thailand. Agent Orange | Military.com 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.. The intended result was to expose enemy forces who relied on the trees for cover. Population in 2009 (millions) Percentage of Province Sprayed During 1960s. There is a group of reservist vets who flew the 123s that came from Man which sprayed AO in Nam. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most. 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. Elem. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. We never made it to Danang but went from Bien Hoa to Nam Phong Thailand I was one of the first groups there. But the list, published Jan. 27 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, omits more than 40 locations previously noted as exposure sites by DoD in 2018 deletions that could undermine other veterans pending claims. 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. Troops exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam could be in line for This suggests that the defoliant improvement projects occurred after the herbicide testing (1964-1965). 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. I have also been denied compensation for herbicide exposure and am awaiting a hearing. . However, per the 1971 CHECO Report, only 7,000 gallons of this herbicide, mostly Agent Orange, were dispensed in Laos. Subscribe to Military.com. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. For veterans like Rhodes who served in Nam Phong, Thailand, this is a policy they are calling on Congress to change. I served with MAG 15 H&MS 15 in Nam Phong, Thailand Feb Sep 1973. Provinces. Thailand AO Exposure | Veterans Claims Help But historical documentation shows no evidence that the military made any distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides at the time of the Vietnam War. . 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. Nam Phong has been a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) communications center. Herbicides were also used to kill crops to diminish the enemys food supply. Welch,Mike Sec. In turn, this supports veterans statements regarding the use of herbicide to clear bases in Thailand during this period. Interestingly, this was after all aerial herbicide spray missions in Vietnam had ceased. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. . Before Congress granted the presumption of exposure, government records showed that determining the level of exposure was impossible. I was with a group that arrived 3 days before the cbs. The VA offers health registry exams, health care, disability compensation and other benefits to eligible veterans affected by Agent Orange toxic exposure. As a result, a conscientiously controlled program of vegetation control through the use of herbicides must be applied. 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. His statement aligns with the CHECO report, which notes that heavy use of herbicides kept the growth under control in the fenced areas. Moreover, Mr. Hogstads statement correlates with a historical record showing a request dated October 11, 1967, sought six C-123 herbicide aircraft and 60 personnel to operate from [NKP] for a 15-day period.. NAM PHONG ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE - (This was home to a major U.S. Marine Combat Air Wing and supporting units; U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion; U.S. Army Green Berets; U.S. Special Forces.) Copyright 1999-2021 Malecare, Inc | All Rights Reserved, Important Agent Orange Information for Those Who Served in Thailand. They sprayed our living areas with DDT, which was banned in the US. 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. The distinction between a tactical herbicide and a commercial herbicide has no legal or factual significance. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 All of the vegetation I saw on the base was reddish brown and wilted. This new list contains six different locations in Thailand, which confirms its extensive use in the country during the Vietnam Era. Daily life on Thailand bases also exposed service members to herbicide agents. Likewise, if a veteran were then diagnosed with certain diseases, the government would concede that the disease was related to 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. Agent Orange Compensation Back Pay: Does the VA Owe You? These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. The first presumption is if you stepped foot in Vietnam, you were exposed to Agent Orange. Ill let you know how it goes. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used by the United States during the Vietnam War. "Agent Orange" refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and around the Korean. 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. Moreover, VAs previous position that herbicides were only used along the perimeters is contradicted by documented evidence and sworn statements. And for the last 20 years, we always . This CHECO report addresses the development of USAF base defense in Thailand from the initial attack on Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base RTAFB through 30 June 1972. This directly coincides with Air Force documents stating that defoliation operations around the Udorn perimeter occurred during this period. During the Committee hearing on S.B. Public Law 116-23, the. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? The term commercial herbicide is notably absent from Air Force archive documentation, including the 1973 CHECO report which specifically states that herbicides used in Thailand had to undergo the same embassy approval process as herbicides used in Vietnam. In August 1963, the government of Thailand requested aerial spraying services from RANCH HAND aircraft to assist with its locust problem. 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. VAs regulation38 C.F.R. A substance containing any of these five compounds is an herbicide agent as a matter of law, regardless of its purpose or name brand. 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. I was in Nam Phong with Army Special Forces from January 1972 through May 1972. From start to finish. 7 Things Every Veteran Should Know About Agent Orange Video. Once VA lifted the stay, these claims still required adjudication. *Exceptions: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposis sarcoma, and mesothelioma. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 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. It was where the French first landed in the 19th Century in their quest to control the area and where . 3.307defines herbicide agents as 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD (also known as dioxin), cacodylic acid, and picloram. 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. Government Accountability Office and Agent Orange, a new list of locations outside Vietnam where herbicides like Agent Orange were tested and stored, VA disputes science panels findings on proposed Agent Orange diseases; decision not expected until late 2020. old list, which dates to September, 2018 and was published by the Government Accountability Office in November, 2018, one of the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related conditions, 90,000 blue water Vietnam veterans in line for disability benefits after Justice officials drop appeal, US report shows China taking steps toward space dominance, Biden to allow Afghans to stay longer in US, sources say, Michigan expands absentee voting for military members, Some companies charge hefty fees to help vets with disability claims, USS George Washington returning to Japan next year, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? The stories vary on pretty much the same theme: ' someone ' (officer, etc.) Agent Orange Registry health exam: The Agent Orange Registry is a program administered by the VA since 1978. Kenneth Witkins statement, he attested to observing Agent Orange being sprayed around the barracks at Udorn in 1970-1971. Sign up for the free quarterly Advanced Prostate Cancer Newsletter. We pulled perimeter guard and walked thru the dead foliage and barbed wire. Rank Among Most Heavily Sprayed Provinces in Vietnam. The convenience of email has changed the manner in which Americans communicate with their elected officials. The United States Veterans Administration (VA) has announced that, like those who served in Vietnam, veterans who served in Thailand maybe be entitled to VA benefits. . Gymnastics will be held on May 6-9 at the Olympic Stadium Centre's Marquee Tent in Phnom Penh. If you filed a claim for one of these conditions in the past, the VA will automatically review your case to see if youre now eligible. The training is an indicator that Air Force leadership took a cohesive approach regarding the application of herbicides on Thailand bases. 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. U.S. Bases in Thailand During the Vietnam War and Agent Orange 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.
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