That leaves 21,000 gallons of herbicide unaccounted for with their last known location in Thailand. 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 These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. I served with MAG 15 H&MS 15 in Nam Phong, Thailand Feb Sep 1973. 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. 7 Things Every Veteran Should Know About Agent Orange Video. Thailand veteran Wayne Hogstad was stationed at NKP from April 1967 to April 1968 and was assigned to the police squadron. This matches documentation indicating herbicide use at and after that time. Soldiers lived, worked, and conducted recreational activities near the perimeter and in areas well within the 500-meter drift zone. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits. There were 35,000 . In such a strict application, VA arbitrarily ignored its own policy of conceding herbicide exposure for veterans who served near the perimeter. Veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War fight for VA Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. 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. For example, many veterans on or near aircraft or near the barrels containing herbicides were exposed to the same risks as those conducting foot patrols. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. 741 and S.B. Is there any ruling from the VA on Nam Phong? We never made it to Danang but went from Bien Hoa to Nam Phong Thailand I was one of the first groups there. . VA has establishedpresumptive service connectionfor these veterans, meaning that VA will assume exposure to Agent Orange if veterans can prove that they served in Thailand, at any US or Thai base, between January 9, 1962 and June 30, 1976. 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. He also saw an aircraft spray the kennel area, and he remembers vegetation in that area dying shortly thereafter. 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. 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! Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Base Defense in Thailand - DTIC Called a Vietnam era vet same . This is a huge win for any Vietnam War or any other veteran suffering from agent orange exposure related symptoms. This statement indicates that misuse of herbicides by service members led to the necessity of establishing an SOP. 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. 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 . specifically: 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. (Emphasis added.) Lets reauthorize PEPFAR now, Stakeholder Voices Important to Farm Bill Process, Boozman Continues Leadership to Combat Arkansas Physician Shortage. I arrived in Nam Phong in June of 1972. By June 1973, the unit was waiting for more herbicides. 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. 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. Due to the density and high growth rate of tropical vegetation in Thailand, the military used herbicides because mowing was seen as labor intensive and ineffective. 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. 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. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Yunnan-Hochland: Gebirgslandschaft im Norden, wo Vietnam an China grenzt und sein hchster Berg Phan-xi-png (3144 m) liegt. 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. These admissions correlate with sworn statements provided by several Airmen. 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. The distance between base perimeters and other base activities was normally well below 500 meters. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Contact Us Before Congress granted the presumption of exposure, government records showed that determining the level of exposure was impossible. The district is located along Mittraphap Road (Thailand Route 2) and the Northeastern Railway. Marine served rosegarden may 1972 allen boyden iams sick. 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. The military used herbicides to clear foliage from the jungles and base camps of Vietnam. The report recognizes the heightened risk of attacks directed against air bases because they presented the enemy with a concentration of lucrative targets. Additionally, the report states: Thailand is going through the same type of growing pains experienced in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), but the knowledge and experience gained in the development of air base defense in RVN permit a more rapid evolution in Thailand. Thus, similar tactics and procedures in base defense were used in both Thailand and Vietnam because the bases were facing the same threat with similar resources. It is also another indicator that herbicide use was prevalent and supports statements from Airmen regarding the use of herbicides throughout Thailand. In fact, the distinction is notably absent from records until 2009 when VA published a Memorandum for the Record regarding herbicide use in Thailand during the Vietnam Era. I was there all the time. 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. 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. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Air Force documents confirm that herbicide deliveries not associated with RANCH HAND were transported to and from Thailand. From December 29, 1968, to January 2, 1969, RANCH HAND aircraft flew Agent Orange missions out of Udorn. ; Delta des Roten Flusses: Diese fruchtbare Gegend rund um die Hauptstadt Hanoi (H Ni) erstreckt sich bis zum Golf . Playback: Agent Orange and Thailand Veterans - Hill & Ponton The directive highlights U.S. assistance to local government in requesting, supplying, and planning defoliation operations. 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. "I'm spending out of pocket . 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. 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. Service in Vietnam, during the Vietnam War for any length of time between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, OR ; Service in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for any length of time between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971 , OR ; Service aboard a U.S. military vessel that entered the inland waterways of Vietnam, OR ; Service aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (c.f. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure - Public Health 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 HUGE NEWS for thousands of Vietnam vets who were stationed outside of Vietnam but were still toxic-exposed to Agent Orange. What Benefits Do I Get From Agent Orange Exposure? 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. where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once! These conditions include: The addition of these conditions means that many more veterans will be eligible for VA disability benefits. that he served as a C-130 pilot with a Marine Air Squadron and was temporarily stationed in Nam Phong, Thailand in . 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. 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. 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. RANCH HAND was also not prohibited from herbicide spray missions in Thailand. 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.) 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.. I am investigating as to whether or not I may have been exposed to Agent Orange and if so what should I do. *Exceptions: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposis sarcoma, and mesothelioma. 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. In Thailand, Agent Orange was used to clear the jungle around bases, as a means to enhance security. Regarding base defense, the survey stated: A continuing vegetation control program is required for cleared areas under and between perimeter security fences. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. These presumptions result in the award of VA benefits, such as disability compensation, health care, etc. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Joel. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 In 1991, Congress passed the Agent Orange Act, which mandated that certain diseases associated with exposure to herbicide agents, including chloracne and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, be presumed service-connected. Leaking barrels also directly exposed service members to herbicides. 7 Ways to Improve Your VA Agent Orange Thailand Exposure Claims. We pulled perimeter guard and walked thru the dead foliage and barbed wire. 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. With the GAO report, DoD compelled to come up with a more comprehensive list, not go back and revise what they already confirmed.. VA created the Memorandum as part of Fast Letter 09-20. Public Law 116-23, the. Phone number 9197780046. 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. He stated that when the weather was bad, the crew would stay in Thailand at Ubon, NKP, or Udorn. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 In August 1963, the government of Thailand requested aerial spraying services from RANCH HAND aircraft to assist with its locust problem. 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. NAM PHUONG - 873 Photos & 788 Reviews - 1100 Washington Ave - Yelp 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. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 For instance, which pages you go to most. The prevalence of herbicide use in Thailand is further demonstrated by the embassys approval of the use of herbicides on several occasions. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam, health care and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. This means that veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria are automatically eligible for VA disability benefits. Leakage from empty herbicide barrels was also noted because it was difficult to drain the last two or three gallons. Phong is determined to finish top of the podium next month. Ambassador to authorize herbicide operations. Elem. One Square Mile of Vietnam: Da Nang - BBC News The class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. you viewed to avoid repetition. These veterans have been left behind by the current limitations on the presumption of toxic exposure to Agent Orange. Are Vietnam Veterans the Only Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange? Agent Orange Wasn't the Only Deadly Chemical Used In Vietnam - History VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides is therefore misguided, arbitrary, and contrary to law. 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. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. 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.. 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. Postal Service. Vietnam News Headlines April 29/2023 VA Disability Rating for Agent Orange & List of Presumptive Conditions 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. However, these stayed claims did not involve claims due to herbicide exposure around Thailand bases or their perimeters. Have Questions About Agent Orange Benefits? The team also focused on exposure resulting from procuring, shipping, storing, or loading herbicides. When Congress enacted these laws, it did not limit potential benefits to those veterans who served in Vietnam. Because service members were exposed to herbicides that were used inside the base, not just at the base perimeter, veterans who served in Thailand should not have to prove that their duties required them to be near the perimeter. While attempting to fix the aircraft, he was forced to kneel in the Agent Orange that covered the floor. In other cases, the VA gets new information about exposure to toxins or side effects that make veterans eligible for additional benefits. 3.307 and 3.309 provide the legal authority and framework for awarding benefits to Vietnam veterans with herbicide agent-related diseases. The legal framework of the Vietnam presumptions, The military used the same herbicides in Thailand that were used in Vietnam, The Rules of Engagement for Vietnam and Thailand were similar, Thailands strong connection to Operation RANCH HAND demonstrates that its bases received a steady supply of herbicides, The historical record reveals substantial herbicide use on bases in Thailand, The Air Force developed a standard for herbicide use on Thailand bases, VA should presume exposure to herbicide agents for all Thailand veterans, Thailand veterans were exposed to the same agents as Vietnam veterans, In Thailand cases, VA faces the same challenges of determining exposure details as with Vietnam veterans, VAs illusory distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides is unlawful and arbitrary, PACT Act establishes presumptive service connection for Thailand veterans, 2022 Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, CCK Court Wins: Agent Orange & Gulf War Illness. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. 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. 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 . 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 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. You should contact the VA immediately if you or a loved one served in one of the designated Agent Orange exposure locations. consider passing this info on to them. And with Vietnam vets, there are two presumptions. 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. Our job was to off load air craft. 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. 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. 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. Agent Orange Registry health exam: this is a free exam for possible long-term health problems related to herbicide exposure. The 355th Civil Engineer Squadron and Pacific Air Force (PACAF) Command Agronomist sponsored the training. I was only a PFC and did not get any higher than that. VA has constructed an arbitrary distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides. 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.. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. William Easterly was stationed throughout Vietnam and Thailand from 1966-1967 and 1969-1970. They also employed Agent Blueand Agent White, among many others. Copyright 1999-2021 Malecare, Inc | All Rights Reserved, Important Agent Orange Information for Those Who Served in Thailand. 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. 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. Furthermore, there are several reference reports admitting herbicide use throughout bases in Thailand. The expansion of Agent Orange exposure locations came as a result of Public Law 116-23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. 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.
