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. Hi, Just found this site. 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.. 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. National Archives records also reveal that herbicides were delivered to Takhli on April 7, 1973. These presumptions result in the award of VA benefits, such as disability compensation, health care, etc. 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. This shows a robust relationship between the 315th Air Division and the movement of herbicides. PDF Agent Orange in Thailand - DAV 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. He also noted in his sworn statement that the barrels were leaking all the time and the herbicide got all over his uniform and hands. 741 and S.B. What in the world is going on, and why isnt the VA recognizing any of us? Herbicides were also used to kill crops to diminish the enemys food supply. 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. Agent Orange Wasn't the Only Deadly Chemical Used In Vietnam - History PDF Issue Brief: Agent Orange in Thailand During Vietnam Era - Dav In a 1986 memorandum from an Agent Orange Working Group, the panel concluded that herbicide records were incomplete and that a large proportion of firebase perimeter spray operations were never recorded. In a 1981 draft statement, James Stockdale, the Deputy Under Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs, noted that documentation regarding perimeter spraying was poor and that less than 5 percent of all helicopter spray missions were recorded on Herbs tapes., The governments inability to identify exposed veterans led Congress to afford veterans the benefit of the doubt as to whether they were exposed by granting the presumption of exposure to all veterans who served in Vietnam. BBC News, Da Nang, Vietnam. The Department of Veterans Affairs lists these conditions as presumptive. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most. All rights reserved. Specialties: Welcome to Nam Phuong restaurant. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 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. I have photographs which I took of the area which demonstrate the extensive defoliation of the area. We owe you more than you are getting. 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. It is just simply wrong. For veterans like Rhodes who served in Nam Phong, Thailand, this is a policy they are calling on Congress to change. 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. Service members were also exposed to herbicides while constructing the perimeter. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 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. When Congress enacted these laws, it did not limit potential benefits to those veterans who served in Vietnam. 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. 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. 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. I served in The Rose Garden from April,1973 till October,1973. 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. 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. The distance between base perimeters and other base activities was normally well below 500 meters. 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. Before Congress granted the presumption of exposure, government records showed that determining the level of exposure was impossible. . That leaves 21,000 gallons of herbicide unaccounted for with their last known location in Thailand. 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. This statement indicates that misuse of herbicides by service members led to the necessity of establishing an SOP. I was part of the mobile construction battalion 5 (mcb 5) seabees that built the rose garden. . 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. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. U.S. Bases in Thailand During the Vietnam War and Agent Orange Nam Phong has been a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) communications center. In Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Their dependents and survivors may also be eligible for benefits. Phong is determined to finish top of the podium next month. TASK FORCE DELTA MCAS Nam Phong, Thailand 1972 ~ 1973 "We Never Promised You A Rose Garden" Namphong.vet is a Vietnam War Educational Archive All content herein is copyrighted by the original source and presented under the "fair use" provisions of US Code Title 17 in effect at the time of publication, and shall not be used for commercial purposes. Application of herbicides must be directed toward retarding growth to provide a cleared area. There is a group of reservist vets who flew the 123s that came from Man which sprayed AO in Nam. 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. 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. 1116. Contact Us 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. 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. Several veterans statements also indicate herbicides were used within the perimeters of the bases. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Stephen Pippenger, a dog handler stationed at Udorn from September 1968 to October 1969, stated that he observed Agent Orange being loaded onto the C-123 aircraft. Although these missions were classified, they demonstrate the robust relationship between U.S. military in Thailand and Operation RANCH HAND. TDD (for hearing impaired): 1 800 827-4833. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Is there any ruling from the VA on Nam Phong? 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. Previously, only veterans who were exposed to the dangerous weed killer while serving in-country Vietnam were eligible for any VA benefits. 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. I served with VMFA -115 72-73 Nam Phong.. At age 53 I had a six way heart bypass. Both Vietnam and Thailand were engagement zones for deployed military personnel, and both countries had similar Rules of Engagement (Rules). He also saw an aircraft spray the kennel area, and he remembers vegetation in that area dying shortly thereafter. One Square Mile of Vietnam: Da Nang - BBC News These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange VA offers health care benefits for Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. 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. kms.) In December 2019, DOD published its updated list of locations where Agent Orange and other herbicides were tested, used, or stored outside of Vietnam. In Thailand, Agent Orange was used to clear the jungle around bases, as a means to enhance security. Once Operation Ranch Hand began, around 20 million gallons of Agents Green, Pink, Purple, Blue, White, Orange,. What is Agent Orange and How Were People Exposed to It? They sprayed our living areas with DDT, which was banned in the US. 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. Veterans who served on the ground in Vietnam, on inland waterways or certain Navy ships engaged in combat operations and who have one or more illnesses thought to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other defoliants have presumptive status for disability benefits, meaning they only have to prove that they served in the theater to receive health care and compensation. Contactour office today for a free consultation with a member of our team. This is such a flagrant disgrace to those who served in nam phong. Called a Vietnam era vet same . 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. For veterans like Rhodes who served in Nam Phong, Thailand, this is a policy they are calling on Congress to change. During the Committee hearing on S.B. 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. 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. where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once! Several sworn statements and unit histories show there are numerous veterans who served in Thailand and would have met Dr. Youngs criteria. Our job was to off load air craft. Interestingly, this was after all aerial herbicide spray missions in Vietnam had ceased. Many of us were exposed to herbicides which were used extensively all over the site. Kenneth Witkins statement, he attested to observing Agent Orange being sprayed around the barracks at Udorn in 1970-1971. Defense Secretary Mark Esper added that the new list will be updated as verifiable information becomes available.. Whats disappointing is. 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. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits. 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 . In the early 1960s, military personnel had access to Agents Pink, Purple, and Green, most of which were undiluted versions of 2,4,5-T and therefore contained even higher levels of TCDD than Agent Orange. Keep up with all the changes and details. Here are the basic "rules" to get the presumption of Agent Orange exposure if you served in Thailand during the Vietnam War: 1) Service at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom (aka, NKP), Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and/or Don Muang, between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975. 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. From December 29, 1968, to January 2, 1969, RANCH HAND aircraft flew Agent Orange missions out of Udorn. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. Further documentation and sworn statements contradict that claim. 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.. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. 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. Marine served rosegarden may 1972 allen boyden iams sick. Ive heard that Agent Orange wasnt used there and Ive heard that it was. This benefit is a tax-free monthly, There are a wide variety of benefits that we have found, which every veteran should know about. 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).. Fast Letter 09-20 dealt exclusively with Haas-related claims from Thailand veterans that had been stayed. specifically: 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. 38 C.F.R. After developing illnesses linked to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, Rhodes filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We never made it to Danang but went from Bien Hoa to Nam Phong Thailand I was one of the first groups there. In its original conception, the Memorandum for the Record was never intended to apply to all Thailand exposure claims. 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. Benefits Overview for Agent Orange Exposure - Public Health 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. 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Playback: Agent Orange and Thailand Veterans - Hill & Ponton On Thursday, Pennsylvania Reps. Matt Cartwright (D) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R) introduced new legislation to expand the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange for disability benefits to. 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. 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 . Agent Orange was an herbicide that the United States military used during the Vietnam War. I am investigating as to whether or not I may have been exposed to Agent Orange and if so what should I do. 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 . Until 2009, VA made no distinction between commercial and tactical herbicides. Population in 2009 (millions) Percentage of Province Sprayed During 1960s. 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.. To date only one of these have received disability bennifits and he died 0ne month later. 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 I was in Nam Phong with Army Special Forces from January 1972 through May 1972. The VA has recognized certain cancers and healthcare problems associated with Agent Orange, as outlined above. Elem. From start to finish. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Restricting service-connected benefits for our men and women assigned to certain locations and career fields in Thailand during their military service is undermining the commitment we made to veterans. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Vietnam-era Veterans whose service involved duty on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975 may have been exposed to herbicides. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. 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.. The class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. ; Delta des Roten Flusses: Diese fruchtbare Gegend rund um die Hauptstadt Hanoi (H Ni) erstreckt sich bis zum Golf . Gallons of Herbicides Sprayed. 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 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. It also does not include any places where the U.S. Department of Agriculture, academia, chemical companies or others tested or stored the chemicals if service members werent involved, nor areas where trained DoD personnel engaged in vegetation management and control in accordance with the DoD Pest Management Program. For instance, which pages you go to most. In such a strict application, VA arbitrarily ignored its own policy of conceding herbicide exposure for veterans who served near the perimeter. Technical Sergeant William L. Easterly stated that RANCH HAND crew would use Agent Orange around their personnel area because they were not aware of the herbicides harmful effects.
nam phong, thailand agent orange