His claim was denied because the location he served in is not recognized as having been treated with herbicides. 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. Defense Secretary Mark Esper added that the new list will be updated as verifiable information becomes available.. 3.307 (a)(6)(i) defines an herbicide agent as a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the United States and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam . The 355th Civil Engineer Squadron and Pacific Air Force (PACAF) Command Agronomist sponsored the training. VA has constructed an arbitrary distinction between tactical and commercial herbicides. But Ryan Gallucci, director of National Veterans Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the new list does not live up to the guidance and recommendations of the GAO report., We have a lot of questions two specific locations that GAO identified arent included on DoDs new list and certain ones that seemingly had verified spraying on the old list are now off the list, Gallucci said. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the update was necessary to improve accuracy and [for] communication of information.. 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. This is an up-to-date list of conditions on the VAs Agent Orange presumptive list. He stated that when the weather was bad, the crew would stay in Thailand at Ubon, NKP, or Udorn. 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. where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once! This reporting directly corresponds to other Air Force archives documents from 1973 showing that the Civil Engineers had developed a standard operating procedure for the use of herbicide on Takhli to avoid misuse. Thailand veterans harmed by Agent Orange hope Congress will hear them 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[,] . Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 It is also another indicator that herbicide use was prevalent and supports statements from Airmen regarding the use of herbicides throughout Thailand. Gymnastics will be held on May 6-9 at the Olympic Stadium Centre's Marquee Tent in Phnom Penh. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 1116. 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. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. I was only a PFC and did not get any higher than that. This matches documentation indicating herbicide use at and after that time. According to Prichard, locations were selected or deleted based on criteria including the existence of an official record, to include government reports, forms, unit histories, shipping logs, contracts, scientific reports or photographs. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. 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. Similarities between the Rules in Thailand and Vietnam were also necessary due to Operation RANCH HAND activities in Thailand. 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. In Ubon veteran Ronald Switzers appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), he asserted that he was a material handler of Agent Orange during his time at Ubon from 1968 to 1969. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 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. Thailand Agent Orange / Herbicide Exposure Claim Process Information This legislation expands benefits to veterans who served aboard ships off the coast of Vietnam. arrived at Nam Phong, asked 'someone else ' (PVT, PFC, etc.) 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. Agent Orange exposure and VA disability compensation 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. 7 Ways to Improve Your VA Agent Orange Thailand Exposure Claims. 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. Sign up for the free quarterly Advanced Prostate Cancer Newsletter. PDF Agent Orange in Thailand - DAV The term is used only in the Memorandum for the Record and in individual cases wherein VA uses the distinction to deny benefits. I served with MAG 15 H&MS 15 in Nam Phong, Thailand Feb Sep 1973. Mr. George Collins was assigned to the Aero Space Ground Equipment (AGE) unit in U-Tapao for seven months beginning in 1969 and ending in 1970. 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. Surviving spouses agent orange widows, dependent children and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service and died as the result of the diseases related to exposure may be eligible for healthcare, compensation, education and home loan benefits. Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere. I have been dealing with this for years now with Tricare and Medicare and I think it is time to see what I can do with the VA.Thank you for helping me brothers and letting me that I am not alone. I am investigating as to whether or not I may have been exposed to Agent Orange and if so what should I do. 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. 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. The VA offers health registry exams, health care, disability compensation and other benefits to eligible veterans affected by Agent Orange toxic exposure. While we still have our home base in Florida, You should contact the VA immediately if you or a loved one served in one of the designated Agent Orange exposure locations. we represent clients nationwide. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) Directive 525-1 (1966) highlighted the procedure for requesting aerial spray, power spray, and hand spray in Vietnam. This statement indicates that misuse of herbicides by service members led to the necessity of establishing an SOP. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/thailand.asp. The directive highlights U.S. assistance to local government in requesting, supplying, and planning defoliation operations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The threats toward Air Force bases were legitimate and a serious concern for military units stationed in Thailand. (Agent Orange didn't appear orange, though it looked like that to Pilsch.) These services include an Agent Orange Registry health exam and clinical treatment at VA's War Related Illness and Injury Study Center. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. 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. The Thailand base perimeter policy was not issued until May 2010, when it was introduced in a Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Daily life on Thailand bases also exposed service members to herbicide agents. 2201 and S.1381, as both would automatically concede Agent Orange exposure for all veterans who served at military installations in Thailand during the Vietnam Era, regardless of the base, duty on the perimeter or military occupational specialty. 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. Throughout the Vietnam War, RANCH HAND aircraft utilizedbases in Thailand. From 1966 to mid-1968, insurgents conducted 331 assassinations and 1,087 armed encounters. 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. In its report, GAO called the list inaccurate and incomplete, and urged DoD to update the publication, which hadnt been updated in more than a decade. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure - Public Health Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. The class consisted of twelve non-commissioned officers. 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. 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. Editors note: This story was updated to include further input from the Department of Defense. All rights reserved. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 She was a former US Airforce civilian employee, who worked at Hill Air Force Base, in Layton, UT as a flight testing administrator. 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. In Mr. Hogstads statement, he said that he observed a C-123 aircraft mounted with spray equipment next to barrels with orange stripes. Lets reauthorize PEPFAR now, Stakeholder Voices Important to Farm Bill Process, Boozman Continues Leadership to Combat Arkansas Physician Shortage. The distance between base perimeters and other base activities was normally well below 500 meters. As a result, the embassy approved the use of herbicides. Why are veterans from Nam Phong told no agent orange exposure there. 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. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. The Memorandum was an attachment to FL 09-20 which was aimed at assisting Regional Offices in completing the adjudication of the stayed Haas-related claims. There were 35,000 . VA 38 U.S.C. 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 been experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned above. "I'm spending out of pocket . This is such a flagrant disgrace to those who served in nam phong. I struggle. Was in NamPhong 11/72 thru Sept 73, my wife has had 4 miscarriages, we had a daughter born with a form of Spina Bifida, my son has the digits of his left foot deformed and I have been diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. The VA is looking at that data now to determine if changes should be made. 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. Postal Service. VA created the Memorandum as part of Fast Letter 09-20. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. The VA has recognized certain cancers and healthcare problems associated with Agent Orange, as outlined above. 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. Vietnam - Wikipedia 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. In November 1969, the NKP Commander requested RANCH HAND assistance to defoliate the ordnance drop area. The name "Agent. I served in the Rose Garden in 1972 and suffer with Prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, onset diabetes. Vietnam veterans and those who served in certain other locations (such as Thailand or the Korean Demilitarized Zone) and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides may be eligible for 3 kinds of benefits. Historical reports establish that a squadron in 1971 began spraying chemical herbicides on the troublesome plants. In 1972, the leadership at U-Tapao sought to expand use of herbicides in clearing 100 feet from the perimeter fence and invoking an aggressive program on vegetation control. Together, the Airmans statement and historical reports demonstrate consistent use of herbicides in which the Air Force utilized internal equipment to accomplish defoliation. By Telephone. 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. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide. Buddy statements from anyone who served with Special Forces at Nam Phong would be helpful. Copyright 1999-2021 Malecare, Inc | All Rights Reserved, Important Agent Orange Information for Those Who Served in Thailand. What did VA Cover Up in Thailand Agent Orange Data Release? Keep up with all the changes and details. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. There are several additional pieces of evidence indicating that herbicides were used throughout Southeast Asia. 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. He also saw an aircraft spray the kennel area, and he remembers vegetation in that area dying shortly thereafter. 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.. The Department of Veterans Affairs lists these conditions as presumptive. VA representatives said the Department of Defense has provided updated information about Agent Orange use in new areas. 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.. Hi, Just found this site. 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. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Maps of Heavily Sprayed Areas and Dioxin Hot Spots The DoD list is instrumental in helping support many of these veterans claims. Yet VAs past policy application eliminated even these veterans from receiving benefits based on their exposure to herbicide agents. The Air Force leadership argued that adherence to the SOP should eliminate any misuse of herbicide application on Takhli. The intended result was to expose enemy forces who relied on the trees for cover. kms.) 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. Congress must enact H.R. From start to finish. Agent Orange Exposure in Thailand - Hill & Ponton, P.A.