Proving Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans Who Served in Thailand U.S. military bases in Thailand were some of the first bases established in the Vietnam War theater of operations, and the veterans who served on those bases were just as Nicholas Simpson, Attorney Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Red line shows the Nakhon Pahnom RTAFB base perimeter, while the blue line shows the full 500 meter herbicide/Agent Orange drift zone as defined in U.S. Army area at Ubon RTAFB, Map of the Munitions Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Bob has been fighting this letter since it came out, Skinner said. His living quarters were also close to a base perimeter, he recalled. Barrels of herbicides (AO) were buried under the runway at Bor Phai and not found until March, 1999. Source: Herbicide Use in Thailand The Relationship to the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Use in Vietnam and Laos. This occurred in many locations spanning Puerto Rico including: Mayaguez, Guanica, Joyuda, Loquillo, Las Marias, and near the Rio Grande. Around this same time, another testing project was administered in the State Forest area of Mauna Loa, HI. As North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam in March 1972, the 8th TFW was augmented by an additional F-4 unit. Additionally, national archives show that various herbicide missions were launched from Thailand twice in 1966, twice in 1967, and also in 1969 and 1970. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Instead of receiving presumptive service connection for their exposure to Agent Orange, they had to prove three conditions to qualify for direct service connection disability: With presumptive service connection, a veteran only needs to prove the first two elements because the third is "presumed." While attending law school, she worked as a teaching assistant for legal writing classes. This is the best map of the base layout at Ubon RTAFB I can find. It was used as a staging area for bombing missions over Laos and Cambodia. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. This case involves a BVA decision that an Army veteran's MOS as a light infantryman did not support his This information is not a substitute for legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. including the Herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Map of the Munitions What Is The Most Important Factor To Consider When Choosing A Tactical Flashlight? Agent Orange Thailand (February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975) Air Force Veteran who served at the Royal Thai Air Force Bases of U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat or at Don Muang as security policemen, security patrol dog handlers, or members of a security police squadron, or otherwise served near a base Webthe use of tactical herbicides (Agent Orange) on Thai Royal Air Force Bases and Thai Army Bases. xNC}qpFd;SS^=8z|A,YERkvACs,~zt;93u_rJaU"Tt~\&,xxR|xPVu6 Royal Thai Air Force Base perimeters during the Vietnam Era, the VA Udorn and Ubon, Thailand in 1963 during a training exercise at JT116 FTX. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. A VA spokeswoman said If enacted, S.657 would expand universal eligibility for veterans who served in Thailand. Call Cuddigan Law to get help with your VA disability application or appeal today. U.S. Air Force Veteranswho served on Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. Despite the fact that the 13th BS was no longer manned or equipped, it remained operational until its demise on December 24, 1972. sappers attacked Ubon three times during the Vietnam War. VA Notice of Disagreement (NOD) Delaying VA Claim Decision Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 Thats what we do; we get creative, Mineer said. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Cantonment area at Ubon RTAFB, Udorn Thailand area including As one of a group of chemicals referred to as the rainbow herbicides, Agent Orange served as the most well-known defoliant used in the Vietnam War. My sense is these bills have a chance, but I just dont know how good a chance, attorney Chisholm said. The 435th Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) was the unit that operated C-130s from Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, during the Vietnam War. Storage and Maintenance, Missle Maintenance Shop at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated The last scheduled training flight was held on July 16, 1974. After a brief hiatus, testing resumed in 1966 with the aerial application of Agent Orange taking place in Loquillo and Las Marias, PR. Initially, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claimed the aircraft used in Operation Ranch Hand and the herbicides they carried were either temporarily staged or never staged on Thailand bases. That presumption has been expanded to blue-water Navy veterans. Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (Udorn RTAFB) is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, the home of 23rd Wing Air Command. WebAgent Orange is a highly toxic, deadly chemical that is a known carcinogen. 1 0 obj Members of the Air Force Reserves who worked on C-123 aircraft after the Vietnam War, and those who served in a regular Air Force unit location where C-123 aircraft were assigned between 1969 and 1986 are also eligible for the presumption. A 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 Thailand military bases to remove foliage that provided cover for enemy forces. Agent Blue was used from approximately 1973 to 1977 on the Air Force Base grounds. /X!`h8 p'Dwa.6jl(".l']qG":N"|{uM/ /;Cplh8;F>qy=P)5*!TIR=\.Cn V}9gp3:(gZ5xeB*gI Shannon is the daughter of a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant and a high school English teacher and was born on MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. Office of Accountability & Whistleblower Protection, Training - Exposure - Experience (TEE) Tournament, Military Exposure Related Health Concerns, War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, Clinical Trainees (Academic Affiliations), benefits related to Agent Orange exposure, Call TTY if you Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Other VA compensation claim resources on this website. Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. I guess the VA doesnt believe the wind blows, Skinner said. However, documentation and sworn statements by military personnel contradicted that position. Learn more about benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. Agent Orange is just a euphemism for many different types of herbicides. This document contains false or misleading statements. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. They (the VA) dont give you a definition of what the perimeter is, Harmon said. Call for immediate help at 401-331-6300 or contact us online. Agent Orange in Thailand Several reports show that Agent Orange and other herbicides were used and stored on numerous Royal Thai Air Force Bases (RTAFB) during the Vietnam War. Communists launched attacks on military personnel in Thailand from all over the country. According to Mr. Hogstads statement, herbicide use throughout Southeast Asia is also possible during the Vietnam War. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Specifically, in 1956, numerous herbicide chemicals were evaluated on tropical woods in Mayaguez and Guanica, PR. When evaluating the effectiveness of herbicide mixtures, Agent Orange was used as the standard. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 Hawaii was one of the main sites for the storage and testing of Agent Orange throughout the 1960s. There were 44 trucks destroyed in Laos by the 16th Special Operations Group (SOG) in 2016, accounting for 44 percent of all trucks destroyed there. The poison spray rained down from military aircraft, and millions of people on the ground were exposedwith many eventually becoming ill due to hot spots of dioxins left in the geography. Even though Agent Orange was widely used in nearby countries, veterans who spent time in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia are not granted that presumptive Agent Orange is a highly toxic, deadly chemical that is a known carcinogen. In December of 1966, Fort Detrick personnel conducted field tests of Agent Orange in Hilo, HI in order to evaluate variables such as rates, volume of application, season, and vegetation. In October 2020, the VA denied Xenia resident and Thailand veteran Paul Skinner compensation for what Skinner believed was Agent Orange exposure, with the 635th Security Police Squadron herbicide was used to clear a 100-foot-wide section of the perimeter fence after the attack on U-Tapao. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Currently, Skinner hopes to make a case before a VA judge in perhaps a year, maybe longer. The bill was last referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in June. In addition to being part of combat search and rescue missions in southern Laos and Cambodia, two A-1 Skyraiders from the 1st Special Operations Squadron were stationed at Ubon. For years, the U.S. government denied ever spraying Agent Orange or similar herbicides in Thailand, leading to continual denials from the VA for those veterans who served in Thailand and are now suffering the effects of herbicide exposure. Recently, the VA has acknowledged that certain veterans who served in Thailand between February 1961 and May 1975 may have been exposed to herbicides. This list includes U.S. Air Force veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat and Don Muang. In addition, some U.S. Army veterans who provided perimeter security on those bases or who served with a military police unit may have Agent Orange Thailand exposure. Design a site like this with WordPress.com, best map of the base layout at Ubon RTAFB, Citation Nr: 0714102 Decision Date: 05/11/07 Archive Date: 05/25/07 DOCKET NO. Select personnel would receive a copy of their own herbicide manual. Unlike veterans who served in Vietnam and certain areas of Korea, veterans who served in Thailand are not entitled by law to a presumption of exposure to tactical herbicides, the spokeswoman said. All rights reserved. RANCH HAND activities in Thailand necessitate the formation of similar Rules to those in Vietnam. He claims specifically, that he was exposed to Agent Orange when responding to and handling C-123s managed by special operations groups located on the secured back 40 ramp and Ranch Hand aircraft that landed at his location after spray missions over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Once exposure to Agent Orange has been proven, service connection will be presumed for illnesses that are listed by the VA as being associated with Agent Orange exposure. Army Veteran who served on a Royal Thai Air Force Base who affirmatively state that they were involved with perimeter security duty as long as there is additional evidence to corroborate their statement. An aerial application of the herbicide was completed and data was recorded. U.S. military bases in Thailand were some of the first bases established in the Vietnam War theater of operations, and the veterans who served on those bases were just as much a part of the war as those who served boots on the ground in the Republic of Vietnam. They were subjected to enemy attacks, and they were also subjected to exposure to the same herbicides used in Vietnam itself. The first two or three gallons of herbicide were discovered to be leaking from empty herbicide barrels, and the last two or three gallons were discovered to be difficult to drain. For nearly 10 years, approximately 20 million gallons of these tactical defoliants were used. 5 unexploded charges were discovered, as well as two C-47s that had been damaged. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 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 assignments at Udom (Royal Thai Air Force Base).. Taking into account the geography of Southeast Asia and the multiple roles assumed by military personnel traveling to and from the airbases in the area, it is entirely plausible that a military transport from Clark AFB in September 1970 stopped at an airbase in Vietnam to drop off and/or pick up passengers prior to continuing on to Thailand. A search and rescue team inspected the crash site and observed at least 4 bodies in the wreckage, but were only able to recover the partial remains of one individual before they had to withdraw due to a heavy presence of hostile forces in the area. You may be eligible for VA benefits, and we can help determine if your military duty during this time qualifies you for disability benefits. Weband evacuation missions. 800-829-4833, Veterans Crisis Line: However, the Veteran served at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand for a 4-month period in mid-1962 and again in Korea from mid-1965 to mid-1966 but the record Lets be real, this was 60 years ago, Trone said. Visit the Agent Orange Registry website to learn more about how to get an Agent Orange Registry exam and to find out how to protect yourself from the disease. Since Agent Blue could not be burned, the herbicide was sprayed on the Air Force base as a way to dispose of the remaining stores. Please switch auto forms mode to off. Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of yet assertive representation for our clients. Skinner said the denial was frustrating. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 These include cancer, birth defects, and other illnesses. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. All Thailand veterans should be diagnosed with herbicide exposure as soon as possible. The documents show that the use of herbicide was recommended in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973. They deserve quick adjudication for their claim and we cannot put the burden on the veterans who served their country.. The perimeter of Ubon has been pushed back and there has been little foliage on the perimeter, according to photographs. The 435th TAW was inactivated on 30 September 1974. Personnel were exposed to Agent Orange at the same time as Vietnam veterans. details of the RTAFB side of the field, details However, before 2010, veterans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War didn't receive that same consideration. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Chisholm said he and like-minded attorneys representing veterans who served in Thailand are winning these cases one at a time, but with detailed evidence, detailed arguments, detailed affidavits. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam or Korea must provide evidence that they were actually exposed to the herbicide. detailed annotations, Map 7 - the Demolitioin area Military personnel were able to obtain undiluted versions of 2,4,5-T, which contained even higher levels of TCDD than Agent Orange. Contact Us He said he worked in areas close to base fencelines and perimeters, sometimes chaining down jets to run the engines, which would actually kick up dust and dirt everywhere around the aircraft.. The report notes the significant use of Agent Orange to remove foliage that The purpose of this project was to evaluate the herbicide Tordon in mixtures with Agent Orange, to determine if it would be a successful defoliant agent. Or is it 500 feet? Additionally, C-123 Aircraft that were used to The chemicals were applied in highly concentrated solutions using a micro-sprayer. You can also apply for benefits for other illnesses, but you will have to show a medical connection between herbicide exposure and your disability. by Sappers at U-Tapao RTAFB, Return to the Batcat Veterans Benefit homepage. In order to show a service connection between your disability(ies) and your active duty service, you must show an in-service event that documents your claim. Agent Orange is a mixture of acids that causes cancer and other deadly diseases. The VAs requirement that Thailand veterans prove their military service and experience working on the perimeter was excessive. 877-222-8387, TDD (Hearing Impaired) A solution by Congress may be the best approach, some attorneys and veterans advocates say. The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973, by the governments of North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States. But he trusted McHenry to make the historical case for him and veterans like him. Bob was trying to get that letter rescinded at the time he died.. 4 0 obj This same presumption exists for those who served in the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971. Most of the Air Force bases in Thailand were used as staging points for operations in Vietnam. Shannon Brewer, Senior Attorney Updated: October 24, 2013. Thailand provided air and ground bases to the United States, and soon became the largest station of the United States Air Force in Southeast Asia, with air bases at Don Muang RTAFB, Thailand, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, Ramasun Station, Thailand, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, and Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). [1] It is in the city of Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand and is the main airport serving the city and province. During these operations in Thailand, Sergeant Richard E. Wolf received a letter of commendation for his service. 10-43 072. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Moving target radars, a low-light television set, and an infrared camera were all part of the B-57G. stream January 9, 1962 through June 30, 1976, or; Laos. She enjoyed practicing land use and environmental law for several years after law school but felt called to serve our veteran population and changed her practice area to veterans disability law. Among them: The Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act, the Cost of War Act, and others, including the Fairly Assessing Service-related Exposure Residual (FASTER) Presumptions Act, also dubbed the FASTER Act. 3,048. asphalt. For military personnel working on these aircraft and near the Thailand storage areas, the risk of exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides was high, as the spraying equipment on the Operation Ranch Hand aircraft and the barrels that contained the herbicides were known to leak. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. With facilities in Cambodia, India, Korea, Laos, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Canada, as well as at sea, Agent Orange was stored at many overseas locationas well as used for testing purposesup until 1970.

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