AGENT ORANGE IN THAILAND
Submitted by O.D. on 2 June 2010 - 6:16pm.
I just received this from an old Air America buddy, if you think this effects you, check it out.
VA Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin May 2010
After reviewing documents related to herbicide use in Vietnam and Thailand, C&P Service has determined that there was significant use of herbicides on the fenced in perimeters of military bases in Thailand intended to eliminate vegetation and ground cover for base security purposes. Evidence of this can be found in a declassified Vietnam era Department of Defense (DoD) document titled Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand. Therefore, when herbicide related claims from Veterans with Thailand service are received, RO personnel should now evaluate the treatment and personnel records to determine whether the Veterans service activities involved duty on or near the perimeter of the military base where the Veteran was stationed.
DoD has provided information that commercial herbicides, rather than tactical herbicides, were used within the confines of Thailand bases to control weeds. These commercial herbicides have been, and continue to be, used on all military bases worldwide. They do not fall under the VA regulations governing exposure to tactical herbicides such as Agent Orange. However, there is some evidence that the herbicides used on the Thailand base perimeters may have been either tactical, procured from Vietnam, or a commercial variant of much greater strength and with characteristics of tactical herbicides. Therefore, C&P Service has determined that a special consideration of herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis should be extended to those Veterans whose duties placed them on or near the perimeters of Thailand military bases. This allows for presumptive service connection of the diseases associated with herbicide exposure.
The majority of troops in Thailand during the Vietnam era were stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force Bases of U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang. If a US Air Force Veteran served on one of these air bases as a security policeman, security patrol dog handler, member of a security police squadron, or otherwise served near the air base perimeter, as shown by MOS (military occupational specialty), performance evaluations, or other credible evidence, then herbicide exposure should be acknowledged on a facts found or direct basis. However, this applies only during the Vietnam era, from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975.
Along with air bases, there were some small Army installations established in Thailand during this period, which may also have used perimeter herbicides in the same manner as the air bases. Therefore, if a US Army Veteran claims a disability based on herbicide exposure and the Veteran was a member of a military police (MP) unit or was assigned an MP MOS and states that his duty placed him at or near the base perimeter, then herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis should be acknowledged for this Veteran. The difference in approach for US Army Veterans is based on the fact that some MPs had criminal investigation duties rather than base security duties. Therefore, the Veterans lay statement is required to establish security duty on the base perimeter. This also applies to US Army personnel who served on air bases in Thailand. During the early years of the war in Vietnam, before Air Force security units were fully established on air bases in Thailand, US Army personnel may have provided perimeter security. In such cases, if the Veteran provides a lay statement that he was involved with perimeter security duty and there is additional credible evidence supporting this statement, then herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis can be acknowledged for this Veteran.
Evaluation and adjudication of the cases described above can now be conducted by RO personnel without input from the C&P Service Agent Orange Mailbox.
These instructions replace those provided in the August 2009 C&P service Bulletin. In summary, no herbicide related claim from a Thailand Veteran should be sent to the C&P Service Agent Orange Mailbox. If evidence shows that the Veteran performed duties along the military base perimeter, ROs should acknowledge herbicide exposure on a facts found or direct basis. If the available evidence does not show service along the base perimeter and does not otherwise indicate exposure to tactical herbicides, place the memorandum for the record from M21-1MR IV.ii.2.C.10.q in the claims file and send a request for information to JSRRC.
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agent orange 2012
The only way to win VA benefits if you were station in Thailand , is you MUST have worked on or near the pereimter of the base you were stationed at. Your MOS Has to show you worked near the base pereimter. DO NOT USE agent orange as a reason for disabity, ONLY the word, Herbicides is acceptable. Using agent orange and you will be turned down. See the " CHECO Report " on the interent , as a a way to win your case ,if you never step foot in Vietnam.
Agent Orange
See my reply to bob 72
ANGENT ORGANGE
I WAS STATION AT CAMP SAM SAN ARMY BASE 68-69 IN THAILAND. I HAVE PROSATE CANCER AND DIABETIC TYPE 2. THEY DID SPRAY CHEMCIALS AROUND OUR BARRACKS. YOU CAN SEE NO GRASS. PLUSS I HAD WITNESS FROM ARMY BUDDY THAT WAS OVER THERE WITH ME. AND HE HAS PROSTATE CANCER. I PUT IN FOR VA DISABILTY BUT MOST LIKELY WILL NOT GET IT. SOUND LIKE IT,FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER ON THIS ANGENT ORGANGE SPRAYED IN THAILAND.
1966-67 udorn thailand
from sept 1966 thru sept 1967 i was stationed in thailand at udorn rtafb. i really liked the assignment, although little did i know that if would have a life changing effect on me. i was constantly exposed to insecticide and herbicides while i was stationed there. i worked on the base perimeter at the tuoc command post comm. center, and also my hooch was located on the base perimeter. a few years later at the age of 38 i was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease, after undergoing a heart attack and open heart surgery. i readily accepted that and went back to work for ten years until i had a stroke in 1995, my neurologist and my cardiologist would not release me to return to work. so all this has really had an adverse effect on my life. I was seeing the the doctors at the va hopital and in 1999 i was diagnosed with diabetes type 11. after all of this i filed a claim against the v a for type 11 diabetes, i was told that as a thailand veteran that this claim was rejected, that i had to have boots on the ground in viet nam. i have refiled my claim in june 2011 and have filled out all paper work and sent in buddy statements to verify my statement. here it is december 26 2011 and i haven't heard from them yet. my dav officer says to wait and see. He told me he doesn't know of anyone who has been compensated for thailand exposure. i don't know what to expect. i really think that the va is waiting to see how many thailand veterans were exposed and waiting to see how many of us will die off before the v a accepts the responsibility. if any one that was at udorn in 1966-67 and needs a buddy statement please contact me and i will send you one. short_r [at] comcast [dot] net may god bless every soldier and every veteran that has served this great country. thank you for your service.
809th, Co.B and Co. C on NKP Air Base
proof that we on the perimeter and exposed to Agent Organge.
Larry Gwinn lgwinn [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
Agent Orange
My step father was stationed in Udorn, he worked on the planes for the USAF. He had his neck implode, which was resolved with surgery at the time and then was released from duty. He saw a doctor twice for this, and both times the paperwork states that he had Afib, and it also stated no where on the paper where they did anything to check the heart at all, this happened twice. That being said, when my father went to the VA about his neck, he was sent a paper about the agent orange, and only then did he know anything about it or even thought about it. He has come down with in the last 2-3 years, Diabeties, Peripheral neuropathy, Parkinsons, his blood cell count is crazy, but when he went to see someone about this they didnt give a direct answer as to why its going crazy. I know that agent orange has also been known to cause lukemia, so he will be getting checked for that as well. he has seizures off and on, has had 5 major heart attacks, one stroke that I know of.. and many other problems.( 16 years ago,my mother gave birth to twins, one being born with defects, a damaged chromosome in the DNA. children born AFTER servering in udorn.)Something smells fishy there as well. These all starting before he got the paper from the VA, he has been turned down twice for any help or anything at all. He was also told that he could not refile..as he was told that unless he can prove that he stepped on foot in vietnam his claim would be denied, because Udorn was not in fact sprayed or anywhere in thailand for that matter (which we all know is a false) I've been digging up information as much as I can with my mother to at least get some reliefe, but anyone at all who knows anything that could possibly help it would be very much appreciated.
my email is Alseia85 [at] gmail [dot] com
thanks
On a further note, knowing what I do at this time, just the small bits and pieces it angers me that people can know how bad this stuff was, and what it can cause, and they let it go. I'm not sure how any decent person can sleep at night looking at the people who served their country coming in, and trying to get well deserved help and turning them away. 800 thousand people affected by agent orange, over seas. barrels of it being dug up at the airport, innocent people hurt.. nothing being done, it makes me sick, it makes me sad, and by god it makes me fight tooth and nail, untill something is done.
Udorn
My husband, who passed away June 1992, was stationed in Udorn with the Army from 71-73. He worked on the radio tower. In 1989 he was found to have cancer of the sinuses, and later all over his bones. In the end the cancer was all over his spine, and 2 weeks before he passed away, he was paralyzed. I have just found out about the Agent Orange in Thailand, sent for paperwork, and will file a claim this week. I always felt his cancer was a result of his service in the military, since that particular type of cancer is rare in the States, and found mostly in Asia. Anyone else know anything about this? traudel [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Go to the VA Udorn is on the New Thailand List for Herbicides
Please follow up for your step-father. Herbicides were used in Thailand. I won't go into the whole story, but after finally admitting their use, the VA is allowing claims, one just recently from Udorn.
HELP AND ADVICE FOR NEW CLAIM
I am helping my father to file a claim for disability but need help. He Served in Thailand (Korat and U-Tapao) 1967. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1998, and it is very advanced now. Mr. Smith, your comments intrigue me, and I feel compelled to ask you and anyone on this list for help with my father.
We met with one VBSO 2 days ago, but did not file any paperwork yet.
Daddy is retired AF, was EOD for 26 years, and although he was in the fields of Thailand cleaning up exploded bomb dumps and reclaiming duds, he needs to show direct exposure to OA? Was the bomb dump in U-Tapao along the perimeter?
How do we do this?
My father is 77 year old with a severe illness that is depriving him and his family of so much. I am receptive to an advice. Thank you to all, and God Bless!
U-Tapao
I was stationed at U-Tapao from Dec. 1969 -Dec 1970 and was assigned to the Munitions Maintenance Squadron AGE shop which was beyond the bomb dump next to the perimeter fence. I dont know what the VA definition of near the perimeter is but the bomb dump was pretty close. If any one knows could you let me know.Also if any one that was in MMS at U-Tapao in the late 60-early 70 and has any agent orange related health problems could you let me know @ joe.woods2 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Camp Samae San
I filed for Agent orange screening about two months ago. I just received a letter from VA telling me that I do not qualify. I was stationed at Samae San for a year.
Camp Samae san
Hello, I was in the 538 A Company from 69-70 stationed in Thialand. I also took supplies from Camp Samae San to Utapao and Viama(spelling?) on a daily basis. I am in the process of filing AO claim with the VA, and I am just looking for more information on filing this claim...I do know there was a type of stink/fog in the air EVERYWHERE we went around there. I would just like to know what it was---I have had some medical issues that are linked to agent orange. Please feel free to contact me with any pertinent information which I can find useful.
Agent Orange
I am trying to get a physical and VA card due to skin problems since I was in Thailand any ideas of the how and where to check?
v a card
take a copy of your dd214 to the nearest va medical center and tell them you need to see a doctor, they will send you to sick call and then you will be able to tell them your problem. then you will be able to get your v a card. shorty
skin problems
I have had skin rashs from 1970 till today but I have not files a claim. You must get your medical records from the govt. and all your civilian records.
Larry Gwinn at lgwinn [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
Agent Orange Compensation
I served at U-Tapao RTAB from Nov1967-Nov1968..I was an air traffic controller,and also augmented the security police ..My posts included the base parimeter,bomb dumps,POL stores,pilots' trailers,etc....
My prostate was removed last summer [Jul 2010] and I filed a claim for Agent Orange which was denied along with an appeal..I need help proving my exposure..Do any of you comrades know of any resource I may use to prove my claim? Please respond to my e-mail david007mcdowell [at] yahoo [dot] com...Thank you.
agent orange in thialand
I was stationed at Nam Phong in 72-73, I watched as they sprayed a orange/rust colored spray on our perimerter about june or july of 72. I also have several of the problems associated with orange. Nam Phong was a Marine base about 60 miles from udorn air base. Our huches were only about a hundred yards from where they sprayed it and it fogged over us as we watched it being sprayed.
Agent Orange Nam Phong
Read my post about Agent Orange
Agent Orange Nam Phong
Read my post about Agent Orange
Agent Orange Nam Phong
Read my post about Agent Orange
Thailand Travel
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Agent Orange
I was stationed at Camp Samae San in 69-70. There was always something being sprayed around us. Our hootches were "fogged" on a regular basis. I have no idea what was in the fog, but would like to know. I would also like to know if anyone from Camp Samae San has filed for disability from agent orange. I was also in and out of Vayama and Utapao all the time hauling supplies in a duce and half. I can't (yes, I can )believe that the VA wants to limit claims to MP's.
Agent Orange
In answer to dlwheat, what was sprayed (fogged) at Samae San was probably a mixture of malathion and diesel fuel to kill misquitoes. I was in Thailand from Nov 1967 to Nov 1969 first at Camp Friendship, Korat and than at Samae San from Jan 1969. I remember the fog being so heavy that you could not see from one side of the barracks to the other. I filed for disability in Jan 2005 but was turned down in July 2005. I have peripheral neuropathy, but not diabetes. We did not claim Agent Orange, just herbicide/pesticide exposure, but were still turned down because at the time they were not admitting Agent Orange exposure and also because they were not accepting PN, even for in country vets. I also was at Utapao every week day and off post every evening.
Agent Orange use at Camp Vayama, Camp Samae San Thailand
I was stationed at Camp Vayama in 1968-1969. We supplied ordiance to the Air Force at Utapao. Camp Vayama was a very small Army base near Sattahip. I remember GI's spraying the around the perimeter on several occasions. Never thought anything about it at that time. I am not sure I even knew what agent orange was at that time. I have one of the presumptive diseases caused by agent orange and totally disabled. After the DOD acknowledged AO usage in Thailand, I filed for VA benefits. Unfortunaltely, I was not an MP. Therefore, VA said I need to prove my exposure. Does anyone know if agent orange was used at Camp Vayama, Camp Samae San or Utapao AFB. Does anyone remember seeing any of these areas being sprayed.
Thanks for you help
Phil Gable
Agent Orange use at Korat AB and Camp Friendship in Thailand.
I served 37 months in the Korat Automatic Message Switching Center which was located in Jones Park on Camp Friendship. I was in Telecommunications Systems Technical Control and part of my duties was to burn classified documents in the outside incinerator which was located near the fence which separated Camp Friendship from Friendship Highway. I have been trying for year to get the VA to acknowledge that I was exposed to Agent Orange and that most of my illnesses are due to that exposure. I was initially denied but I am currently awaiting a decision on my appeal. My VFW Rep., who handles my case with the VA, first advised me that it would be this Fall that I would hear something but now it has been changed to sometime this Winter. The VA has, supposedly, a large number of claims that they are working on. I feel that this is nothing but a delaying tactic on the part of the VA to stall as long as they can in the hopes that most of us Vietnam Vets who served in Thailand die off and reduce the amount of money they will have to spend if we are granted approval. I know that I stood a chance of losing my life in the military but I expected that my life would be threatened by enemies of the United States and NOT the government that I served. If anyone knows of any VA approvals given to any serviceman who served in the Autodin please let me know a mitchell_carl [at] hotmail [dot] com
Agent orange
I saw and have black and white pictures of the barrels ,such Bullshit I worked on the perimiter in a switching center and worked part time as a phone tech we were all exposed to that crap ,You have got to be kidding just the F___en APs what a joke this country is so F___ed up they want to send us into all kinds of shit and not pay for it just bail out the fat cats,hardly any of them served .Yours truly and still pissed off ed benner
PTSD
MAN!!I just read my own msg ,must not have been taking my meds that day LOL.I have pictures of something over in Korat Worked in the Switching Center and at the College EYE location can't say where for all I know It might still be TS. I lived right next to the fence on the parimeter.The hooch girls washed our cloathing on a cement slab next to the fence where no weeds or anything would grow,you tell me what would stop anything from growing on a jungle Plato how ever u spell it they sprayed something that screwed alot of us up .I have a gyy that I sent my pictures to about 2 years[ richard.fisher [at] sbcglobal [dot] net]he may still have them if anyone still gives a shit ,I gave up after an ex Jarhead at the VET told me absolutely no agent o was used in Thiland .We all know what experts ex jarheads can be,He and I did not hit it off to say the least ,another example of the Peter Principle.Enough for a friday.I'm going to go out and enjoy my wife of41 years and some of my family.hope this blurb will help somebody feel free to contact me at [ ebenner1 [at] netzero [dot] com]and welcome home brothers.
Agent Orange
See my reply to bob72
Agent Orange in Nam Phong, Thailand?
Been trying to find out if agent orange was used in Nam Phong. Nam Phong was in Northeastern Thailnd, very close to Udorn. No one seems to know if it was used in Nam Phong. Being in cryogenics we were way out on the perimeter away from everyone else due to the volatility of the LOX.
I have now came down with a blood disorder causing my platelets being way high and am begining to wonder if exposure to agent orange could be a possible cause.
Thanks and Semper Fidelis,
Robert L. Noe
I forgot to mention Nam Phong was a Marine Corps Air Base that used a 10,000 concrete runway built in the early 60's but not put into use until after we were withdrawn fron Bien Hoa and Da Nang.
To see a better description og Nam Phong click http://www.namphong.com/
Agent Orange
I was stationed at Nam Phong (Rose Garden) in 72-73 with task force delta (the security element)My MOS was 0331 I was given temporary orders to the first marine air wing.Even though it was indeed a Royal Thai Air Force Base,we ran it and supplied everything there.I have developed (3) of the conditions attributed to agent orange contamination.I have applied to the VA (in Philadelphia)for service connected disability.I was denied,because they said they(the VA) could not verify Agent Orange was used at Nam Phong.Naturally because it wasn't technicaly an American base !!!! daah !!!! THIS IS WHY IT ISN'T mentioned in the DOD document titled Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report.That seems to cause the problem.I have sent a letter of disagreement of their decision.I have color photo's of the base showing our hooches or accommodations and the surrounding area as well as flight line and planes.In all of these photos there is no vegetation !!! The USMC sprayed something every night.They never told us what it was.I am sure it was Agent Orange that was brought from Da Nang Vietnam.I hope this helps.If you wish to contact me,my e-mail is demerz@ embarqmail.com
nam phong
First, is Nom Phong on the list of Thailand bases the VA has approved. VA CP Bulletin 2010 p.3 does not list this base. Second, your military records at this base MUST show indeed your MOS machice gunner duty was on the perimeter and not somewhere else. do you have any photos of you near the perimeter, buddy letters also help. Third, Agent Orange per VA was NOT used in Thailand and if you use it instead of Herbicides for a claim,, you will be turn down. Also check the list of diseases VA has approved for Thailand. You must have work duty near the perimeter , not where you lived on base. Good Luck
nam phong
i have problems for 15 yrs with double vision head problems and more my emale is jastiles [at] frontier [dot] com