AGENT ORANGE 

 

UPDATE 06-29-11

 

My fellow shipmates of the Uss Isle Royale AD29, it is my pleasure to announce to you that after many years of Veterans Administration's denial of Agent Orange related claims filled by Uss Isle Royale crew members has finely come to an end as of May 4.2011 all Agent Orange related claims will no longer be denied. If you were on board the ship during it's deployment to Vietnam from January 01 1967 through February 03 1967 and have an Agent Orange related illness you can file a Compensation Claim against the Veterans Administration for your illness.

 

                                                                    How the Uss Isle Royale was finally added to the list.

 

Several years ago I became involved in helping out some of our shipmates who had Asbestos Cancer giving them contact information to help them with their illness. In 2008 I learned about Agent Orange its symptoms and diseases. I started to here from many shipmates about Agent Orange and Type 2 Diabetes and Leukemia and how they were being denied claims for Agent Orange diseases, the claims were being denied for the reason that the VA said that the Uss Isle Royale was never in Vietnam and they did not find any proof that it was their. In early 2009 I started searching the internet and making lot's of phone calls to my state representative and senator, I also talked to my county Veterans service representative and I am a Vice Commander in the American Legion Post 77, so you know that I talked to their representatives for Veterans Affairs.

    

     I was told that their are several Government places that I need to contact to find any answers for my questions. After a few more months I finally was able to obtain copies of our ship's Log, I bought the Log's and made copies for any shipmate that needed them, Now the other reason for VA denial was that you had to prove that you had  "BOOT'S ON GROUND" will that was not to hard to get proof of. I had as many of our shipmates that I could find who went ashore in Vietnam to sign Affidavit and added them to the ship's Log. I later found out that my Ischemic Heart Disease is a part of Agent Orange, so in 2009 I filed a claim for compensation. I know three of our shipmates that used the ship's logs and affidavit and received their compensation claim from the VA. I received my compensation from VA in March 2011, and the Uss Isle Royale was added to the ships list for Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide around April 3, 2011.

 

 

 

Navy and Coast Guard Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents

Updated May 4, 2011

This ships list is intended to provide VA regional offices with a resource for determining whether a particular US Navy or Coast Guard Veteran of the Vietnam era is eligible for the presumption of Agent Orange herbicide exposure based on operations of the Veteran’s ship.

According to 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6)(iii), the presumption of herbicide exposure requires that the Veteran’s service involved "duty or visitation in the Republic of Vietnam." For those Veterans who served aboard ships operating primarily or temporarily on the inland waterways of Vietnam, their service involved "duty" in Vietnam. In such cases, the evidence must show that the ship was on the inland waterways and the Veteran was aboard at that time. For those Veterans who served aboard ships that docked and the Veteran went ashore, or served aboard ships that did not dock but the Veteran went ashore, their service involved "visitation" in Vietnam. In cases involving docking, the evidence must show that the Veteran was aboard at the time of docking and the Veteran must provide a statement of personally going ashore. In cases where shore docking did not occur, the evidence must show that the ship operated in Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods, that members of the crew went ashore, or that smaller vessels from the ship went ashore regularly with supplies or personnel. In these cases, the Veteran must also provide a statement of personally going ashore.

This list includes three categories of ships:

  1. Ships operating primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways

  1. Ships operating temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways or docking to the shore

  1. Ships operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore or that smaller vessels from the ship went ashore regularly with supplies or personnel

 

Ships operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore or that smaller vessels went ashore regularly with supplies or personnel

USS Isle Royale (AD-29) [Destroyer Tender-Repair Ship] salvaged the beached USS Mahnomen County (LST-912) at Chu Lai during January 1967 with crewmembers going ashore for stripping operations

USS Mars (AFS-1) [Combat Stores Ship] conducted numerous on shore supply replenishments at Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, Vung Tau, and An Thoi from July 1965 to November 1972 with evidence of crewmembers going ashore

USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) conducted on shore supply replenishments with helicopters and small boats at Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, Vung Tau, and An Thoi from April 1968 to March 1973

USS White Plains (AFS-4) conducted on shore supply replenishments with helicopters and small boats at Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, Vung Tau, and An Thoi from January 1969 to March 1973

USS Estes (AGC-12) [Amphibious Assault Command Ship] Conducted troop and supply beach landings during March and July-August 1965, at Chu Lai, Da Nang, and Qui Nhon

USS Vega (AF-59) [Stores Ship] conducted resupply operations in the Mekong River Delta area on September 13, 1966; on-loaded supplies at An Thoi, Vung Tau, Cam Ranh Bay, and Da Nang during June 1969; and delivered supplies to Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, Con Son, An Thoi, and Hon Choi during November-December 1970

USS Oxford (AGTR-1) [Technical Research Ship] conducted numerous month-long deployments along the Vietnam coast collecting data, with likelihood that crewmembers went ashore, between 1965 and 1969

USS Repose (AH-16) [Hospital Ship] operated continuously on close coastal waters from 1966-1970, with the likelihood that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave

USS Sanctuary (AH-17) operated continuously on close coastal waters from 1967-1970, with the likelihood that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave

USS Mathews (AKA-96) [Attack Cargo Ship] on-loaded supplies at Da Nang and delivered them up the Cua Viet River to Dong Ha with "mike boats’ from August through December 1967

USS Skagit (AKA-105) conducted troop and cargo beach "mike boat" landings at Da Nang, Chu Lai, and Quang Ngai from November 1965 to November 1967

 

 

vietnam service

The Facts & History About Agent Orange During The Vietnam War

Agent Orange is the name to which all herbicides are referred (technically) in error during the Vietnam War. The name, Agent Orange, has become synonymous for, and collective of, all herbicides used during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange, is also the identification of the harmful effects from herbicides (again, in error). The reality is that people don't have Agent Orange disease, rather, a disease, or cancer caused directly or indirectly from exposure to a herbicide containing dioxin. The name, Agent Orange, was derived from the orange stripe on drums in which the herbicide was stored.

Agent Orange (Scientifically)

Agent Orange was one of several defoliants (herbicides) containing trace amounts of a toxic contaminant, TCDD (dioxin). Defoliants were used during the Vietnam War to kill vast areas of jungle growth. The real, Agent Orange, was a 1:1 mixture of the n-butyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). A byproduct contaminant of the manufacturing process for 2,4,5-T (used in all the agents during the Vietnam War) is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD is commonly referred to as dioxin.

This chart contains a list of the herbicides (agents) used during the Vietnam War, and the amount of TCDD (dioxin) contamination present in the agents (per the USAF Herb Tapes):

 

Brief History of Agent Orange

 In the early years of WWII, a grant was provided by the National Research Council to develop a chemical to destroy rice crops in Japan (the major food source of the Japanese). 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T (Agent Orange) was the result. A discussion between President Roosevelt and White House Chief of Staff, Admiral William D. Leahy determined that this heinous chemical should not be used. Agent Orange was not used during WWII.

 In 1961, President Kennedy signed two orders allowing Agent Orange to be used in Vietnam. One order to destroy crops, and another order to defoliate the jungle. [Note: These orders were signed prior to major U.S. intervention.]

 Agent Orange & other herbicides were used extensively thru 1970 (and thereafter until the end of the Vietnam War).

 

 

 

 

My fellow shipmates as you all know the Uss Isle Royale was dispatched to Chu Lai South Vietnam for salvage operation of the  Uss Mahnomen County LST 912, the ship arrived in Chu Lai on 10 January, 1967 and left 31 January, 1967. As you know several of our shipmates were sent over to the LST as working parties to remove everything off the LST. Chu Lai was one of the areas that were sprayed with Agent Orange and other herbicides known as White and Blue. Chu Lai was sprayed with over 12,000 gallons of Agent Orange and over 6,000 gallons of the other herbicides.
 
Now after 40 years later many of our shipmates are coming down with Agent Orange symptoms and diseases, a parchal list below.
 
Cancer of the bronchus
Cancer of the larynx
Lung Cancer
Prostate cancer
Cancer of the trachea
Hodgkin’s disease
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Type 2 Diabetes (Also known as Diabetes Mellitus)
Spina Bifida
Certain Birth Defects in Children of VN Veterans
 
 
Now the VA extends Agent Orange benefits to more Veterans, read bellow

 

 

 

Parkinson’s Disease, two other illnesses recognized

VA extends “Agent Orange” benefits to more

veterans

WASHINGTON -- Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a serviceconnection evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange. The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease. Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange. In practical terms, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a “presumed” illness don’t have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.

The Secretary’s decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will,” Shinseki added. “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence.” Other illnesses previously recognized under VA’s “presumption” rule as being caused by exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War are:

· Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy

· Chloracne

· Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

· Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)

· Hodgkin’s Disease

· Multiple Myeloma

· Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

· Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

· Prostate Cancer

· Respiratory Cancers, and

· Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or

Mesothelioma)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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