WebAgent Orange was used around the perimeters of Royal Thai Air Force Bases to clear the perimeter of foliage for increased security. The VAs requirement that Thailand veterans prove their military service and experience working on the perimeter was excessive. 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. Thank you Thailand veterans for your service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base A solution by Congress may be the best approach, some attorneys and veterans advocates say. The PACT Act has added the following five locations and corresponding time periods as presumptive for Agent Orange exposure: Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand. The following are from a document called: Fact Sheets and Histories of the United States Air Force at Royal Thai Air Force Bases, dated 12 August 1976, and published by the 13th Air Force Office of History. It is located in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Isan region of Thailand. Harmon said his sense is that once attorneys are involved, claims from veterans who served in Thailand can be settled in as quickly as six months. As some Thailand veterans see it, the VA places an undue burden of proof on them to demonstrate they were harmed by Agent Orange, in some cases asking for photographs or other evidence of physical proximity to harmful herbicides. Lack of a presumption of herbicide exposure does not prevent veterans from demonstrating through competent evidence that they were exposed to herbicidal agents and that such exposure is sufficiently related to a current disability to warrant disability compensation.. 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. Don Muang RTAFB - Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), Official Department of the Air Force Map document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) PTSD Lawyers | Berry Law Firm. December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or; Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province 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. A total of 825 D models were manufactured by the United States Air Force between 1968 and 1969, with 32 of them manufactured by the Iranian Air Force. Trones bill would force these to be adjudicated this quicker, presuming that they were exposed to harmful herbicides. endobj The VA presumes that anyone who served in country in Vietnam with boots on the ground anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 was exposed to Agent Orange. 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. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 In 1969, the CHECO report looked at similarities between base defense in Vietnam and Thailand. Agent Orange is just a euphemism for many different types of herbicides. Being stationed in Overall, this research involved field tests of different mixtures and formulations of the herbicides produced by chemical industries. His living quarters were also close to a base perimeter, he recalled. According to historical accounts, a squadron in 1971 began spraying herbicide on troublesome plants. The 435th TAW Agent Orange Used on Bases in Thailand The C-123 aircraft that assisted with Operation Ranch Hand 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. Skinner, who has fought prostate cancer since 2018, has gone through 44 treatments of radiation therapy. To view this webinar CLICK HERE. U.S. Army Veteranswho provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between Military personnel were able to obtain undiluted versions of 2,4,5-T, which contained even higher levels of TCDD than Agent Orange. These include cancer, birth defects, and other illnesses. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 The VAs definition of tactical herbicide is arbitrary, irrational, and illegal. U.S. Army Veterans who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base - Wikipedia Il propose des spectacles sur des thmes divers : le vih sida, la culture scientifique, lastronomie, la tradition orale du Languedoc et les corbires, lalchimie et la sorcellerie, la viticulture, la chanson franaise, le cirque, les saltimbanques, la rue, lart campanaire, lart nouveau. Because all the perimeters were sprayed with various types of herbicides with dioxin in it. Agent Orange exposure in Thailand during Vietnam War. %PDF-1.5 This includes those who served at military bases in Thailand, bases where Agent Orange was stored and tested. The uses of numerous herbicides at many sites were recorded, to include: During the Vietnam War, herbicides were also stored at military bases all over the world. Some have won on appeal.. Meltal Shipping Containers near the perimeter at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated Agent Orange 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. If you meet this requirement, you do not need to prove actual exposure to Agent Orange to receive compensation for an illness that is caused by Agent Orange exposure. and Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), while landing at They (the VA) will grant it, (or) theyll grant it partially, (or) theyll deny it, which is probably about 80 to 90% of the Thailand veterans, they have been denied. But he trusted McHenry to make the historical case for him and veterans like him. The DOD has identified the following units that served along the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) that were exposed to Agent Orange between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971: While the above units have been specifically identified as having served in the Korean DMZ between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971, if you served in and around the Korean DMZ outside of this time period and have evidence that you were exposed to Agent Orange during your service in Korea, you may still qualify for compensation benefits for Agent-Orange related disabilities. If military police conducted foot patrols at the perimeter, the situation would have been completely exposed. 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." If you believe you were exposed to agent orange during the Vietnam war while serving on a Royal Thai Air Force Base, or Poway, Calif. attorney Amanda Mineer recalled working on one case in which she and her team had to introduce into evidence a photo of a sailor taking a photographic selfie of himself on a ship as that ship crossed the equator, with barrels of Agent Orange nearby, visible in the photo. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. at the Southeast area of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 8 - the The information you obtain on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Contact Us Veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam era can tell stories about and sometimes even show pictures of the disappearing vegetation on the bases on which they served. Not all VA disability claims follow the same phase pattern and each phase of the claim can vary in time depending on the complexity of the claim and the amount and type of evidence provided in support of the claim. Agent Orange This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. 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. Ubon, Thailand | 6994th Security Squadron Veterans who served in Vietnam were given the presumption of exposure under a law passed by Congress. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim This information is not a substitute for legal advice. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. The 435th TAW was a theater airlift unit that supported the U.S. military forces in Southeast Asia. details of the RTAFB side of the field, details 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. As a result of the agreements, American military operations in North and South Vietnam were officially halted. I believe based on documents from tests at Eglin AFB, and use in Vietnam that these tests were extensive, to include tests using mixtures outside those recommended as safe, both for humans and environmentally. 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 Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of An aerial application of the herbicide was completed and data was recorded. 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. However, in 2010, the VA recognized that veterans who served in Thailand and suffered from certain illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure deserved presumptive service connection. the Royal Thai Air Force Base side of Bangkok International Airport, more Because of dense vegetation, the enemy was able to access the KC-135 parking ramp on Korat during the 1972 war, so it was regarded as a serious problem. Agent Orange and other Herbicides Stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Rules for Disability Compensation Related to Agent Orange Exposure, CCK Court Wins: Agent Orange & Gulf War Illness. While you focus on taking care of yourself, let us take care of the claim process and secure the disability benefits you deserve. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Proving Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans Who WebYou served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to ! 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. We have updated our Privacy Policy. 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. I guess the VA doesnt believe the wind blows, Skinner said. xNC}qpFd;SS^=8z|A,YERkvACs,~zt;93u_rJaU"Tt~\&,xxR|xPVu6 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 VA Disability Rating for Agent Orange & List of Presumptive Additionally, C-123 Aircraft that were used to Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. 4. If you served in an area other than Vietnam and you were exposed to Agent Orange, please contact the Berry Law Firm at (888) 883-2483. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 14 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Centerville resident McHenry died in July 2021 at the age of 74. @H 2aNXG3_2 Shannon Brewer, Senior Attorney Updated: October 24, 2013. <> Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. According to Dr. Youngs records, herbicide, such as Agent Orange and its cousins, were frequently used in routine vegetation control programs. The easiest way to prove this in-service event is with your service records and medical records, if the event is documented. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. The PACT Act establishes a presumptive service connection between Thailand veterans and the United States. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. In addition to being storage areas for Agent Orange, herbicides were used on these Air Force bases to control vegetation along the perimeter of the bases in order to improve visual observation of the perimeter. These diseases, which were placed on a list for "presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange," include Parkinsons disease, Hodgkins disease, Ischemic heart disease, AL amyloidosis, chronic B-cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, and early-onset peripheral neuropathy. Cantonment area at Ubon RTAFB, Udorn Thailand area including Communists launched attacks on military personnel in Thailand from all over the country. Present and Future Facilities at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB 30 June 1968, Department of the Air Force Master Base Plan Map Agent Orange The wing also flew humanitarian missions in Cambodia and Thailand. 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. 5 unexploded charges were discovered, as well as two C-47s that had been damaged. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. The veterans benefits attorneys at the Berry Law Firm have helped many veterans who served outside of Vietnam receive benefits for exposure to Agent Orange. That presumption has been expanded to blue-water Navy veterans. In 1973, the base was turned over to the Royal Thai Air Force. The aircrew of the American Combat Aviation Center provided high-altitude ground coverage for USAF aircraft while in Thai airspace. He claims in his article that herbicide was used prior to construction to defoliate compound perimeters, landing zones, and bases. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. After a brief hiatus, testing resumed in 1966 with the aerial application of Agent Orange taking place in Loquillo and Las Marias, PR. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Thats our job., Its still essentially a case-by-case basis, Chisholm said. Agent Orange Exposure in Areas Other than Thailand veterans harmed by Agent Orange hope Following this, Agent Orange was again tested from 1967 to 1968 in Kauai, HI. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 A VA spokeswoman said If enacted, S.657 would expand universal eligibility for veterans who served in Thailand. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. 10-43 072, Citation Nr: 1222558 Decision Date: 06/28/12 Archive Date: 07/10/12 DOCKET NO. 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. Even those who were exposed to herbicide agents under VA policy were denied benefits in the past. 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. This is a developing area of the law, and we dont know where VA will eventually draw the line. So, if you served on one of those Thailand bases during the Vietnam-era, and you now suffer from one of those diseases recognized as being caused by herbicide exposure (such as diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, Hodgkins disease, prostate or respiratory cancer, Parkinsons Disease), it is worth filing a claim for VA benefits. U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, 1972The National Archives, Health Care The 435th TAW was activated on 1 April 1966 and its first commander was Colonel Harry A. George. Sen. Thus, the VA assumes your disability resulted from your military service, and you dont have to provide proof or an evidential link between the incident and your disease. Agent Orange in Thailand - DAV It is approximately 488 km Korat RTAFB detailing areas of the base near the perimeter, Map showing the location of Camp Friendship, Map showing the Cantonment area of Camp Friendship, Map of the Flight Line at 09-42 836. 7. Time is running out for these veterans, Brown said in an email. This was the last multi-crew loss of the Vietnam War. The Board does not find any reason in the record for finding this account by the Veteran not credible. Source: Citation Nr: 1222558 Decision Date: 06/28/12 Archive Date: 07/10/12 DOCKET NO. WebAir Force Veterans who 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. B-52 Ramp and Asset Perimeter Wires at U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 9 - driving Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Proving Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans Who Served in The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. However, before 2010, veterans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War didn't receive that same consideration. we represent clients nationwide. 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 perimeter as evidenced by their MOS duties. Agent Orange exposure in Thailand during Vietnam War Veterans who served in Thailand have long contended they face a higher bar in winning Veterans Administration (VA) disability benefits claims, having to clearly demonstrate they were exposed to Agent Orange or other harmful herbicides while their fellow veterans enjoy a presumption that they were exposed. The base was established in 1964, during the Vietnam War, as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force. Call for immediate help at 401-331-6300 or contact us online. Why Hire CCK for Your VA Disability Appeal? DOD has confirmed that Agent Orange was also stored or sprayed in the following areas: It has also been alleged that Agent Orange was present in the Panama Canal Zone from the 60s to the early 70s and in Guam from the mid 50s through the 60s. of Takhli RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of Air Force Veterans who 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. Over the course of a year, we recently lost 100,000 sons, daughters, moms, and dads to drug overdoses. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. The bill was last referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in June. To receive updates on my teams efforts, sign up for the newsletter now. The wing was the first to use laser-guided bombs (LGBs) during combat in May 1968. Korat RTAFB Showing the perimeter and the herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Data Block for the Official Department of The attorneys at Berry Law Firm are dedicated to helping injured Veterans. Base Defense in Thailand In November 1992, the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting was able to conduct an archeological excavation of the BARON 52 crash site and recovered partial remains of several individuals. B=l6>*@ C=*D`@}Fw< AV9! [*\ M_`oH( 14 July 1922: Brigadier General Robin Olds, United States Air Force, was a fighter pilot and triple ace with 16 official aerial victories in two wars. 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. VA presumes (assumes) exposure to Agent Orange for Veterans who served on any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailandfrom January 9, 1962, throughJune 30, 1976. Veteran who served at U.S. Army base in Thailand were members of a military police unit or assigned a military police MOS and who affirmatively state that their duty placed them at or near the base perimeter. Agent Orange is a mixture of acids that causes cancer and other deadly diseases. Were old news to them, Skinner said of the VA. Arnie Harmon, a Columbus-area veteran who served in Thailand, filed for compensation or a monthly stipend some 15 years ago at the urging of one of his physicians. The first raid, a mortar bombardment, reportedly took place Sunday night at Ubon air base in eastern Thailand. endobj Agent Orange According to U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The Veterans Benefits Administration usually takes 12-18 months to review new appeals and decide whether to grant some or all of the appeal. A Decision Review Officer (DRO) will review your appeal and if the new evidence submitted is not sufficient to grant the appeal, you will receive a Statement of the Case (SOC). Claude Delsol, conteur magicien des mots et des objets, est un professionnel du spectacle vivant, un homme de paroles, un crateur, un concepteur dvnements, un conseiller artistique, un auteur, un partenaire, un citoyen du monde. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam or Korea must provide evidence that they were actually exposed to the herbicide. Agent Orange exposure and VA disability compensation Korats living quarters, for example, were only meters away from the perimeter. These bases include: Ubon, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, Don Muang, U-Tapao, and Nakhom Phanom. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure AC-47s were the most common type of vehicle on April 4, 1966 in the United States. All Thailand veterans should be diagnosed with herbicide exposure as soon as possible. For nearly 10 years, approximately 20 million gallons of these tactical defoliants were used. Designing Lanyards for Corporate Events: Dos and Donts, Unlock The Benefits Of Stabilized Binoculars: Discover Why You May Need Them And Which Ones Are Best For You. Orders placed prior to the date of shipment will be delivered as soon as possible.