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 Vietnam War-era veterans who served in Thailand say theyre still fighting. AC-47s were the most common type of vehicle on April 4, 1966 in the United States. To view this webinar CLICK HERE. h#{mcXuXL] Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 Are you, or someone you know, struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder? Subsequently in 1967 the Dow Chemical Company, a manufacturer of Agent Orange, was awarded a Department of Defense research contract. <>>> All Thailand veterans should be diagnosed with herbicide exposure as soon as possible. Today, the base is home to the Thai Air Forces 1st Air Division. 10-43 072. Spookily armed gunships were sent to Ubon as part of an interdiction mission over Laos. Lets be real, this was 60 years ago, Trone said. 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. The PACT Act establishes a presumptive service connection between Thailand veterans and the United States. However, documentation and sworn statements by military personnel contradicted that position. stream Bob was trying to get that letter rescinded at the time he died.. detailed annotations, Map of the Southwest section of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 5 - B-52 Ramp, NE Quadrant U-Tapao RTAFB with Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Other VA compensation claim resources on this website. Some tenants provided Air Traffic Control services to the Ubon tower, which was owned by others. The report specifically notes the significant use of Agent Orange VA Compensation Claims Types of Material Evidence My sense is these bills have a chance, but I just dont know how good a chance, attorney Chisholm said. During these operations in Thailand, Sergeant Richard E. Wolf received a letter of commendation for his service. area at Ubon RTAFB, Map of the Munitions He also claims exposure when assisting aircraft and military personnel from any location inbound or departing Ubon, declaring an emergency. Source: Citation Nr: 1614502 Decision Date: 04/11/16 Archive Date: 04/26/16 DOCKET NO. The base was established in 1964, during the Vietnam War, as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force. 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. 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. 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. Even though Agent Orange was widely used in nearby countries, veterans who spent time in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia are not granted that presumptive Because all the perimeters were sprayed with various types of herbicides with dioxin in it. Hawaii was one of the main sites for the storage and testing of Agent Orange throughout the 1960s. Beyond Vietnam: Other Military Areas Where Agent Orange was Used, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School. 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.. 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. Often fence lines were sprayed to kill vegetation that may have hid the presence of enemy soldiers. 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. 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. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 On July 10, 1965, he was credited with the first air victory of the Vietnam War, downing two Mirage jets. These bases include: Ubon, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, Don Muang, U-Tapao, and Nakhom Phanom. The wing flew its first combat mission on 5 May 1966. xr7]Uy#Ru!M+dco78@UmR@/4ve2>Ng7_?|bv=\|^OQmwgU+ The wing lost a significant number of personnel, aircraft, and units in the early 1970s. 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. That presumption has been expanded to blue-water Navy veterans. Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Were going to try to right a wrong, Trone said. Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. If you served in one of the areas above, you still need to prove that you were actually exposed to Agent Orange in one way or another. WebU.S. Some evidence suggests that airmen working around the perimeter were exposed to herbicide while constructing the perimeter. According to historical accounts, a squadron in 1971 began spraying herbicide on troublesome plants. 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. The VAs distinction between tactical and commercial herbicide use is irrelevant to federal law or regulations. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. the Air Force Map Korat RTAFB above, Official Department of the Air Force Map One was Agent Orange, which contained 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, referred to as TCDD by researchers and as "dioxin" by the public. 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. Defoliation operations were carried out near the Udorn perimeter during this time period, according to reports. Personnel were exposed to Agent Orange at the same time as Vietnam veterans. detailed annotations, Map 7 - the Demolitioin area Storage and Maintenance, Missle Maintenance Shop at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated Ubon RTAFB with more MMS detail, Map of the Cantonment The base was established in 1955, and was used by the USAF during the Vietnam War. 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. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. 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. As North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam in March 1972, the 8th TFW was augmented by an additional F-4 unit. 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. On February 5, 1973, an EC-47Q electronic warfare collection aircraft tail number 43-48636, call-sign BARON 52, flying out of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand was shot down over Saravane Province, Laos, about 50 miles east of the city of Saravane. All substantial, physical remains of the substance may have been destroyed, but the terrible legacy of Agent Orange use is still seen in the physical disabilities of those in Vietnam and our US veterans. The aircrew of the American Combat Aviation Center provided high-altitude ground coverage for USAF aircraft while in Thai airspace. Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. 877-222-8387, TDD (Hearing Impaired) 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, How To Choose The Right Recoil Spring For Your Tactical Sports Orange Gun. Those who work in security-related military occupational fields, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs Thailand perimeter policy, do not face any exposure. Skinner, who has fought prostate cancer since 2018, has gone through 44 treatments of radiation therapy. This was the last multi-crew loss of the Vietnam War. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. According to Dr. Youngs records, herbicide, such as Agent Orange and its cousins, were frequently used in routine vegetation control programs. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. The 435th TAW was a theater airlift unit that supported the U.S. military forces in Southeast Asia. When evaluating the effectiveness of herbicide mixtures, Agent Orange was used as the standard. Some have won on appeal.. Even those who were exposed to herbicide agents under VA policy were denied benefits in the past. Bob has been fighting this letter since it came out, Skinner said. Shannon Brewer, Senior Attorney Updated: October 24, 2013. 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. If you believe you were exposed to Agent Orange in service, are suffering from one or more of the associated health conditions, and have been denied VA disability benefits, seek help now. This case involves a BVA decision that an Army veteran's MOS as a light infantryman did not support his Agent Orange exposure in Thailand during Vietnam War. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. A VA spokeswoman said If enacted, S.657 would expand universal eligibility for veterans who served in Thailand. Lets take a look at the process of filing online VA compensation claims through your eBenefits account. Please switch auto forms mode to off. If you have a better base map, please let me know. Call Cuddigan Law to get help with your VA disability application or appeal today. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. You have to prove it.. 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. However, before 2010, veterans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War didn't receive that same consideration. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. WebSpecifically, the VA stated that the following veterans may have been exposed to herbicides such as Agent Orange: U.S. Air Force Veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force Military personnel were able to obtain undiluted versions of 2,4,5-T, which contained even higher levels of TCDD than Agent Orange. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? perimeter near the Weapons Storage and Maintenance facility at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Munitions endobj Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. If a veteran can prove that they served in Thailand at any US or Thai base between January 9, 1962 and June 30, 1976, the VA will assess their exposure to Agent Orange. As a result of the agreements, American military operations in North and South Vietnam were officially halted. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 She was a member of the University of Florida Law Review and published a case note on the Florida Privacy Amendment. These C-123s were often staged at Air Force bases in Thailand, and the barrels and spraying equipment on the aircrafts were known to leak, exposing service members to the toxic herbicides. The wing also flew humanitarian missions in Cambodia and Thailand. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Ubon Air Base was a US military facility located in Thailand from 1965 to 1974. 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. 3 0 obj There were also 21 military bases used for storage during the war and up until the time that use of Agent Orange was discontinued in 1971. 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. Filing Online VA Compensation Claims with eBenefits Veterans who served in Vietnam were given the presumption of exposure under a law passed by Congress. This same presumption exists for those who served in the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971. 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. 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. 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. 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.. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. 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. I guess the VA doesnt believe the wind blows, Skinner said. For nearly 10 years, approximately 20 million gallons of these tactical defoliants were used. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 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. Testing of 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D and other herbicides in Puerto Rico. Army Veterans who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961, and During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force engaged in Operation Ranch Hand, a program that sprayed herbicides on the thick vegetation and foliage of Vietnam to destroy this natural cover for enemy troops. The documents show that the use of herbicide was recommended in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a military installation of the Royal Thai Air Force. Following this, Agent Orange was again tested from 1967 to 1968 in Kauai, HI. This document contains false or misleading statements. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Together, we must take action to save lives. 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. Another important point should be made here. If you served in Thailand during this time period, the VA concedes that you were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides if you fit within any one of the following: While the VA concedes that you were exposed to Agent Orange if you served in Thailand in one of the above capacities, you may still qualify for Agent Orange compensation benefits if you can show that you were otherwise exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Thailand. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. 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. Additionally, national archives show that various herbicide missions were launched from Thailand twice in 1966, twice in 1967, and also in 1969 and 1970. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. The435th TAW was the first Air Force tactical air unit to be based in Thailand. Eight Distinct Steps Most VA Disability Compensation Claims Follow The report notes the significant use of Agent Orange to remove foliage that They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. 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. Turner hassupported similar legislationin the past. This is the best map of the base layout at Ubon RTAFB I can find. details of the RTAFB side of the field, details Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a military installation located in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in northeastern Thailand. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. In 1969, the CHECO report looked at similarities between base defense in Vietnam and Thailand. The US Department of Veterans Affairs maintains that aircraft and herbicide were either staged or never staged on Thailand bases. 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. The bill was last referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in June. The C-123 aircraft that assisted with Operation Ranch Hand used bases in Thailand. But not to veterans in Thailand at least, not yet. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 All rights reserved. Thank you Thailand veterans for your service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. 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. 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. Present and Future Facilities at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB 30 June 1968, Department of the Air Force Master Base Plan Map During the period from October 12 to December 20, 1965, and from July 1966 to August 15, 1973, the United States conducted air defense missions in Southeast Asia. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 It acknowledges that herbicide use is present at Thailand military bases, but it only recently granted Vietnam veterans the presumption of exposure to the same chemicals as U.S. veterans. The perimeter of Ubon has been pushed back and there has been little foliage on the perimeter, according to photographs. is bletchley a nice place to live,
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