Thus, those veterans with boots on the ground service were granted presumptive service connection if they suffered from specific medical conditions, making it much easier to obtain VA disability compensation for their diseases. @H 2aNXG3_2 If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. While we still have our home base in Florida, On July 10, 1965, he was credited with the first air victory of the Vietnam War, downing two Mirage jets. The wing was the first to use laser-guided bombs (LGBs) during combat in May 1968. Storage area at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Map Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 THE UDORN RESEARCH GROUP Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Army Veteranswho provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between <> 203, San Jose, CA 95134 In an interview, Skinner recalled that he was an aircraft mechanic on F4 Phantom jets while serving in Thailand. Over the course of a year, we recently lost 100,000 sons, daughters, moms, and dads to drug overdoses. ISSUE BRIEF: AGENT ORANGE IN THAILAND Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 Agent Orange is a mixture of acids that causes cancer and other deadly diseases. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. yet assertive representation for our clients. at the Southeast area of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 8 - the They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Dubbed Operation Ranch Hand, millions of acres were being sprayed in Vietnam by the late 60s. But they were all sprayed.. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. 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 It is approximately 488 km To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. 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. The report notes the significant use of Agent Orange to remove foliage that Filing an eClaim for VA disability compensation is the fastest way to get your VA compensation claim processed. What did VA Cover Up in Thailand Agent Orange Data Release? WebThis group is dedicated to the brotherhood of those who served at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand during the Vietnam War. The first raid, a mortar bombardment, reportedly took place Sunday night at Ubon air base in eastern Thailand. The last scheduled training flight was held on July 16, 1974. 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. of the Cantonment area of Don Muang RTAFB, further details of the of the Cantonment area of Don Muang RTAFB, details of the of the Cantonment area of Don Muang RTAFB in PDF format, of Don Muang RTAFB 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. 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. 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Batcat Veterans Benefit, is They deserve quick adjudication for their claim and we cannot put the burden on the veterans who served their country.. Some tenants provided Air Traffic Control services to the Ubon tower, which was owned by others. 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. 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. Shannon lives in Orlando with her husband and two sons. 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. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base The last of Constant Guards F4 augmentation forces was released in September 1973. Often fence lines were sprayed to kill vegetation that may have hid the presence of enemy soldiers. Its not a burden shared by veterans who served in Vietnam or in the Navy. Select personnel would receive a copy of their own herbicide manual. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. we represent clients nationwide. Spookily armed gunships were sent to Ubon as part of an interdiction mission over Laos. Agent Orange Presumption and Service in Thailand This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. The Mig- Killers were the nickname given to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. 4 0 obj Attention A T users. After the war, remaining barrels of the herbicide were sent to both Seabees base in Gulfport (where there was documented contamination) and Johnston Island in the Pacific in April 1972, where all that was left was eventually destroyed at sea. Some veterans will have an easier time establishing their exposure to herbicides than others. If a veterans military occupation required him to patrol the perimeter of one of these basesdog handlers or military policeand his service records establish this fact, then VA is going to be much more willing to acknowledge that veterans exposure to herbicides. But this doesnt mean that other veterans cannot also prove such exposure. According to historical accounts, a squadron in 1971 began spraying herbicide on troublesome plants. 1 0 obj Skinner said the denial was frustrating. Eight Distinct Steps Most VA Disability Compensation Claims Follow Bob has been fighting this letter since it came out, Skinner said. The Thai government has acknowledged the health risks associated with the use of Agent Orange, and has provided compensation to those affected. _k[3lfQYg@)j5w83! zx/4^1!3ph#w+E'L~*G~tbs#yq]jo"g8%*4+jG. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. 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. 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. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base - Wikipedia This includes those who served at military bases in Thailand, bases where Agent Orange was stored and tested. Cantonment area at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Nakhon Phanom - A Security Police Sentry Dog Handlers Perspective, Map of Additionally, C-123 Aircraft that were used to 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. the Royal Thai Air Force Base side of Bangkok International Airport, more The PACT Act establishes a presumptive service connection between Thailand veterans and the United States. 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 technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. You have to prove it.. Research and testing of Agents Purple, Orange, White and Blue at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where some contamination of the soil was discovered in trace amounts. 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. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Being stationed in of Takhli RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of In Thailand, there is extensive herbicide use on military bases. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Agent Orange is just a euphemism for many different types of herbicides. Millions are suffering from mental illness, exacerbated by the pandemic. This webinar has already aired. Veterans Court vacates BVA decision denying veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while stationed at a Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1962. While the DOD has confirmed that Agent Orange was sprayed in the areas listed in the section above, the VA does not automatically grant service connection for exposure to Agent Orange in these areas. Some have won on appeal.. If you believe you were exposed to agent orange during the Vietnam war while serving on a Royal Thai Air Force Base, or Defoliation operations were carried out near the Udorn perimeter during this time period, according to reports. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 It was used to push enemy troops out of the jungles, forcing them to fight out in the open. Agent Orange All Thailand veterans should be diagnosed with herbicide exposure as soon as possible. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. The base was established in 1964, during the Vietnam War, as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force. As a result of the agreements, American military operations in North and South Vietnam were officially halted. detailed annotations, Map 7 - the Demolitioin area Filing Online VA Compensation Claims with eBenefits If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, 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. It was established in 1913, making it one of the oldest air forces in the world. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. In February 1968, a Igloo White sensor-dropping mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos was launched. The documents show that herbicide shipments not associated with Rancho Hand were sent to and from Thailand. While you focus on taking care of yourself, let us take care of the claim process and secure the disability benefits you deserve. December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or; Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province Ubon Korat RTAFB, Brett Watterson sent me this map of Korat RTAFB which he highlighted the full perimeter, Official Department of the Air Force Map Or is it 500 feet? Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Most veterans think of Vietnam when they think of Agent Orange exposure. The wing flew its first combat mission on 5 May 1966. The bill was last referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in June. 3. 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. Everyone that was on the bases would have been in the spray zone for the herbicides, Flodder said. and Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), while landing at Learn more about benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. 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. 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. The base is home to the Royal Thai Air Forces 1st Air Division, and is also used by the United States Air Force (USAF). 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. When evaluating the effectiveness of herbicide mixtures, Agent Orange was used as the standard. 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. Testing of 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D and other herbicides in Puerto Rico. These bases include: Ubon, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, Don Muang, U-Tapao, and Nakhom Phanom. Agent Orange All rights reserved. 800-829-4833, Veterans Crisis Line: However, if the US Air Force in Thailand was required to The435th TAW was the first Air Force tactical air unit to be based in Thailand. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Web10,000. Agent Orange Herbicide Exposure | VA Disability Group Agent Orange Exposure in Thailand - Hill & Ponton, P.A. With the passage of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the VA acknowledged that Vietnam War veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. During these operations in Thailand, Sergeant Richard E. Wolf received a letter of commendation for his service. you viewed to avoid repetition. Skinner acknowledges that he can get health care from the VA. They used that letter repeatedly to deny claims, Mary Flodder, McHenrys widow, said in an interview. The 435th TAW was activated on 1 April 1966 and its first commander was Colonel Harry A. George. 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. The wing flew its last combat mission on 15 August 1973. These cookies do not store any personal information. In Thailand, military personnel used the same herbicides as in Vietnam. This document contains false or misleading statements. 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. 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Overall, this research involved field tests of different mixtures and formulations of the herbicides produced by chemical industries. 5 unexploded charges were discovered, as well as two C-47s that had been damaged. Storage and Maintenance, Missle Maintenance Shop at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated The excerpt from Herbicidal Warfare indicates that seven spray planes stopped at Ubon Airfield in January 1979 before flying into Vietnam; significantly, the veterans service records show that he was stationed in Ubon in January 1979. Source: Citation Nr: 0714102 Decision Date: 05/11/07 Archive Date: 05/25/07 DOCKET NO. 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. WebThe Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), located on the eastern border of Thailand, was the host to Detachment 3 of the 6994th Security Squadron and eventually the 7. It is located in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Isan region of Thailand. He (McHenry) was a walking encyclopedia of information, Skinner said. Since that time, we have provided compassionate diJe~wwlvxd%NNZOvbw.U1?@K!hW eS)Q6UTY-_iYqYr^:ps%5||*H o%=TO|~P/suK^V>OO ; xMv.)yJbO d,a+pMmIWIoA5dStD+H$^PEaeMC hI{R0Y@#R5K.t Don Muang RTAFB - Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), Official Department of the Air Force Map There is strong evidence to back up the VAs previous claim that herbicide was only used on the perimeters. B=l6>*@ C=*D`@}Fw< AV9! [*\ M_`oH( served during the Vietnam War Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. According to the VA, U.S. Air Force Veterans served at Royal Thai Air Force Bases (RTAF bases) at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Panom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base Agent Orange-related claims received by the Payment Program on average cost $3,800 per claim. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was known is home to the aircraft boneyard, where retired military aircraft are stored. Bob was trying to get that letter rescinded at the time he died.. Thailand My sense is these bills have a chance, but I just dont know how good a chance, attorney Chisholm said. Why Hire CCK for Your VA Disability Appeal? If military police conducted foot patrols at the perimeter, the situation would have been completely exposed. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 VA keeps moving the goalposts regarding how and when it will concede exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who, For the past several years, the VA has acknowledged that veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam (including brown water veterans who served on the countrys inland waterways) were, Agent Orange Exposure and C-123 Aircraft U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed that eligible Vietnam War veterans are presumed to have experienced Agent Orange herbicide exposure between January 9,. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 area at Ubon RTAFB, Map of the Munitions This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. This testing was repeated again in 1957 to determine the effectiveness of such herbicides as defoliants and killing agents. 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. 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). If you set foot on a land mass (in Vietnam), youre entitled to a presumption that you have been exposed to herbicides, Rhode Island attorney Robert Chisholm said in an interview. Agent Orange and Blue were present in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The AFHRA memo said that although use of commercial herbicides is documented, the Air Force archivists found no mention of the transportation, payment for or use of any tactical herbicide to control vegetation on Air Force installations in Thailand. You can also apply for benefits for other illnesses, but you will have to show a medical connection between herbicide exposure and your disability. Im spending out of pocket about $6,000 to $6,500 a year in medications, he said. AC-47s were the most common type of vehicle on April 4, 1966 in the United States. endobj Agent Orange Exposure in Thailand | Cuddigan Law
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