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Posted 5/27/2010 1:39 PM (GMT -5)
Noticed on another site info that the VA was accepting claims from PCa patients who served on ships off Viet Nam as well as "boots on the ground" with regard to agent orange.  Has anybody here had any luck with the VA who may have served on a ship rather than in country? Seems like a stretch, but it sure would be nice.  Squid.
Posted 5/27/2010 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
Squid,
Not sure if that is accurate or not, but someone posted a link on here awhile back that I read and it has regular discussions about that topic. If I can figure out how to post the link I will. Best of luck to you with that.
Michael
Posted 5/27/2010 2:39 PM (GMT -5)
Found a partial answer to my question on-line.  In February, 2010 the VA added a bunch of destroyer/frigate type ships to the eligible list because they were drawing contanimated water from inland and bay areas of Viet Nam.  No mention of carriers.  There is a bill in congress right now that would extend eligibility to everbody that was there whether on land, in the air, or at sea.  We shall see what happens.  Agent orange has apparently caused cancer in one hell of a lot of veterans. Squid.

Posted 5/27/2010 3:12 PM (GMT -5)
Subic,

Try this link for some add'l information. The latest info quoted here is from March, 2010. Good luck with your quest.

http://veterans.senate.gov/issues-benefits.cfm

Sonny
Posted 5/27/2010 5:28 PM (GMT -5)
Subic,

Even though Sonny and I applied about the same time, my claim is still in the p-approval loop, the time it takes sure seems to vary even from State to State on these claims. I was told they had all the info need, even from all my doctors, so hoping for an answer soon.
Posted 5/27/2010 5:34 PM (GMT -5)
I actually spent two days and one night in Danang. Flew off the ship to pick up some maps and things. The way I read it, that might qualify as "boots on the ground." Drank the water, ate the food. Of course all the beer in the evening might have been strong enough to defeat agent orange effects!!! Something about how good cold beer tastes after a couple of months out on a ship. Squid.
Posted 5/27/2010 6:00 PM (GMT -5)
Subic, I also spent one night in Da Nang in 1967. C-130 from Bangkok to my base at Udorn RTAFB had engine trouble and was diverted to Da Nang over night. Since it wasn't an "assignment" doesn't show on my records. Saw on the net that Udorn was the base that AO was flown out of and that all bases in SE Asia were cleared with AO. Makes me wonder since no one in my family has a history of PCa. I think the bill to include all veterans with the Viet Nam service medal got lost in the shuffle in Washington.
Posted 5/27/2010 6:29 PM (GMT -5)
With money being so tight right now, adding thousands more vets to the VA rolls will probably be a hard sell, even though any compensation for illness/injury for vets should always be guaranteed. My family history is PCa free also. I wonder just how much exposure to agent orange is enough to cause cancer. They will probably never know. On the aircraft carrier, we had to suffer with the water being contaminated with JP-5 fuel odor. I guess the storage tanks for the water and fuel were close. Ebvrything tasted like JP-5 - water, coffee, Kool-aid, food cooked in water. That couldn't have been good for the body either. Squid.
Posted 5/27/2010 6:34 PM (GMT -5)
Refresh my memory, Subic, which carrier were you on?
Posted 5/27/2010 7:14 PM (GMT -5)
The "Mighty 'O'", Uss Oriskany, which is now a reef off of Pensacola, Florida.  God palce for the old rust bucket.  Only way to kill all the roaches was to drown the ship!!!!  Squid.

Posted 5/27/2010 7:22 PM (GMT -5)
I remember that ship, but never saw it. Saw the Constellation alot in action at the time, sending wave after wave of F-4son their way to sorties in Nam
Posted 5/27/2010 10:59 PM (GMT -5)
Guys here's the url for another website on VA related stuff. there's several threads on Agent Orange topics including blue water vets. I've been following (and posting on) for the last 4 or 5 years. several of the mods are vets and former veteran's services officers or va rating specialists. they know their stuff..

http://vets.yuku.com/directory
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