In an interview, Skinner recalled that he was an aircraft mechanic on F4 Phantom jets while serving in Thailand. Royal Thai Air Force Base perimeters during the Vietnam Era, the VA Udorn and Ubon, Thailand in 1963 during a training exercise at JT116 FTX. He (McHenry) was a walking encyclopedia of information, Skinner said. 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. <> You have to prove it.. Because of the governments inability to identify the veterans, Congress granted them the right to sue for libel. The wing was the first to use laser-guided bombs (LGBs) during combat in May 1968. Military personnel were able to obtain undiluted versions of 2,4,5-T, which contained even higher levels of TCDD than Agent Orange. Moving target radars, a low-light television set, and an infrared camera were all part of the B-57G. Another important point should be made here. A spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs declined an interview but offered to answer questions in writing. The objective of this research was to prepare mixtures of various herbicides in the form of pellets, and to test them on variations types of vegetation. The chemicals were applied in highly concentrated solutions using a micro-sprayer. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, How To Choose The Right Recoil Spring For Your Tactical Sports Orange Gun. In October 2020, the VA denied Xenia resident and Thailand veteran Paul Skinner compensation for what Skinner believed was Agent Orange exposure, with the VA informing Skinner in a letter: Your personnel records still fail to show that during your duties you were exposed to Agent Orange or tactical herbicides while performing daily duty assignments at Udom (Royal Thai Air Force Base).. 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. 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. served during the Vietnam War McHenry worked for years to correct what he argued was an error in that memo, which held there was no evidence of tactical herbicides having been used at American bases in Thailand. 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. 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 The 435th TAW The 435th Tactical Airlift Wing: A History Of The Vietnam Wars 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. Ubon WebAgent Orange is a highly toxic, deadly chemical that is a known carcinogen. 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. 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 documents show that the use of herbicide was recommended in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973. 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. SCI9t2Q9o)+)%Ex> 4AFDM|T/gD h~3u6}VO#&AcH4*(uxRSMC,j,04,U4HYR?%}P7Ob?BuaX^E She was a member of the University of Florida Law Review and published a case note on the Florida Privacy Amendment. Proving Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans Who Served in On July 10, 1965, he was credited with the first air victory of the Vietnam War, downing two Mirage jets. by Sappers at U-Tapao RTAFB, Return to the Batcat Veterans Benefit homepage. Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Map of the Flight Line, perimeter Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base /X!`h8 p'Dwa.6jl(".l']qG":N"|{uM/ /;Cplh8;F>qy=P)5*!TIR=\.Cn V}9gp3:(gZ5xeB*gI But the prospects for those bills is uncertain at this point. This occurred in many locations spanning Puerto Rico including: Mayaguez, Guanica, Joyuda, Loquillo, Las Marias, and near the Rio Grande. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. B-52 Ramp and Asset Perimeter Wires at U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 9 - driving 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. This document contains false or misleading statements. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. 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. U.S. Air Force Veteranswho 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. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. On Thailand bases, service members were exposed to herbicide agents at a rate comparable to those exposed to other hazardous chemicals. Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. Air Force officials concluded that based on the evidence they were able to obtain, the crew had perished in the crash and declared them killed in action. yet assertive representation for our clients. The air force is responsible for the defense of Thai airspace and for providing air support to the Thai Army and Navy. Agent Orange Exposure in Thailand | Cuddigan Law She enjoyed practicing land use and environmental law for several years after law school but felt called to serve our veteran population and changed her practice area to veterans disability law. 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 The PACT Act establishes a presumptive service connection between Thailand veterans and the United States. Contact us to speak with an intake specialist for free. 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. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a military installation of the Royal Thai Air Force. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Preparation area showing a perimeter guard tower at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated 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. Shannon lives in Orlando with her husband and two sons. 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. 10-43 072, Citation Nr: 1222558 Decision Date: 06/28/12 Archive Date: 07/10/12 DOCKET NO. The wing flew its last combat mission on 15 August 1973. 3,048. asphalt. The C-123 aircraft that assisted with Operation Ranch Hand used bases in Thailand. Please switch auto forms mode to off. The last of Constant Guards F4 augmentation forces was released in September 1973. 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. 2 0 obj We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. detailed annotations, Map of the Southwest section of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 5 - B-52 Ramp, NE Quadrant U-Tapao RTAFB with They (the VA) dont give you a definition of what the perimeter is, Harmon said. SSA and VA Disability Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska, 2023 Cuddigan Law, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission, Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Get Disability, Vets Who Served in Thailand Qualify for Benefits, Agent Orange Exposure and Associated Diseases, VA Special Monthly Compensation Explained With Pay Rates, How the Bilateral Factor Affects Your VA Disability Benefits, Expanded Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Materials, The disability occurred because of an in-service event, There was a link between the event and the current disability. BOARD OF VETERANSAPPEALS Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? 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. Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of The use of Agent Orange at Ubon Air Force Base has been linked to a number of health problems in both veterans and civilians. 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.
