A bit of Aviation History for you all.

This is a PDF file

There has been so much interest in this article I have updated it a bit.

Transcontinental Air Main Route Marker Arrows

I added a new TAB under WELCOME SHIPMATES. It is called AGENT ORANGE. Here you will find information on the VA, agent orange and what we are trying to accomplish with the VA.

If you can help please leave a comment on the site,  or email me. If you are from another VP squadron contact them or me and I will see they receive it.

thanks and lets get the BALL ROLLING. We are not getting any younger and some of us are having health issues steming from Agent Orange.

Guy Fisk

I have posted the summer VP40 newsletter today. look under PICTURES, VIDEO & MORE TAB, there is a new tab “VP40 NEWSLETTERS”.

I have posted a few of them and I will add a lot of old newsletters from the Bob Foss days. Enjoy them.

here is a picture I took on July 18, 2013. I was playing golf in Asheville, NC that day and a P8a from VP30 was doing touch and goes at AVL, the airport next door to the golf course. In fact the inner marker (for ILS) is just off the #2 Tee box.

I suspect I will see a lot of them from now on and I will post more pictures if possible.

Monday July 29, 2013—–I was golfing again and the P8a was doing touch & goes again, but no tail markings, just NAVY  on it. Did not have a chance to take a picture.

July 18, 2013 AVL

I have been in contact with members of  other VP seaplane squadrons and we all have a common problem.

Here is an email I received from Bill Henson from VP50.

Hi All,

Recently one of our squadron mates who served a deployment in Cam Ranh Bay with VP-50 passed away.   His widow is filing a claim with the VA due to his condition that may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange.    She had asked if there were any photos or documentation that would substantiate that he had “boots on the ground” to prove his exposure to Agent Orange. Talking with several guys who filed Agent Orange claims with the VA they indicated that the hardest part of filing their claim was providing the VA with the documentation the VA claim examiner, or the appeals adjudicator, requires.   Not documenting the medical documentation, but the documentation needed to “prove” they were “boots on the grounds” in Vietnam.

 I got to thinking about this as several of my Crew (Crew 8, VP-50) have had Agent Orange issues and filed VA Agent Orange claims.   In each case, the issue was not substantiating the medical condition caused by Agent Orange exposure, but centered around if the person actually was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam.   After hearing from the widow. I started wondering what would constitute “proof” about our Vietnam service?  We seaplane squadrons, VP-40, VP-48, and VP-50, may have this unique situation as our seaplanes were deployed to a Bay, not like aircraft that were assigned to an airfield.

 What kind of records or other resources are available for members of VP-40, VP-48, and VP-50 to use to substantiate our “boots on the ground” in Vietnam?   That is the question.   Based on conversations, I and others in VP-50, VP-40 and VP-48, have had, it seems like each claimant needs to reinvent the wheel as there is no depository to access to find the substantiating information needed when filing a claim.   All three squadrons have this common problem of proving our “boots on the ground” Vietnam service to the VA.  We do know that a squadron cruise book has been used to substantiate an Agent Orange claim.   Letters from crewmates have been used.

 With your help all future shipmates, or their widows, will have a resource to assist in filing Agent Orange claims.   We would like to pool our knowledge of Agent Orange claims filed by members of our 3 squadrons on what documentation was required to substantiate service in Vietnam, mainly when deployed to Cam Ranh Bay.

We would like to hear from you if you have filed a claim with the VA for an Agent Orange related condition what information and or documentation you provided to the VA that the VA accepted to substantiate you were in Vietnam with boots on the ground.   In addition, would you be willing to be a resource to others who might file an Agent Orange claim in the future?

 This common information would be posted on the the Mariner Marlin Association, VP-40 and VP-48 web sites, with each squadron’s or association permission.   VP-40 and VP-48 have their own excellent squadron web sites.  Both squadrons have done an excellent job in providing online cruise books, photos, etc., on their web sites.   If you have the opportunity to go out and look at their web sites I would urge you do so.   Guy Fisk, the web master of VP-40’s site at http://vp40.com/news/ , has created a “page” with links on how to file a VA claim and plans to add more Agent Orange information.

 Again, any and all suggestions are welcome, especially for those who have filed Agent Orange claims with the VA.

 Best Regards,

 Bill Heston

P.S.

Following is an email received from Jim Morgan who has been involved with our common effort to help one another if and when someone needs to file an Agent Orange VA claim with the VA:

In a message dated 7/13/2013 1:01:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, JKMORGAN@aol.com writes:

I think we have an opportunity to help our shipmates who flew Market Time Operation Patrol from Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam from 1965 through 1967 (Seaplanes and Tenders). (Ed. note:  also 1968 and 1969).

1. We need to ask all of our MMA members who were TAD to Cam Ranh Bay to supply some basic information regarding Claims with the VA that have been Denied, Approved and Rated, or may be in progress.

We need the basics, no personal information beyond these Fields in a simple Excel database with some filters to sort by state, date, etc:

Last Name, First Name

City and State where Claims filed

Date of initial claims

Types of documentation used such as buddy letters, TAD orders, photographs, pay records

Claim status

Denied

Approved and Rated

In progress

Settled in Court, Form 9 final appeal

With this information, we will be able to develop patterns of what States have approved more of our shipmates claims caused by Agent Orange exposure and which States have denied Claims for Agent Orange exposure as a percentage of overall Claims.

I believe we can summarize such a simple database and then involve the US Congress and the Veterans Administration leadership.

I am concerned that many of us are being denied and pushed away from valuable benefits simply based on where we live, perhaps due to a quota system. In my case, Florida. I think this is THE most difficult Veterans Administration Regional Office which is located in St. Petersburg, Florida (Bay Pines).

It would be great if we could have something pulled together for the next Reunion and have a Congressman in that State present to hold a Town Hall Meeting of our Vets and take the message to the VA along with our Database and summary. We should not be forgotten!

I know that we have many ways to cut this hog up, but we should apply a unified force at this time because each of us has gone our own way with less than fair results.

Willing to help this cause, just need the MMA leadership to confirm a cause and direction or approach. We LEGAL help…. some of our shipmates may be Attorneys. particularly some of the Officers.

I can put a shell database together (flat file) in Excel for review, edits, etc. I use Excel 2007.

Thanks for listening,

Jim Morgan

772-288-4747

Stuart, Florida

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

I will be sending this request to all members of VP40.  In addition I  will create an Excel spreadsheet for your use to tell us about your experiences with dealing with this problem. It will be posted on this web site. If you were in Viet Nam during 1965-1969 with one of our VP squadrons or on a seaplane tender,

and think you might qualify for Agent Orange benefits I have some info on our site to help you in filing. After we compile the records from VP40, VP50, VP48, VP47 we will publish our findings and MAYBE

our fellow VP members can get the VA benefits we deserve, no matter WHAT state we live in.  Bruce Barth has been helping some of our members in the past and he will help in this effort also. Anyone else is welcome to join the cause.

 If you agree with this cause, please leave  a comment on this subject here for others to read and respond. 

much more to follow in the future

Guy Fisk 

ggfisk@vp40.com

(828)654-7812

 webmaster VP40

I have received some pictures from our VP40 2012 reunion from Roland Edmonds Jr.

They are now posted in the 2012 reunion@ San Diego TAB, look at the last 3 pages of the gallery. enjoy them. Leave comments if you wish.

THANK YOU     Roland.

I received this email recently. If anone can provide info on the patch email me. I know when I was in the squadron we did not have crew patches.

thanks

Guy Fisk

From:
Richard Lowrie
228patches@comcast.net

Message:
I have a
VP-40 patch with a what looks like a naked Geisha wearing red wooden shoes                                       
holding a Martini glass sitting on an 8 ball with a screw in it. The name Bill
is also on the patch. Just looking for any information you could provide. I
collect USN patches from the Vietnam era.
I can send a photo if you want to
see one.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Rich

A little history most people will never know.

Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized.

It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department

of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps

Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

8,283 were just 19 years old.

The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam ..

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia .

8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci – They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little

Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter

moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic

camaraderie typical of Morenci’s mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine

Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale – LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martin ez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on

three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They

played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all

three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7,

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

This is one of the most interesting articles I have seen in a long time. Makes you realize the sacrifice so many have

given – Some of the ages and numbers make you want to cry. Let us NEVER forget what these young men and

women gave for this Country!

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us

who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers

created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands,

wives, sons and daughters.

I am pleased to announce that Richard (Rick) Carrel has joined our group.

He served from 7/65 thru 12/67 in VP40.

He flew in crew 11 and was an AX3 Radio operator.

Welcome aboard Rick

If anyone remembers him and would like to say howdy to him, his email is r2carrel@sbcglobal.net

Happy Flag Day to you all.

Your service, sacrifice, honor and courage has represented our flag throughout history, protected the American people and has preserved our Freedom.

Symbolism of the Flag
The U.S. flag is the most widely used symbol of America, representing the many freedoms and rights guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Additionally, the flag symbolizes the patriotism, honor and courage of all of you, our U.S. Veterans and military personnel,
 along with our individual liberties stated in the Declaration of Independence.
 Many other powerful meanings that define America are represented in our flag as well.

“We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country,
separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her,
and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty.”
– George Washington

Where the Flag is always Displayed:

• The White House
• The Washington Monument
• Fort McHenry – National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Md.
• Flag House Square – Baltimore, Md.
• U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial – Arlington, Va.

·  And many other places of honor and history.

Have a great U.S. Flag Day + Weekend filled with pride, honor & tradition!

Guy Fisk