Patrol Squadron 40

AGENT ORANGE

strong>This TAB is devoted to information about AGENT ORANGE. It will contain info about  the Veterans Administration and how to file a claim with the VA. It will have info from other members of VP40 and ALL seaplane squadron members who were in Viet Nam during the "conflict". We are striving to have the VA recognize that seaplane sailors ARE eligible for VA benefits from Agent Orange. The other seaplane squadrons and VP40 are combining our resources to make this happen. We are initally trying to contact as many individuals who have filed AO claims with the idea of them sharing information about their claim process, including the process itself; e.g., State the claim filed in, length of time from filing to approval or rejection, and especially the documentation needed to support the claim.  We will also  contact individuals who served in the 4 squadrons during the 1964-1968 Vietnam era requesting that they share any documentation that will help support this effort. If anyone has available squadron documentation by year and squadron that applies to deployments and/or activities with the tenders that would help support a claim please share it with us. information to share please contact me, or leave a comment and I will post it here. For other seaplane squadron members, please contact them or you can do it via this web site.

thanks

Guy Fisk   ggfisk@vp40.com

UPDATE 1/1/2020

The VA has started processing "Blue Water Navy" claims. If you have rejected before for not proving "boots on the ground"  FILE again, if you were within the 12 mile shore of Vietnam,

you will be approved AND you will be paid retroactively from the date you first filed. 

 

UPDATE 11/6/2017

Here is a web site from Military.com that gives some bad news for Agent Orange Claims

After 18 Months of Study, VA Delays Adding New Agent Orange Illnesses

More delays for  Vietnam Veterans with disabilities.

 

UPDATE 3/2/2016

There is some activity in the upcoming months by congress but we have heard that before.

Here is a link to the VietNAm Vets web site that has a lot of info on Agent Orange. I belong to that group and we do some amazing things,

an example: we brought the VietNam Moving Wall (yes there is such a thing) to Asheville NC this fall and it something to experience,

I encourage all of you that qualify to join this group and  perhaps someday we will get the benefits we deserve from that war.

http://www.vva.org/Committees/AgentOrange/index.html

Guy Fisk

 

We have gathered the forms and we had a excellent presentation from Bruce Barth at our 2014 reunion in Pensacola. Here is the latest PDF file on where we are now. 4/15/2015

Agent Orange VA Statement wkgAgent Orange VA Statement wkg
links and info for misc things such as

U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs       http://www.va.gov/

VA agent orange info  

http://www.health.mil/News_And_Multimedia/News/detail/10-08-31/VA_Officials_Publish_Final_Regulation_to_Aid_Veterans_Exposed_to_Agent_Orange.aspx

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/Herbicide/AOno3.htm

Agent Orange Review (a quarterly publication from the VA )

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/resources.asp

12/28/2013
I received my American Legion magazine issue Jan/2014 today and it had a great article on Agent Orange. I have posted it on our web site for all to read. I think it is interesting in that

a lot of Navy folks are facing the same problems that our seaplane squadrons are. Perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all.

here is the article. It is in PDF format.

AL-1-2014 Agent Orange

Comments

16 responses to “AGENT ORANGE”

  1. Holly N Avatar
    Holly N

    My father was in squadron 40. He passed in May. My mother has been fighting for years to get agent Orange claims. DD 214 has Vietnam service medal and Vietnam campaign medal which the VA will not recognize as being boots on the ground. His own words in a claim filed in 2011 were: I served in the Navy as a flight crew member stationed in the Philippines and flew into Cam Rahman Bay Air Base, Vietnam on numerous occasions from 1966-1967. The aircraft that were repaired were specialised so when they were damaged or was down due to maintenance problems, we were flown in feom our base in the Philippines. I did receive hostile fire pay for that period in-country (Vietnam).
    I did recently find a letter of commendation to my father congratulating him for the following: during the period of 19 March 1967 through 12 April 1967, Pateol Squadron Forty shared with USS CURRITUCK the privilege of conduction at Cam Aragon Bay, Vietnam, what will probably be the last seaplane tender operation conducted by the United States Navy. During this period, an aircraft was maintained on station continuously in support of Market Time anti-infiltration efforts accumulating a total of 860 flight hours. This was done with seven SP-5B aircraft at the ended maintaining an availability of 94.38 percent.

    The letter has more info but would this qualify as “boots on the ground?”

    Reply
    1. Guy Fisk Avatar
      Guy Fisk

      What is your fathers name?
      He should be qualified for agent orange benefits.
      Have your mother contact a VSO (Veteran Service officer) in the county she lives. If he has filed in 2011 he would be eligible from that date.
      If you have more problems let me know. We have people that can possibly help also.
      Guy Fisk

      Reply
  2. Deb Malinowski Avatar
    Deb Malinowski

    Hello, I am the daughter of Neil Delisle. I am looking for help, info, pictures, proving he was there. Any help appreciated. He has been in the hospital for 3 months and looking to get him into the Soldiers Home in Holyoke.
    Thank you in advance.
    Deb

    Reply
  3. Manuel V. Labrodor Avatar
    Manuel V. Labrodor

    I was with VP-40 as an SD2, Food Service. From 1966-1968 I deployed 2 times to Cameron Bay, Vietnam but my military service record does not show my military service. I now have Diabetes now and heart problems that may be from Agent Orange exposure but the VA has denied service connection because I have not been able to prove “Boots on the Ground” in Vietnam. Any Help would be appreciated. Manuel V. Labrador PSC 517 Box RS FPO, AP 96517 USA

    Reply
  4. Ron Avatar
    Ron

    VP48 Here: Same problem, submitted orders to SEA, Flight records, complete medical records along with the most recent test results (Stress Test, Echo cardiogram, etc, denied because of “Boots on The Ground. Submitted appeal and pictures I took when I went ashore at Cam Ranh, also buddy statements, and a mess of other pictures from private collection and copy’s from Cruise Books. Approved at 100% disability. Don’t give up and provide tons of documents. The paper for my claim is literally 2” thick. .

    Reply
  5. Ken Colson Avatar
    Ken Colson

    It took me around a year and a half to get approved. I discussed some of the stories I’ve been hearing about boards requiring copies of orders before they will consider your case. According to my local Hunt County Veteran Service director, that is a crock of carp. They are just putting you on! I don’t know if you have anyone helping you such as a local VA rep or if you are going directly to the VA yourself. In any case, don’t feel restrained about contacting your US Senator and US Representative. Just the facts, be respectable, leave your emotions out of it or take it out on your dog, or your neighbors dog. Let me know what I can do to help you. I think most ”
    local reps are ex military but you need to keep on their buts. My email is tlckkd@verizon.net, my phone is 903.447.0059 no calls before 7:00 am or after midnight please.

    Reply
  6. Pette Landon Avatar
    Pette Landon

    HI MATES, MY NAME IS PETE LANDON I WAS WITH VP-47 65-69 .OUR GUYS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TRYING TO GET A CLAIM IN FOR AO .THE VA JUST LOOKS AT YOU WITH A SMILE AND SAY YOU NEVER HAD BOOTS ON THE GROUND,THEY TYPE YOUR NAME IN THE CDOMPUTER AND IT SAYS YOUR NOT ON THE LIST.I SENT TO ST LOUIS FOR MY SERVICE JACKET AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS NOTHING IN SAYING I WAS EVER IN COUNTRY SAME WITH UTAPAO THILAND I SPENT 6 MONTHS THERE.ACTUALLY FOR MYSELF IM PRETTY HEAALTHY BUT THERE IS A BUNCH OF MY MATES THAT ARENT DOING SO GOOD.IVE BEEN TRYING TO GO TRU OUE ARIZONA STATE CONGRESSMAN BUT SO FAR NO LUCK,ANY ADVICE WOULD BE ALOT OF HELP.
    THAANKS
    PETE LANDON

    Reply
    1. Bruce Barth Avatar
      Bruce Barth

      Pete – Please contact me, I may be able to help you. Bruce Barth, bbarth1@austin.rr.com

      Reply
  7. Ken Colson Avatar
    Ken Colson

    Ken Colson Crew 2, 1965-1967. I received a letter from the Dept of VA awarding my claim for Agent Orange Disability of 30%. If anyone needs info on how I went about it, I am more than willing to help!

    Reply
    1. Guy Fisk Avatar
      Guy Fisk

      congrats Ken.

      Reply
    2. Don Yancey Avatar
      Don Yancey

      That didn’t take long after you got your letter in July. been trying to e mail you

      Reply
  8. Don Yancey LaPorte,Texas Avatar
    Don Yancey LaPorte,Texas

    Just looked at page, Q E 8 was in the water at Cam Ran ,De Nang, Con Son Island. And went into the club at Cam Ran Bay Don Yancey AE3 VP-40 from Late 63-64-65-66. And VP 40 let me be two weeks late getting out.

    Reply
  9. Guy Fisk Avatar
    Guy Fisk

    We will have a guest speaker @ our 2014 VP40 Reunion. He is a disabled Viet Nam vet, He has worked since then in VFW, Purple Hearts.org, and VFW positions. He will asist in filling our VA and Agent Orange claims and provide valuable information about our benefits and how to obtain them. He will be available Fri/Sat and will have the podium on Friday. Do not miss this if you want or need assistance.

    Reply
  10. Guy Fisk Avatar
    Guy Fisk

    Please join our common cause to provide assistance to our fellow shipmates who are in need of benefits for Agent Orange

    Reply
    1. Ken Colson Avatar
      Ken Colson

      Just starting the process of applying. I’m collecting all medical records for submission. The VA agent I am dealing with isn’t doing much of anything. After 2 months he had done squat, not even requested medical records. He “thinks” maybe I need to show proof that we swam in the waters and were close to shore. I’ve got pictures showing people swimming and diving from the wing of Wiseman 2 in 1966. Also cruise book from both 1965 and 1966/67 showing we were there. Will keep you updated on progress, if any.

      Ken Colson
      Crew 2
      VP 40

      Reply
      1. ken colson Avatar
        ken colson

        Ships crew are on the list of “approved” personal. Also, I’m sure that you took the liberty launch and went ashore for a cold beer. I found that if you sent copies of the cruise book along with a form filled out by a doctor for EVERY ailment it helped for me. I don’t know if you are trying to go it alone or if you have someone to help. I found that the DAV was very helpful. Other organizations such as American Legion, AMVETS etc. swing a much bigger hammer than you alone. I went from 30% to 90% with DAV backing. I recently, like 2 weeks ago, suffered a minor stroke diganosed as a TIA. I’m in the process of trying to get 100% so my wife can get some prescription coverage. Just keep on submitting and wear them down! Size does matter, sibmit any documentation you can dig up.

        Reply

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