ubon air force base thailand agent orange

WebUbon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility located near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Veterans Court vacates BVA decision denying veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while stationed at a Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1962. A declassified Department of Defense report written in 1973 titled, Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand 1968-1972, contains evidence that there was significant use of the herbicide Agent Orange along the fence-line perimeters of Thailand military bases to remove foliage that provided cover for enemy forces. For instance, which pages you go to most. Korats living quarters, for example, were only meters away from the perimeter. It is located approximately 488 km (303 miles) northeast of Thailand, and 60 km (40 miles) east of Laos border. Webthe use of tactical herbicides (Agent Orange) on Thai Royal Air Force Bases and Thai Army Bases. Robin Olds was born Robert Oldys, Jr., at Luke Field Hospital, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. 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. the Air Force Map Korat RTAFB above, Official Department of the Air Force Map Shannon Brewer, Senior Attorney Updated: October 24, 2013. In addition, the federal supply system had Agent Blue, Agent White, and Agent Orange on hand, all of which are known to contain chemical agents. If you served in an area other than Vietnam and you were exposed to Agent Orange, please contact the Berry Law Firm at (888) 883-2483. If you have a better base map, please let me know. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. It is located in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Isan region of Thailand. Lets be real, this was 60 years ago, Trone said. The DOD has identified the following units that served along the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) that were exposed to Agent Orange between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971: While the above units have been specifically identified as having served in the Korean DMZ between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971, if you served in and around the Korean DMZ outside of this time period and have evidence that you were exposed to Agent Orange during your service in Korea, you may still qualify for compensation benefits for Agent-Orange related disabilities. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 The documents show that the use of herbicide was recommended in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973. Agent Orange and other herbicides were used in Thailand between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. 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. However, if the US Air Force in Thailand was required to Are you, or someone you know, struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder? Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 Air Force or Army service at Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, or Army service at some small Army installations in Thailand, between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. They deserve quick adjudication for their claim and we cannot put the burden on the veterans who served their country.. The RTAF has a strength of over 43,000 personnel and operates over 350 aircraft. detailed annotations, Map 7 - the Demolitioin area The wing flew its first combat mission on 5 May 1966. Ubon Air Base was a US military facility located in Thailand from 1965 to 1974. B=l6>*@ C=*D`@}Fw< AV9! [*\ M_`oH( 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. He has to apply and use a catheter twice a day, something he expects to do for the rest of his life. Veterans who served in Vietnam were given the presumption of exposure under a law passed by Congress. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Being stationed in The435th TAW was the first Air Force tactical air unit to be based in Thailand. Currently, Skinner hopes to make a case before a VA judge in perhaps a year, maybe longer. However, in 2010, the VA recognized that veterans who served in Thailand and suffered from certain illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure deserved presumptive service connection. Vietnam War-era veterans who served in Thailand say theyre still fighting. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 This same presumption exists for those who served in the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971. The chemicals were applied in highly concentrated solutions using a micro-sprayer. If you served in Thailand during this time period, the VA concedes that you were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides if you fit within any one of the following: While the VA concedes that you were exposed to Agent Orange if you served in Thailand in one of the above capacities, you may still qualify for Agent Orange compensation benefits if you can show that you were otherwise exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Thailand. Most veterans think of Vietnam when they think of Agent Orange exposure. His living quarters were also close to a base perimeter, he recalled. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 10-43 072, Citation Nr: 1222558 Decision Date: 06/28/12 Archive Date: 07/10/12 DOCKET NO. On February 5, 1973, an EC-47Q electronic warfare collection aircraft tail number 43-48636, Eight Distinct Steps Most VA Disability Compensation Claims Follow details of the RTAFB side of the field, details He said he worked in areas close to base fencelines and perimeters, sometimes chaining down jets to run the engines, which would actually kick up dust and dirt everywhere around the aircraft.. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Many times, VA denies Agent Orange usage because it cannot confirm spraying in certain locations. Today, the base is home to the Thai Air Forces 1st Air Division. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Contact Us In Thailand, there is extensive herbicide use on military bases. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. 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. Red line shows the Nakhon Pahnom RTAFB base perimeter, while the blue line shows the full 500 meter herbicide/Agent Orange drift zone as defined in U.S. Army the location of Udorn RTAFB, Map of B-52 Ramp, NE Quadrant U-Tapao RTAFB with The 435th TAW was a theater airlift unit that supported the U.S. military forces in Southeast Asia. 5 unexploded charges were discovered, as well as two C-47s that had been damaged. While Agent Orange was burned at sea after the war, another rainbow herbicide of the Vietnam War era called Agent Blue, could not be burned disposed of via incineration due to its high concentration of arsenic. They used that letter repeatedly to deny claims, Mary Flodder, McHenrys widow, said in an interview. Agent Orange is just a euphemism for many different types of herbicides. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. While we still have our home base in Florida, Cantonment area at Ubon RTAFB, Udorn Thailand area including Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 But not to veterans in Thailand at least, not yet. including the Herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Map of the Munitions Trones bill would force these to be adjudicated this quicker, presuming that they were exposed to harmful herbicides. You may be eligible for VA benefits, and we can help determine if your military duty during this time qualifies you for disability benefits. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Present and Future Facilities at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB 30 June 1968, Department of the Air Force Master Base Plan Map Filing an eClaim for VA disability compensation is the fastest way to get your VA compensation claim processed. 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. <> 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,. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals. Munitions Storage area at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Weapon The documents show that herbicide shipments not associated with Rancho Hand were sent to and from Thailand. AC-47s were the most common type of vehicle on April 4, 1966 in the United States. WebThis group is dedicated to the brotherhood of those who served at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand during the Vietnam War. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. 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).. ! As some Thailand veterans see it, the VA places an undue burden of proof on them to demonstrate they were harmed by Agent Orange, in some cases asking for photographs or other evidence of physical proximity to harmful herbicides. Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (Udorn RTAFB) is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, the home of 23rd Wing Air Command. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. The wing flew its last combat mission on 15 August 1973. Korat RTAFB Showing the perimeter and the herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Data Block for the Official Department of Defoliation operations were carried out near the Udorn perimeter during this time period, according to reports. It was one of a number of bases in Thailand that were used to spray Agent Orange, a herbicide that was used to defoliate the jungle and deny cover to enemy forces. Attention A T users. But he sought (and seeks) compensation for pain and suffering. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. 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. The use of Agent Orange at Ubon Air Force Base has been linked to a number of health problems in both veterans and civilians. Service as a military policeman or duty near the base perimeter. 05-18 110. The herbicides were in the very air, he believes. That presumption has been expanded to blue-water Navy veterans. 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 Thank you Thailand veterans for your service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. 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. 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. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam or Korea must provide evidence that they were actually exposed to the herbicide. Here, a short-term evaluation was orchestrated by personnel from Fort Detricks Plant Science Lab in coordination with contract research completed by the United States Department of Agriculture and University of Hawaii sites. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 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. WebThese are the major bases the USAF operated from in Thailand: Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, 19611970 Major USAF Unit: 631st Combat Support Group, 19621970 Because all the perimeters were sprayed with various types of herbicides with dioxin in it. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Weband evacuation missions. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, 1972The National Archives, Health Care Military leadership established training and procedures to establish a uniform standard for the use of herbicide. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. 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. It began as group of individuals who were stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) who wanted to share their experiences and photos from the bases inception in 1961 through its eventual closure in 1975. The 555th TFS of the Air Force performed more than 10,000 combat missions and achieved a 99% success rate on combat missions. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, How To Choose The Right Recoil Spring For Your Tactical Sports Orange Gun. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used to defoliate the thick jungle in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, such as the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Everyone that was on the bases would have been in the spray zone for the herbicides, Flodder said. Or is it 500 feet? But the prospects for those bills is uncertain at this point. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Contact us to speak with an intake specialist for free. With facilities in Cambodia, India, Korea, Laos, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Canada, as well as at sea, Agent Orange was stored at many overseas locationas well as used for testing purposesup until 1970. DOD has confirmed that Agent Orange was also stored or sprayed in the following areas: It has also been alleged that Agent Orange was present in the Panama Canal Zone from the 60s to the early 70s and in Guam from the mid 50s through the 60s. All substantial, physical remains of the substance may have been destroyed, but the terrible legacy of Agent Orange use is still seen in the physical disabilities of those in Vietnam and our US veterans. A Maryland Democrat, David Trone, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has introduced the latter piece of legislation. Agent Orange is a highly toxic, deadly chemical that is a known carcinogen. Agent Orange exposure in Thailand during Vietnam War. The information you obtain on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. The 435th TAW A VA spokeswoman said If enacted, S.657 would expand universal eligibility for veterans who served in Thailand. 2. Typically, the VA looks for evidence of duty near base perimeters or fence lines to establish herbicide exposure. Since that time, we have provided compassionate The Thai government has acknowledged the health risks associated with the use of Agent Orange, and has provided compensation to those affected. You submit a claim, Harmon said. The US used C-123 aircraft to spray the herbicides over the forests of Vietnam during Operation Ranch Hand. Overall, this research involved field tests of different mixtures and formulations of the herbicides produced by chemical industries. Many veterans like Dan Tolly of Tampa who served on those Thai bases are sick. Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. Even though Agent Orange was widely used in nearby countries, veterans who spent time in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia are not granted that presumptive Beyond Vietnam: Other Military Areas Where Agent Orange was Used, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. 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. We have updated our Privacy Policy. The VA presumes that anyone who served in country in Vietnam with boots on the ground anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 was exposed to Agent Orange. WebU.S. Don Muang RTAFB - Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), Official Department of the Air Force Map Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Often fence lines were sprayed to kill vegetation that may have hid the presence of enemy soldiers. In 1966, the Commander U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (COMUSMAV) issued Directive 525-1 (COMUSMAV) which defined how to request aerial spray, power spray, and hand spray in Vietnam. The facility can also serve as an emergency landing if necessary. Thus, the VA assumes your disability resulted from your military service, and you dont have to provide proof or an evidential link between the incident and your disease. Call for immediate help at 401-331-6300 or contact us online. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, The VAs requirement that Thailand veterans prove their military service and experience working on the perimeter was excessive. When evaluating the effectiveness of herbicide mixtures, Agent Orange was used as the standard. This includes those who served at military bases in Thailand, bases where Agent Orange was stored and tested. of Takhli RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of 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. area near the Weapons Storage and Maintenance Area at Ubon RTAFB, Map of the VA Disability Rating for Agent Orange & List of Presumptive Rob Portman is listed as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 657, which would modify the presumption of a service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicides while serving in Thailand. endobj They were relocated to Clark Air Base in the Philippines in April 1972, after a three-month stay in Singapore. Poway, Calif. attorney Amanda Mineer recalled working on one case in which she and her team had to introduce into evidence a photo of a sailor taking a photographic selfie of himself on a ship as that ship crossed the equator, with barrels of Agent Orange nearby, visible in the photo. Bob has been fighting this letter since it came out, Skinner said. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. An aerial application of the herbicide was completed and data was recorded. In order to show a service connection between your disability(ies) and your active duty service, you must show an in-service event that documents your claim. In October 2020, the VA denied Xenia resident and Thailand veteran Paul Skinner compensation for what Skinner believed was Agent Orange exposure, with the Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 635th Security Police Squadron herbicide was used to clear a 100-foot-wide section of the perimeter fence after the attack on U-Tapao. However, before 2010, veterans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War didn't receive that same consideration. According to historical accounts, a squadron in 1971 began spraying herbicide on troublesome plants. But if you did not serve in Vietnam, you still could have been exposed to herbicides such as Agent Orange and get service connected for Agent-Orange related disabilities. Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Map of the Flight Line, perimeter Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 RANCH HAND activities in Thailand necessitate the formation of similar Rules to those in Vietnam. In 1969, the CHECO report looked at similarities between base defense in Vietnam and Thailand. 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 Agent Orange Used on Bases in Thailand The C-123 aircraft that assisted with Operation Ranch Hand Storage and Maintenance, Missle Maintenance Shop at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated The air force is responsible for the defense of Thai airspace and for providing air support to the Thai Army and Navy. It is approximately 488 km According to Mr. Hogstads statement, herbicide use throughout Southeast Asia is also possible during the Vietnam War. 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. Cantonment area at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Nakhon Phanom - A Security Police Sentry Dog Handlers Perspective, Map of h#{mcXuXL] These planes launched from Ubon, Udorn, NKP, and Takhli periodically to conduct missions against specific locations in Laos and Vietnam. Personnel were exposed to Agent Orange at the same time as Vietnam veterans. Webacknowledges the use of tactical herbicides (Agent Orange) on Thai Royal Air Force Bases and Thai Army Bases. 4. revetments near the perimeter wherd AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles were prepared at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Empty Questions sent to the offices of Portman and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton. Im spending out of pocket about $6,000 to $6,500 a year in medications, he said. Testing of 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D and other herbicides in Puerto Rico. The Department of Veterans Affairs response to Agent Orange exposure was ill-informed and made a series of errors. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 area on the South section of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 11 - the routes taken The base was established in 1964, during the Vietnam War, as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force. Skinner said the denial was frustrating. 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. 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. WebAir Force Veterans who 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. 09-42 836, Other VA compensation claim resources on this website, VA Notice of Disagreement (NOD) Delaying VA Claim Decision, VA Compensation Claims Types of Material Evidence, Filing Online VA Compensation Claims with eBenefits, Eight Distinct Steps Most VA Disability Compensation Claims Follow, Sgt Dale Brandenburg Systems Repair Technician. In February 1968, a Igloo White sensor-dropping mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos was launched. If your VA disability claim has been denied, we may be able to assist you. There were also 21 military bases used for storage during the war and up until the time that use of Agent Orange was discontinued in 1971. Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a military installation located in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in northeastern Thailand. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. the Royal Thai Air Force Base side of Bangkok International Airport, more by Sappers at U-Tapao RTAFB, Return to the Batcat Veterans Benefit homepage. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, ischemic heart disease, Hodgkins disease, prostate or respiratory cancer, Parkinsons Disease), it is worth filing a claim for VA benefits, Webinar: Agent Orange and Thailand Veterans. The Veteran asserts that he was exposed to Agent Orange from mid-1971 to mid-1972, while stationed at the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand during the Vietnam War, assigned to the 432 Field Maintenance Squadrons Crash Recovery/Transit Maintenance unit. In an interview, Skinner recalled that he was an aircraft mechanic on F4 Phantom jets while serving in Thailand. 10-43 072. However, documentation and sworn statements by military personnel contradicted that position. document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) PTSD Lawyers | Berry Law Firm.
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