jrfrog

Hello, all, PLEASE help me stop the disinformation and Urban Myth that has grown up around the release of the "inland waters" ship list. Ships that sailed on inland waters have ALWAYS been eligible for presumption of exposure. They were inside of Vietnam the same as boots on ground was. They are covered by the AO Act of 1991. The VA is bringing this out as a new and gracious allocation for the Blue Water Navy. NOT! Brown water sailors have always been eligible, as have ocean going ships that went up rivers and tributaries deep enough to hold them. This is a move on the part of the VA to make it look like they are handling some of the problems of the Blue Water Navy. NOT. They are desperate to convince Congress that they don't need to codify what is in the proposed legislation H2254 and S1939. They are running scared. And everyone is falling for it, hook, line and sinker. The VA has NOT granted any presumption of exposure to Blue Water ships that were "close to shore" and as of today, they don't intend to.... they are NOT working on any such list. In fact, the VA has proclaimed that Ports and Harbors don't fall into the definition of inland waters (despite what the BVA ruled and what many of the Regional Office are ruling. They are doing that against the directives of VA Hqtrs. and I say GOOD FOR THEM!) The VA is working on adding ships to the list of inland water awards. Blue Water Navy Association has submitted about 45 documented ships that comply with the requirements of being on inland waters, and I'll bet there are 100 more (even same ship, different WESTPAC). But there are 2 or less people working on this inside the VA, so there is no telling when an updated list will be released. If you think your ship should be on that list, submit your claim immediately, providing as much documentation (like statements from Cruise Books) as you possibly can. The VA is not doing anybody any favors. When was the last time that happened?

The last "official" word, directly from Bradley Mayes, is that ports, harbors, bays or other such areas are NOT considered to be IN VIETNAM for purposes of herbicide exposure. That's why the push for the legislation was/is so critical.