[agent orange sprayed on Alaska Pipeline-Ft. Wainwright]

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 9:10 AM, Berta said:

I also found email from a lawyer who contacted me via hadit many  years ago, to see if I could help with his first CAVC case, which involved proving exposure to Agent Orange.(Alaska-repaired Bird Dogs )

He wrote:

"Wow! Thank you for this update. My involvement with the vet that led me to connect with you back in 2009 ended several years ago, following my pro bono involvement and the grant of remand. I tried to keep in touch and assist him in the process following remand. Even helped ghost write a couple letters to move his remanded claim off of dormancy. But, I never heard the final result. I still wonder what became of him and his claim His claim was not as clear or direct in terms of exposure as this ruling you forwarded on the post-war C-123s. My claimant's matter was aircraft related, but his claim was that certain 0-1 "Bird Dog" planes he worked on in Alaska, that had been sent there for repairs, had been used in herbicide spraying operations. The VA maintained that the 0-1 was only used as a forward air control spotter plane, and that they had never found any evidence or record of the 0-1 being used in Vietnam for AO or other herbicide spraying. They in fact maintained that the 0-1 could not have been used for spraying, but I did find actual manufacturer manuals and related literature that showed that the aircraft did in fact have an optional configuration for spraying. But, never could find any evidence or anecdote of one being actually used in Vietnam for spraying. In fact, every 0-1 vet I could find said, to a man, they'd never heard of or seen an 0-1 used for spraying. It is encouraging however to finally see the acknowledgement, as noted in this ruling you sent me, that exposure could and did come from a lot more paths and methods of exposure than first hand. Thanks again. Kudos to you and all those who continue to press for what is right for these vets. -- Randy Holliday"

I wonder after all these years, if the veteran succeeded on remand and was awarded at the regional level.If so, we will never know.

However the point I have made is clear here as well....

I was a student pilot and knew this plane the lawyer's client referred to ,was as small as the ones I took flying lessons in Pipers or cessna 152s and could not  possibly hold AO spraying equipment and containers of AO.

You definitely need to  prove that the helicopters he worked on were used in Vietnam to spray AO or, by the fact they were on ground and in air - Vietnam as well for refueling,so  that , as Wes Carter proved, the helicopter (and it's pilots) were exposed to AO from a contaminated aircraft.

 

 

I have a picture showing a Huey that crashed in Viet Nam with AO aboard.  A passenger on this Huey stated it actually was a Huey and that he had been covered by AO.  I have a poster published by the VA showing a Huey spraying over a field in Viet Nam.  I do not know how to contact any members of his unit.  He was in trans med helicopter, 19th Aviation Battalion.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[agent orange sprayed on Alaska Pipeline-Ft. Wainwright]

I have attempted to locate anyone from his unit but with no success.  He was with  trans med helicopter unit 19rh aviation battalion.  He served from October 1966 to May 1968 when he was discharged.  He was in Alaska during the great earthquake on June 28, 1967 and the great floods 2 weeks or so later.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[agent orange sprayed on Alaska Pipeline-Ft. Wainwright]

On ‎9‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 2:47 PM, Berta said:

I Searched for Ft Wainwright Agent Orange and your past post at the  VBN came up.

Also 3 BVA decision, one denied and two on remand.

 

In one remand BVA stated:

 

“Here, the information regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure from all of the identified aircraft (OH-13, U6A, "Caribou" and O-1) should be forwarded to the JSRRC for additional research.

 

If this additional development confirms that the Veteran an worked on aircraft used in dispersing herbicides, then the claims file should be forwarded to an appropriate VA examiner for an opinion as to the relationship, if any, between the Veteran's work on these aircraft and his currently diagnosed diabetes mellitus.”

 

The remand further states:

“ 2.  If the JSRRC or other appropriate agency requests more specific descriptions of the Veteran's herbicide exposure, notify the Veteran and request that he provide the necessary information.  If the Veteran provides additional information, forward it to the requesting agency.

 

3.  If, and only if, it is found that the Veteran worked on aircraft involved in spraying tactical herbicides during service, the RO/AMC should refer the case to an appropriate VA examiner for an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and his potential exposure to herbicides.  The claims folder, including a copy of this remand, must be made available to the examiner.  The examiner must, in light of the service and post-service medical evidence of record determine whether it is at least as likely as not that diabetes mellitus is due to or the result of the Veteran's potential exposure to tactical herbicides in service.”

https://www.va.gov/vetapp11/files3/1120808.txt

 

I did some searcheds and found the OH-13 the veteran worked on was used for reconnaissance , but the “Casper Platoon” Oh-13 also had a twin machine gun system and nickname of  “Hot Stuff”

 

The O-1 ( Bird Dog) was a fixed wing small  plane  and primarily used for reconnaissance in Vietnam.

 

What exact type of helicopter did your husband work on?

 

I didn’t look up the other two types of aircraft the BVA vet mentioned, but this is what JSRRC will do…they will seek if the type of helicopter your husband worked on had anything to do with spraying missions.

 

Has he attempted to find any other veterans who also had AO presumptives and his same MOS, who might have had success with a claim like this? His unit is surely on line.

Wes Carter ( C 123 vets) did an extraordinary amount of research to get these planes recognized as exposed to AO.  Also we have had one or two Ft Wainwright veterans here- they can be searched for under a hadit search.

I have only seen one award of AO compensation to a vet who served in Alaska. The award came from the AMC and it is not public.

I assume this vet served directly with the Army Corps of Engineers when they sprayed a specific area on the pipeline long ago. 

It would be good to narrow down the type of helicopter and then search for whether it was used for spraying in Vietnam.

My husband worked on the UH 1 Huey and yes they were used.  I have pictures from my research actually showing a Huey crashing carrying a barrel of agent orange on board with the veteran stating the type of helicopter and that he had been covered with the agent orange.  I also have a copy of a poster printed by the VA showing a Huey spraying AO in Viet Nam stating that any veteran who felt he had been exposed to these chemicals should contact the VA.  Even with  this, they are still fighting tooth and nail.  I assume because it would open another can of worms should the claim be awarded merit.  I spoke with other 2 claims and they have helped me greatly.

[agent orange sprayed on Alaska Pipeline-Ft. Wainwright]

My husband spent 18 months at Ft Wainwright Fairbanks Alaska 1967 - 68..  I have obtained reports from the 2 Indian Tribes where the US government admitted to spraying  Agent Orange on Pipeline.  I have report from DEC in Alaska where Corps of Engineers admit to spraying in Alaska.  I am trying to locate anyone who may have claims approved for this same area.  I now am looking for anyone at Ft. Wainwright who may have served during this same era who may have any pictures of storage of agent orange on base or pictures of the bare pipeline.  I forgot to mention that I also have letters from the US Army to the Canadian government outlining the spraying of agent orange.  Any info would be appreciated or if anyone can put me in contact with veterans from Ft. Wainwright serving during the same time as my husband.  He was a helicopter mechanic who worked on some of the Hueys returning from Viet nam which had been used for spraying agent orange.  Any help???? 

[agent orange Alaska]

My husband was stationed at Fort Wainwright Alaska.  The Haines Fairbank pipeline was sprayed with agent orange according to my research.  Letters were written from US Army to Canadian officials asking permission to spray pipeline that ran through Canada.  We have filed a claim but I feel it is going to be denied because no claims have been won for Alaska.  These letters surfaced late in 2002 according to DEC.  I really need a copy of these letters.  Does anyone out there know how to go about this.  I have contacted DEC by phone but my call has not been returned.  Any help?????  By the way, my husband has ischemic heart disease, Parkinsonism Symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy.  He is confined to a wheel and has no use of his arms and now his voice is going.  Thanks for ANY help.