[Blue Water Navy Lawsuit Against Shinseki]

Sorry I've been remiss in keep this thread updated with what's going on as far as Blue Water Navy Sailors and Agent Orange. I'll try be more active.


Commander John Wells filed the lawsuit against Secretary Shinseki in the United States District Court For The District Of Columbia today, August 02 2013.

Press Release:

http://bwsvw.org/forum/attachment.php?aid=51

The Complaint:

http://bwsvw.org/forum/attachment.php?aid=52

[Typhoon Tracking]

I ran across this interesting website. It contains quite a lot of great information but, for Blue Water Sailors, you can track any typhoons you ran through in a given year. Obviously, the storms of interest would be the ones that traveled into and through Vietnam. There's no doubt the sea and seabed would have been heavily roiled and any dioxin laden material would have been suspended in the water for quite a long time and who knows how far it would have traveled. I wish I'd seen this site while my claim was still at the VARO, or at least, the BVA. It would certainly add ammunition to go with the RAN study and the ensuing IOM confirmation of that RAN study.
There were, for instance, 26 in '70, 36 in '71 and 31 in '72, the years I spent full tours. My short stint over there in '73 had none in the 45 days I was there.

[Agent Orange: Townhall Meeting; Mooresville Nc]

daklander - My brother in law is a Vietnam Vet and truly one of my heroes. I would like to learn more about AO but I am a vet of the Gulf War, OIF/OEF. Not sure how large this facility is and I don't want to take anyone's seat but do you think anyone would mind if I attended?

Thanks,

LC

LC, that should not be a problem since the meeting is open to the public. I'd just be there early to make sure you have a seat.

If you want to learn more about Agent Orange as it relates Navy Vietnam Vets, check out the documents/repositories at BWSVW.org and bluewaternavy.org. Both sites' primary goal is getting Agent Orange presumptions restored for the Blue Water Navy. Between the two sites' Documents and Libraries there are thousands of documents related to Agent Orange.

[4,218 Ship's Logs]

Now Over 6000.

I've linked to a list of the ships listed in the NARA Archives that have deck logs uploaded. If your ship is on the list and the dates fit your needs, go to the NARA site and download the deck logs. It will save you money.

Download the latest list here:
http://bwsvw.org/forum/attachment.php?aid=59
Click the new tab at the bottom to see the latest additions to the last list.

[Agent Orange: Townhall Meeting; Mooresville Nc]

[New Agent Orange Information Fort Dietrich Maryland]

You have to consider all the career military who were in Vietnam at one time or other. They many have been in the 30's or even 40's when they served. I think most of the 19 year olds are probably still alive, but I wonder when I read obits in my town. The 850,000 number is for "boots on the ground" Nam vets that I have heard often. I could be wrong and would not be unhappy if someone proves me wrong. The AO exam I got was pretty good. The doctor acted almost like an advocate. He wrote down three conditions he said were probably related to exposure to AO: DMII, PN and chronic pain from nerve damage. I still have the note he sent me If I can find it. I got it done in 2001 I think just for the hell of it.

John

The 850,000 number was the original number the DVA originally used for the number of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans to inflate the cost of a restoration of presumption and benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. They used the 850,000 number with 100% still alive, 100% submitting claims, 100% approved at a 100% rating and a 1st year cost of about $28 Billion and a 10 year cost of about $203 Trillion. The number was later dropped to 512,000 which was still too high. Last session the two restoration acts used the number of 253,000 and while still too high is an acceptable number as long as the VA accounts for the number of Veterans who became presumed due to being on a Blue Water Vessel that traveled into brown water and the death rate. Using that number of 253,000 and using the standard percentages of claimants, approvals and ratings as well as the death rate and those who are deemed exposed due to brown water service, the 1st year cost, including any Nehmer claims is under $2.75 Billion with a 10 year cost of about $940 Billion.

Here are the numbers from the DoD

TOTAL ARMY AIR FORCE MARINES NAVY

NUMBER SERVING SOUTHEAST ASIA** 3,403,000 2,276,000 385,000 513,000 229,000

NUMBER SERVING SOUTH VIETNAM** 2,594,000 1,736,000 293,000 391,000 174,000

[Dic If Deceased Vet Never Tested For Ao?]

........

Advocates have been working relentlessly on this bill-the Agent Orange Equity Act- and COngressman Filner said after Jan 2010 it will be in committee.

Still we dont know if the bill would cover all Thailand veterans, Guam vets etc etc- the bill has been posted here for all to read.

It grew out of the Blue Water Navy veterans attempt to get their exposure to AO in the 7th fleet etc during the war recognized as actual exposure to AO.

........

Berta, according to the last video I saw from Congressman Filner, HR2254 is supposed to come out of committee this month, I believe his statement was early 2010.

The main criteria for TLC Veterans is going to the the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

SUMMARY!

Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 - Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam, for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam, such Republic's inland waterways, ports, and harbors, waters offshore, and airspace above. Includes as veterans eligible for such presumption those who: (1) served on Johnston Island during the period beginning on April 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977; or (2) received the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Keep in mind many of the Blue Water Navy Veterans were, more likely than not, contaminated by TCDD via the water distillation process used on Naval Vessels at that time. The IOM has finally accepted the RAN report regarding the distillation process and resultant concentration of dioxins in ship board water.