diabetes I Hope That This Will Help Someone Else

[jamescripps2]

Just a little research work that I did in relation to the Agent Orange Committee, hope it helps someone else. Note pages 49 & 50. I worked as a game warden at Fort Gordon in close association with the Forestry Division. 1967-1969. My diseases are chloracne, diabetes, heart failure etc.

http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/reading_room/T...lHerbicides.pdf

Site 21

Location: Fort Gordon, Augusta, Georgia

Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Apalachicola National Forest, Sopchoppy, Florida

Date → July 1967 – October 1967

Activity Description: During the period December 1966 to October 1967, the

newly named “Plant Science Laboratories” at Fort Detrick initiated a comprehensive

short-term project to evaluate desiccants and herbicidal mixtures as rapid-acting

defoliants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate rapid-acting desiccants as

defoliants and to assess the defoliation response of woody vegetation to mixtures of

herbicides and/or desiccants. The criteria for assessment was based principally on

rapidity of action, but included other features such as safety and ease of handling,

compatibility with dissemination systems, and low toxicity to man and wildlife.

The approach to the objective of an improved rapid-acting defoliant involved three

phases: (1) evaluation of commercially available rapid desiccants or contact herbicides;

(2) evaluation of improved formulations of rapid desiccants developed under industry

contacts and by in-house effort; (3) development and evaluation of desiccant-herbicide

mixtures containing the rapid defoliant characteristics with the sustained long-term

effects of Orange and other Tactical Herbicides. The project required an immediate

access to a diversity of woody vegetation. Accordingly, Fort Detrick arranged for test

locations at Fort Gordon near Augusta, Georgia; Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith, Arkansas,

and Apalachicola National Forest near Sopchoppy, Florida.

The Georgia site was described as a warm temperate, humid, moderate rainfall climate

with deep, well-drained sands in rolling topography. The vegetation type was an oakhickory-

pine forest. The Arkansas site was described as a temperate continental,

moderate rainfall climate with fine sandy loam soils in rolling topography. The

vegetation type was an oak-hickory forest. The Apalachicola National Forest site was

described as a subtropical, humid, moderate precipitation climate with sandy soils in a

flat poorly drained topography. The vegetation type was described as a Southern mixed

forest. All sites were selected because of their isolation from any local human

populations, e.g., in Florida, the site was a ridge located in a swamp forest.

Assessment: The desiccants selected for evaluation included Herbicide Blue (a

tactical herbicide), and the commercial desiccants diquat, paraquat, dinitrobutylphenol

50

(DNBP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), hexachloroacetone (HCA), and monosodium

methanearsonate (MSMA), pentachloro-pentenoic acid (AP-20), endothall, and various

mixed formulations of these desiccants. The systemic herbicides included the two tactical

herbicides Orange and White; the potassium salt, triisopropanolamine salts, and the

isooctyl ester of picloram; and, a ethylhexyl ester of 2,4,5-T mixed with HCA. Mixtures

of propanil, nitrophenol, linuron, and silvex were also evaluated. All chemicals were

furnished by Fort Detrick.

Aerial application at these three sites were made with a Bell G-2 helicopter equipped with

two 40-gallon tanks and a 26-foot boom with 6-inch nozzle positions adaptable for

volume deliveries of 3, 6, or 10 gallons per acre in a 50-foot swath. Spray equipment,

pilot, and support were furnished under contract with Allied Helicopter Service of Tulsa,

Oklahoma. Aerial applications were made on duplicate 3-acre plots, 200 by 660 feet in

dimension. A sampling and evaluation trail was established in each plot on a diagonal

beginning at 100 feet from one corner. Major species were marked along 500 feet of this

transect and individual plants were identified by combinations of colored plastic ribbons.

A minimum of 10 individuals of each species was marked unless fewer were present.

Evaluations were made at 1-, 5-, 10-, 30-, and 60-day intervals by experienced Fort

Detrick personnel. At each evaluation period the identical marked individuals of the

major species were rated for defoliation and desiccation. At each location, approximately

475 gallons (~10 drums) of Herbicide Blue, 95 gallons (~2 drums) of Herbicide Orange,

and 6 gallons of Herbicide White were expended.

The assistance of Department of Army forestry personnel at Fort Gordon, Fort Chaffee,

and the 3rd and 4th Army Headquarters were acknowledged in the report for their support

in the selection and preparation of sites in Georgia and Arkansas. The land and facilities

for the Florida tests were provided by the Supervisor, Apalachicola National Forest,

Tallahassee, Florida. Personnel from the Physical Sciences Division, Fort Detrick

assisted in the development of formulations and preparations of field test mixtures. They

also provided the data on the physical characteristics of the candidate tactical defoliants

and mixtures.

Sources: Darrow RA, Frank JR, Martin JW, Demaree, KD, Creager RA (1971): Field

Evaluation of Desiccants and Herbicide Mixtures as Rapid Defoliants. Technical Report

114, Plant Sciences Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland. Document

unclassified but subject to special export control. Available from the Defense

Documentation Center, Accession Number AD 880685.

Pass it along, it is new information.

[mrsvet28]

Many of us know that they had Agent Orange all over the World. They just won't admit to it.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY A PROFESSOR THAT THE SOLDIERS DRANK WATER OUT OF THE BARRELS ON THE COMPOUNDS -- WE HAVE PICTURES OF ORANGE BARRELS IN DANANG OR HUE ON THE COMPOUND

[rthomass]

I have been struggling with the VARO since January 10, 2005; a total of One Thousand -eleven Hundred and eleven days!!!!!!! I am a Vietnam "ERA" Veteran with a VSM & VCM who seved at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand from August 1969 to August 1970. NKP is on the Melkong River 4 miles from a branch of the Ho-chi- Mihn trail and sixty miles from North Vietnam. Twenty four years later after seving for over 20 years I contracted Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was treated for two years by a civilian and Veteran Administration hospital. The treatment has been good but that is high praise when compared with the train wreck the VARO is. Now I am fighting for my life because I have also developed hypertendion and a myexoma tumor in the right atrium of my heart . I have a statement from the Va oncologist that the additional heart tumor is further proof that I have been in contact with Agent Orange. Despite repeated notices to the RO of my serious medical condition they have failed to appreciate the gravity of my situation. To be frank they just are so wrapped up in a mountain of claims one indivisual claim doesn't matter! (Can't see the Trees for The Forest)

In addition the VARO people who answer telephone inquiries will not talk to me because I have retained a civilian lawyer who is as much help as some the Veteran Organizations representing veterans at the local level. A real "Catch 22" if I ever saw one.

Now you ask why I am frustrated ? ........... I could cease to exist in a twinkling of an eye....yet I don't believe the VA or for that matter my Country would even give me a small whimper....for my service to my Country.

As Jesus said "forgive them lord for they know not what they have done"! A nation is only as great as what the citizens and World as a whole perceive the good or bad of deeds it has done.

Edited February 18, 2008 by rthomass

[jamescripps2]

My case is only 985 days old at this point. I guess that I should feel luckey, but I don't. My diseases are Chloracne, which is noted on my service separation exam five months before I got out of the military, and Diabetes 2. Then there are the residuals of the diabetes such as neuropathy, heart failure, pacemaker implant and so on. I have been SS disabled since 1999.

My case is only 985 days old at this point. I guess that I should feel luckey, but I don't. My diseases are Chloracne, which is noted on my service separation exam five months before I got out of the military, and Diabetes 2. Then there are the residuals of the diabetes such as neuropathy, heart failure, pacemaker implant and so on. I have been SS disabled since 1999.

My case is only 985 days old at this point. I guess that I should feel luckey, but I don't. My diseases are Chloracne, which is noted on my service separation exam five months before I got out of the military, and Diabetes 2. Then there are the residuals of the diabetes such as neuropathy, heart failure, pacemaker implant and so on. I have been SS disabled since 1999.

[jamescripps2]

I have no idea as to why the prior post posted three times, sorry about that.

I have no idea as to why the prior post posted three times, sorry about that.

I have no idea as to why the prior post posted three times, sorry about that.

I have no idea as to why the prior post posted three times, sorry about that.

[jamescripps2]

I have re booted and will try once more to post 1 time,again,sorry about that.

I have re booted and will try once more to post 1 time,again,sorry about that.

I have re booted and will try once more to post 1 time,again,sorry about that.

[Berta]

James- if you are an in country Vietnam vet- I caanot imagine WHY your claims are taking so long-

The AO DMII is presumptive -a no brainer for VA-

The chloracne-you do fit into an appatent criteria on the old chloracne regs but I dont know how they would rate that decades after the fact-the DMII and any complications is your strongest claim-

Do you get the SSD for DMII and have you formally applied fir TDIU?

Thailand,Loas, Cambodia and many Korean War vets were exposed to AO but the VA will NOT SC them unless they can prove direct exposure or get an IMO from an environmental specialist -who is also a doctor- that rules out any other etiology but AO for their disability-

at the BVA there are a few cases -very few among thousands were environmental specialists helped non in country vets get AO awards.

One case I posted here somewhere-AO SC for a non-presumptive cancer-the case wont help any vet directly but it shows that often a specialist with environmental expertise can help get an AO award.

It is a very hard road to take-

Kurt has set me his Symposium statement (Sixth Triannual Vietnam Symposium) I havent had time to read it yet-

he is doing all he can to get AO non incountry vets to get proper SC awards.

Have you contacted him yet?

Edited February 18, 2008 by Berta