Blue Vs Brown Water Sailor

[stinger]

I have received a request for verification of Viet Nam service. I was on board minesweepers, I also swept the harbors during Operation End Sweep. We docked in Cam Rahn Bay, but they said this is not considered inland. I was inside the Hai Phong Harbor area quite a bit sweeping the mines,and inland harbors at other times. Is this considered inland for agent orange consideration? The are considering my two heart attacks regarding ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy of both my feet. What may I provide to strengthen my case?

[Berta]

Have you checked the ships lists at Blue Water Navy.org?

"I was inside the Hai Phong Harbor area quite a bit sweeping the mines,and inland harbors at other times." DO you recall names of those inland harbors?

[Berta]

Here is the VA ships list but BWN might have more additions to it:

http://www.legion.org/veteransbenefits/bulletins/5589/va-publishs-lists-blue-water-vessels-operated-inland

“Hai Phong becomes the major center for the inland waterway network thanks to the five navigable rivers running through its terrain, linking most provinces in the northern region and their river ports. This network handles approximately 40% of transported weight of cargo in the north of Vietnam. “

http://www.haiphong.gov.vn/Portal/Detail.aspx?Organization=UBNDTP_En&MenuID=3315&ContentID=13335

Do any of these names mean anything to you?

Pearl River

Lach Tray

Cam River

ROA river

Bach Dang

[Seabee14]

The C&P Bulletins for January 2010 and June 2010 list the current ships, vessels and boats for conceded exposure.

But...

That does not mean research will not show a concession of exposure. Perhaps you anchored in the bay but went ashore on liberty?

Best wishes.

[augoldminer]

I was on the USS Enhance during Endsweep.

I would guess you were on a West Coast Sweep and docked for refueling and to take on fresh water at Johnston island(aka Johnston Atoll).

http://home.earthlink.net/~markinthepacific/id6.html

http://veteransinfo.tripod.com/ao%20johnston%20atoll/johnston_island.pdf

http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/findaids/agentorange/intro.htm

I have had a heart attack with 5 way bypass, ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy of both my feet and hands.I also have autoimmune sarcoidosis.

I never docked in south vietnam as my sweep caught fire in Hai Phong Harbor after a 1 1/2 months and had to be towed back to subic bay for repairs.

I have filed and was denied as they don't recognise Johnston island unless you were stationed there.

There are also questions about agent orange being used at the naval station Guam in the ammo storage area(Fena Lake) that was also the fresh water supply for the main navy base.

http://cybersarges.tripod.com/aoguam.html

http://guamagentorange.info/sanderson_research

[Chuck75]

"We docked in Cam Rahn Bay"

The key here is docked. Anchored in the bay is not considered. VA RO's tend to ignore the difference.

Typically, the VA wants "feet on ground". Perhaps you might have sent a postcard to someone from the Navy facility? Or have a receipt from the exchange for a camera?

At one point, we had similar problems, even with a letter from the captain of the ship I was assigned to.

Finally, after a lot of hassle, The VA recognized both ships I served on as "Brown Water" vessels.

The VA plays similar games with the harbor at Da Nang. Even with a court case or two that went in favor of A.O. claims.

The last I heard, the VA was still fighting about large ships, such as cruisers that provided fire support in Da Nang harbor.

I have received a request for verification of Viet Nam service. I was on board minesweepers, I also swept the harbors during Operation End Sweep. We docked in Cam Rahn Bay, but they said this is not considered inland. I was inside the Hai Phong Harbor area quite a bit sweeping the mines,and inland harbors at other times. Is this considered inland for agent orange consideration? The are considering my two heart attacks regarding ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy of both my feet. What may I provide to strengthen my case?

[jbasser]

May I suggest you contact the JSRRC and attempt to find the deck logs for this Minesweeper. You must give them a date range.

This has helped several vets that I know.

J

Department of the Army

U.S. Army & Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC)

7701 Telegraph Road

Kingman Building, Suite 2C08

Alexandria, Virginia 22315-3802

Telephone number: 703-428-6801

Edited January 2, 2011 by jbasser