Paul Santiago Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Seeing far too many Vietnam Veterans going down due to the effects of Agent Orange. I have a close friend, a big, burly guy, whose nerve endings are dying and his bones are crumbling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speculatorking Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 That's a damm shame. Those guys are all heroes. Tell your buddy we all appreciate his service to our country!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisStock Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I see them everytime I'm at the VA dealing with my own issues. Apparently, someone still didn't get the message and did something similar 20 years after AO. My sympathies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bore Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 My father is having issues with it also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bell Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 My dad is receiving 100% disability due to these issues. He should have been getting these benefits for a lot longer than he has. It is a true feat of perseverance to get through their tangled web of BS to get the proper benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 A guy who was flight engineer on my Navy flight crew had been stationed at Cam Ranh Bay, RVN. He was flying the Market Time patrols. They shared a flight line with the Ranch Hand unit. He said that they had just pumped the stuff into the aircraft with no safety gear and open circuit equipment so you could smell it all the time and spills happened often. Fast forward ~15 years or so and my friend blacks out and collapses at work. After some tests it was found that he had a huge, fast growing brain tumor. He was only 34. There had been zero cancer seen in his family and his parents and grandparents had lived well into their 90's. During his treatment he remembered his exposure back at the Cam Ranh Bay Yacht Club (as he called it) and wondered if that may of been the cause since other stories had already surfaced by then. He was the patriotic type and did not want to cause a big stink but he wanted the government to admit that they might of caused it so he told his wife that she should file an AO claim. After he passed, she did so. I got a call from her one day saying that the claim had been rejected since he had never been in country! This really pissed me off and she was beside he self that she could not get the closure that he wanted. I got together with her to prepare the appeal package that included his DD-214, photos from the squadron cruise book, and his friggin PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION for actions on the Market Time Patrols! The claim as accepted and she got the documentation saying such and a token payment. Small comfort but she was happy to fulfill his wishes. AO is very bad juju. I hope the best for all involved. And for the folks serving today, I hope you all get better treatment in your future. It seems back then, most (not all) everyone wanted vets to just go away... Later, Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snertley Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 (edited) One of my best friends was diagnosed with Multipul Myeloma about 7 years ago and is a Vet Nam vet. It was about 1yr after his diagnosis that he found out he was elegible for VA benifits, he happened to get talking with a guy in a parking lot and that was when the other guy told him about benifits for AO related diseases. It can be a pain in the rear jumping through the VA hoops, but they have taken pretty good care of him. Here is a link he sent to me: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/Herbicide/index.htm It is a lot better now than even 10-12yrs ago when the VA was not even recognizing anything as AO related. If you where in Viet Nam, please check out the list of presumptive illness related to AO. Here is an story about my friend Jim. http://www.vietnow.com/pagesagent/fieb.htm PS: Jim is also a shooter and has taken my son with him to many USPSA matchs when I have had to work, what a great friend. Edited December 7, 2008 by snertley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Conley Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 (edited) I see them everytime I'm at the VA dealing with my own issues. Apparently, someone still didn't get the message and did something similar 20 years after AO. My sympathies I go to the VA every six months for motor/sensory demyelinating polyneuropathy due to chemical exposure during the Gulf War. They classified it as Organophosphate exposure. Pesticides is what most nerve agents are made from and I'm no farmer. Both arms and legs are effected and my toe nails are already dying out on me. I have the deepest sympathies for them also and can't imagine their pain compared to mine. I amazes me how proud they are of their service with no regrets. Chin up, as they limp into the doctors office..... True Heros and they all make me proud to call myself an American!!!! Chris C. Edited December 8, 2008 by Chris Conley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiekittie Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I just lost my father just shy of 4 months ago for this same reason. He developed leukemia from AO exposure and it eventually is what took his life. It really p****s me off that after the years of service he gave as a Marine in Vietnam, his "reward" is a terminal illness that at first the government refused to even admit was their fault. I have so much respect for every veteran living or dead that have selfishly served their country for our freedom. I can only pray that we never forget their sacrifice. I love you Daddy. Rest in Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Santiago Posted December 9, 2008 Author Share Posted December 9, 2008 I just lost my father just shy of 4 months ago for this same reason. He developed leukemia from AO exposure and it eventually is what took his life. It really p****s me off that after the years of service he gave as a Marine in Vietnam, his "reward" is a terminal illness that at first the government refused to even admit was their fault. I have so much respect for every veteran living or dead that have selfishly served their country for our freedom. I can only pray that we never forget their sacrifice. I love you Daddy. Rest in Peace Katie, I'm very sorry for your loss. My sincere thanks to your dad for his service and sacrifice to our country. To those who have friends and loved ones affected by AO, I wish you and them the best and thank them for their service also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiekittie Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I just lost my father just shy of 4 months ago for this same reason. He developed leukemia from AO exposure and it eventually is what took his life. It really p****s me off that after the years of service he gave as a Marine in Vietnam, his "reward" is a terminal illness that at first the government refused to even admit was their fault. I have so much respect for every veteran living or dead that have selfishly served their country for our freedom. I can only pray that we never forget their sacrifice. I love you Daddy. Rest in Peace Katie, I'm very sorry for your loss. My sincere thanks to your dad for his service and sacrifice to our country. To those who have friends and loved ones affected by AO, I wish you and them the best and thank them for their service also. Thank You so very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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