On Jan. 5th the Patriot-News of Harrisburg published this editorial in support of my call to restore Agent Orange-related benefits to Blue Water Navy vets from the Vietnam War:
Imagine a scenario where veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars begin developing certain cancers far more often than nonveterans. There would likely be a public outcry to aid them, and rightfully so.
Now imagine that the U.S. government agrees to help the ill veterans, but then reverses its policy several years later to help only certain branches of the military.
This scenario is essentially what happened to U.S. Vietnam Navy veterans.
In 1991, Congress passed the Agent Orange Act to give extra medical help and disability payments to Vietnam veterans who developed certain medical conditions. By then, there was a large body of evidence showing that Vietnam veterans were developing cancers and other diseases at a higher rate than others of their generation. While it is difficult to prove a 100 percent connection, it was clear something in Vietnam played a role, and many experts believe it was probably Agent Orange.
But in 2002, the Bush administration reversed the policy for Navy veterans. Veterans Affairs began to make a distinction between Brown Water veterans, whose ships sailed on inland waterways, and Blue Water veterans, who were aboard ships that mainly stayed on coastal areas. Brown Water veterans qualified for Agent Orange-related benefits; Blue Water veterans suddenly did not.
It appeared to be a move to save money. It’s shameful given how much money our government spends that this is the area it targeted for cost cutting.
As Bob Ford of Marysville said in an extensive commentary on the issue in the Sunday Patriot-News, "there should be no such thing as a Brown Water Navy and a Blue Water Navy. It is a red, white and blue Navy. It is our Navy."
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My brother, a Navy vet stationed on the USS MIDWAY in the Gulf of Tonkin VietNam for 13 months in 1973 -1974 has sufferd from multiple incidents of myeloma carcenoma in his lower intestines, upper femur, stomach, heart, and spine from 1999 through 2012. The US government has chosen to disregard his claim for disability compensation of the cancer and also ignored countless additional medical complications toonumerous to mention here. Let's forget the hostile and rude reception he received at home upon his arrival from VietNam. It is a travesty that my brothers life ended after he succumbed to massive cancer tumors only 7 weeks after his 3rd brain surgery. His pain and suffering for the last 3 years of his life was met with denial of benefits and hardship beyond words or human understanding.
ReplyDeletePlease read The IOM REPORT minor Rev. 3 Jan. 2012 (yes'that's minor Rev. 3 Jan. 2012). IT is "A must READ" for all Vietnam Veterans and their Offspring. Please read The 112th Congress Bills...2011-2012...AGENT ORANGE EQUITY ACT...H.R. 812; S.1629; H.R.3612; And, the CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT of December 8, 2011...that severely warned... The Department of veterans Affairs >>> Congress has the Power...TO ENACT... this legislation pursuant to the following: Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 > The Congress shall have Power* * * To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers...VESTED...by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in...ANY...Department or Officer thereof.<><><> The Department of Veterans affairs does not conform to THE IOM REPORT (3 Jan. 2012). The DVA has been sitting on it for months now. The Department of Veterans affairs does not conform to the...VESTED...legislation by Congress.The Department of Veterans Affairs does not conform to "THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING"...the blood sausage agent orange made of my body over the past 43 years.The DVA refused my claim for exposure because SERVICE (treatment) RECORDS do not contain complaints,treatment.or diagnosis.<><><> THE DECISIONS is "A false TRUTH" ; THE DECISION is ridiculous; THE DECISION is nonsense: IT can take 20 to 40 years for symptoms and/or illnesses to surface...after exposed to agent orange.<><><> The IOM REPORT indicates that Dr. "FOOT ON GROUND" and Dr."BOOT ON GROUND" has been fired by The...VESTED...legislation by Congress.
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