Editorial: All Vietnam Navy veterans deserve Agent Orange benefits

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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The 'extras' in my book -- especially the 132 affected Navy Ships

Thanks so much for the very positive response to the excerpt of my book that appeared in today's Harrisburg Patriot News. Some have asked what's in my book that wasn't in the newspaper excerpt...

1. Alphabetical list of the 132 ships (and compliment) that were in Da Nang Harbor and are not on VA list.

2. Details of the tragic case of Bruce Langston, his widow, Florence Langston, and their 10-year battle for benefits.

3. A Tale of Three Ships -- details of the multiple rulings on Da Nang Harbor by VA which have been ignored since 2004.

4.  The widow who couldn't prove her husband left the ship he was never on.

5. Recommendation for creation of the Department of Common Sense.

6. Atmosphere and attitude at VA during Bush Administration.

7. Ken Olsen articles from American Legion Magazine -- an inspiration for my book

8. Latest VA Release of September, 2011, which only adds to the confusion.

Click here to order my Kindle e-book at Amazon and read more about those important issues.  Thanks.