In an interview, Skinner recalled that he was an aircraft mechanic on F4 Phantom jets while serving in Thailand. Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of Several reports show that Agent Orange and other herbicides were used and stored on numerous Royal Thai Air Force Bases (RTAFB) during the Vietnam War. Proving Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans Who Served in Thailand U.S. military bases in Thailand were some of the first bases established in the Vietnam War theater of operations, and the veterans who served on those bases were just as Nicholas Simpson, Attorney Over the course of a year, we recently lost 100,000 sons, daughters, moms, and dads to drug overdoses. U.S. Army Veteranswho provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Poway, Calif. attorney Amanda Mineer recalled working on one case in which she and her team had to introduce into evidence a photo of a sailor taking a photographic selfie of himself on a ship as that ship crossed the equator, with barrels of Agent Orange nearby, visible in the photo. If military police conducted foot patrols at the perimeter, the situation would have been completely exposed. The chemicals were applied in highly concentrated solutions using a micro-sprayer. BOARD OF VETERANSAPPEALS In addition to being storage areas for Agent Orange, herbicides were used on these Air Force bases to control vegetation along the perimeter of the bases in order to improve visual observation of the perimeter. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Once exposure to Agent Orange has been proven, service connection will be presumed for illnesses that are listed by the VA as being associated with Agent Orange exposure. The use of Agent Orange at Ubon Air Force Base has been linked to a number of health problems in both veterans and civilians. Filing an eClaim for VA disability compensation is the fastest way to get your VA compensation claim processed. Some have won on appeal.. During these operations in Thailand, Sergeant Richard E. Wolf received a letter of commendation for his service. Millions are suffering from mental illness, exacerbated by the pandemic. Korat RTAFB, Brett Watterson sent me this map of Korat RTAFB which he highlighted the full perimeter, Official Department of the Air Force Map Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was known is home to the aircraft boneyard, where retired military aircraft are stored. The first two or three gallons of herbicide were discovered to be leaking from empty herbicide barrels, and the last two or three gallons were discovered to be difficult to drain. the Air Force Map Korat RTAFB above, Official Department of the Air Force Map Agent Orange Used on Bases in Thailand The C-123 aircraft that assisted with Operation Ranch Hand Are you, or someone you know, struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder? <> In order to show a service connection between your disability(ies) and your active duty service, you must show an in-service event that documents your claim. Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (Udorn RTAFB) is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, the home of 23rd Wing Air Command. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Agent Orange Thats our job., Its still essentially a case-by-case basis, Chisholm said. The National Archives only preserved two percent of military records, and herbicide records were not considered important. 1 0 obj Thailand area at Ubon RTAFB, Map of the Munitions The base was established in 1964, during the Vietnam War, as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force. If you served in an area other than Vietnam and you were exposed to Agent Orange, please contact the Berry Law Firm at (888) 883-2483. The PACT Act has added the following five locations and corresponding time periods as presumptive for Agent Orange exposure: Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand. The easiest way to prove this in-service event is with your service records and medical records, if the event is documented. 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Batcat Veterans Benefit, is Additionally, C-123 Aircraft that were used to Since that time, we have provided compassionate The VAs definition of tactical herbicide is arbitrary, irrational, and illegal. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. He claims specifically, that he was exposed to Agent Orange when responding to and handling C-123s managed by special operations groups located on the secured back 40 ramp and Ranch Hand aircraft that landed at his location after spray missions over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.