Bureaucracy is failing Blue Water Vietnam veterans

The bureaucracy has also made it difficult for those even with boots on the ground. One of My friend's whom has had a 15 year battle with the VA to get His full disability did at last. Even his Doctor supported His claim. I wrote a letter on His behalf supporting His claim and even the fact We worked a Post approx. 100 feet from the storage area for thousand a barrels of Agent Orange that was sprayed by 12th Special Operations Squadron, "Ranch Hands" from their C123 aircraft. .Agent Orange was also used along the perimeter that both of us worked Post on. I even included a photograph of both of us together at Da Nang in 1968. I also pointed out if the bothered checking they would asl find the Federal Government has spent over 183 Million dollars trying to clean up the Agent Orange problem at that very place. There is no way He should have had to fight so long to get the help and disability level He should have got right away. He even has a daughter that has serious birth defects that also appear to be from His AO exposure. He thanked Me for the letter which He submitted and at last got His 100% disability after this long battle He should NEVER have had to fight. .

It's certainly taken a long time to get these vets their due. Agent Orange was mixed at 50%-50% of chemical and fuel oil prior to its being sprayed. Fuel oil is sticky as are other petrochemicals which aircraft encountered during flight including fluids that leaked and exhaust of other aircraft in their flight groups. These oils and “oily substances” were on virtually every returning aircraft which is what is described in the article. Large patches of jungle, including areas that had been sprayed with Agent
Orange, were sometimes napalmed and the ensuing burning carried particulate matter
previously saturated with Agent Orange high into the atmosphere covering the aircraft who then flew back to the carriers or other land bases.