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Updated 01 February 2012

VA Blue Water Claims Update 10:

SK2-Stew68-70 8 posts Jan 31, 2010 4:14 PM	VA Blue Water Claims Update 10: The VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service has initiated a program to collect data on Vietnam naval operations for the purpose of providing regional offices with information to assist with development in Haas related disability claims based on herbicide exposure from Navy Veterans. To date, they have received verification from various sources showing that a number of offshore “blue water” naval vessels conducted operations on the inland “brown water” rivers and delta areas of Vietnam. They have also identified certain vessel types that operated primarily or exclusively on the inland waterways. The ships and dates of inland waterway service are listed below. If a Veteran’s service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through military records during the time frames specified, then exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further development: • All vessels of Inshore Fire Support [IFS] Division 93 during their entire Vietnam tour a.) USS Carronade (IFS 1) b.) USS Clarion River (LSMR 409) [Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket] c.) USS Francis River (LSMR 525) d.) USS White River (LSMR 536) • All vessels with the designation LST [Landing Ship, Tank] during their entire tour [WWII ships converted to transport supplies on rivers and serve as barracks for brown water Mobile Riverine Forces] • All vessels with the designation LCVP [Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel] during their entire tour • All vessels with the designation PCF [Patrol Craft, Fast] during their entire tour [Also called Swift Boats, operating for enemy interdiction on close coastal waters] • All vessels with the designation PBR [Patrol Boat, River] during their entire tour [Also called River Patrol Boats as part of the Mobile Riverine Forces operating on inland waterways and featured in the Vietnam film “Apocalypse Now”] • USS Ingersoll (DD-652) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, OCT 24-25, 1965] • USS Mansfield (DD-728) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River AUG 8-19, 1967 and DEC 21-24, 1968] • USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849) [Destroyer] [Operated on coastal inlet north of Da Nang, JUN 2-5, 1966, protecting Marines holding a bridge] • USS Basilone (DD-824) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, MAY 24-25, 1966] • USS Hamner (DD-718) [Destroyer] [Operated on Song Lon Tao and Long Song Tao Rivers, AUG 15-SEP 1, 1966] • USS Conway (DD-507) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, early AUG 1966] • USS Fiske (DD-842) [Destroyer] [Operated on Mekong River, JUN 16-21, 1966] • USS Black (DD-666) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, JUL 13-19, 1966] • USS Providence (CLG-6) [Cruiser, Light, Guided Missile] [Operated on Saigon River 3 days during JAN 1964] • USS Mahan (DLG-11) [Guided Missile Frigate] [Operated on Saigon River OCT 24-28, 1964] • USS Okanogan (APA-220) [Attack Transport] [Operated on Saigon River JUL 22-23, 29-30, 1968 and AUG 5-6, 1968] • USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) [Combat Stores Ship] [Unloaded supplies on Saigon River and Cam Rahn Bay, APR 22-25, 1968]. Also, Cam Ranh Bay is a qualifying location for "inland waterway" service. If you served on any of those vessels during the times specified, you will be granted, without further development and delay, a presumptive exposure to herbicides for the purpose of health care and monetary compensation. Note: This list is not complete. If you served on a ship that entered the inland waterways of Vietnam, please contact navy@bluewaternavy.org with as much detail as possible so they can provide this information to the DVA for processing and inclusion in their data base[Source: Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin Jan 2010 Policy 211 My response was: USS Mars AFS-1 blue water ship? From: kenneth stewart (kenneth_1513@msn.com) Sent: Sun 1/31/10 7:01 PM To: navy@bluewaternavy.org 3 attachments \| Download all attachments (3.6 MB) USS Mars ...jpg (1002.4 KB), USS Mars ...jpg (1321.9 KB), USS Mars ...jpg (1400.7 KB) I served onboard the USS Pollux (AKS-4) (Combat Stores Ship) from Sep 1968 through Dec 1968. During that period we furnished supplies to all ships and many of the River Squadrons in VIETNAM. We anchored in DaNang Harbor and Cam Rahn Bay and at the mouth of rivers to transfer cargo the the ships and river squadron boats. I served onboard the USS Mars (AFS-1) (Combat Stores Ship) from Dec 1968 through May 1970. During that period we furnished supplies to all ships and many of the River Squadrons in VIETNAM. Every four to six weeks we anchored at various harbors and River mouths. We anchord inside DaNang harbor while our two helocopters transfered supplies to the ships and bases there. Then we would head north anchor at the mouths of rivers so the River Squadron boat would tie up to us and receive cargo to take back up river with them. We would go into Cam Ranh Bay and transfer cargo to the ships and base there. Then go up to Yankee Station and supply the Carrier Groups. We supplied all the ships on the gun line during "Market Time". Both ships were home ported in Yokosuka Japan. While the USS Pollux was being decommissioned in Japan I was transfered to the USS Mars. During the next six or seven months the USS Mars was the only Combat Stores Ship providing general cargo consisting of repair parts, clothing, food and consumables to the Market Time and Blue Water ships on the gun line and River Squadrons in Vietnam. The USS Mars (AFS-1) was finally relieved by the USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3). The attachments are from the USS Mars (AFS-1) 1970 cruise book titled "Mars: Its Mission and Men". They show some of the River Squadron boats receiving cargo while tied up along side the anchored USS Mars. Two of the pages show the crew on shore at a ships party in An Thoi Vietnam. SKCS (SW) Kenneth W. Stewart USN (ret) ---------- SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5 Dec 68-May 70 Last Edited on 15-Feb-2010 8:16 PM
bbedwards 1 post Feb 02, 2010 10:20 AM	Thanks alot Stew for your efforts on getting different ships on this important list. For the record I have Diabetes 2 and Squamous cell cancer. These are the two that are on the list for Agent Orange plus I would receive spray from the helicopters during Vertrep as I was the Lifebuoy Watch during UNREPS. Once again thanks alot.
James Roy Emmons 13 posts Feb 02, 2010 2:48 PM	Stew, James Emmons CS-2 here, I have the cruse book "Mars 7 plus 1" and page 41, Tells of being held fast by masonry, (PIER) @ First naval Support Facility and then, tying up to Pier at Naval Communications Station inside of Cam Ranh Bay March of 1971. Doesn't this count?? PAGE: 53 -- (Mars Seven plus 1) Explains how we entered the "Muddy river waters of Vung Tau with our bow bisecting its waves". Enroute, we rendezvoused with destroyers on gunfire support stations until we finally navigated the treacherous Vung Tau Bay and ANCHORED.THIS WAS IN APRIL OF 1971 Last Edited on 2-Feb-2010 2:51 PM
SK2-Stew68-70 10 posts Feb 02, 2010 4:30 PM	James Roy Emmons: According to the article above any visit into Cam Ranh Bay is considered a qualifying location for "inland waterway" service under the presumed exposure as it is considered (in country). I believe you need to scan those pages and send them as an attachment to an email to navy@bluewaternavy.org just like I did. The more proof they have over time the better. I left the Mars before this time frame so it will not help me but will help others who served on board the Mars during that period who are at war with the VA. Anyone having other quarterdeck log sheets, cruise books or letters from the CO or any other proof that the Mars entered or anchored in any harbor or river needs to post it here or at least send it to navy@bluewaternavy.org as proof we were there and exposed. We cannot provide too much proof. Maybe we can have those pages entered on the Articles pages of this site. ---------- SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5 Dec 68-May 70 Last Edited on 2-Feb-2010 7:15 PM
James Roy Emmons 15 posts Feb 02, 2010 7:18 PM	SKCS Stew where are you I am in Sacramento Ca, if you have a fax machine I can fax the pages or the whole cruse book. My fax # (916)392-2022 Cell # (916)717-2953 Last Edited on 2-Feb-2010 7:42 PM
SK2-Stew68-70 11 posts Feb 02, 2010 7:44 PM	James Emmons: I sent an email directly to you moments ago. I am in Inverness Fl. I can be reached 352-419-0207. ---------- SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5 Dec 68-May 70 Last Edited on 5-Feb-2010 10:16 PM
SK2-Stew68-70 15 posts Feb 13, 2010 1:26 PM	I sent this second email to them in order to provide the specific time periods the ships were in the war zone. However I also wanted to alert them to have the VA do full research on each ship not just for one claim. We all know that any AKS or AFS and probably AF's entered harbors and rivers to pass cargo. You might notice on one of the other messages on this board the Niagra Falls is listed for a few days all in one week for a visit into Cam Ranh bay. That would emply it was the only time she went there to me and that has to be wrong. FW: USS Mars AFS-1 blue water ship? From: kenneth stewart (kenneth_1513@msn.com) Sent: Sat 2/13/10 4:22 PM To: navy@bluewaternavy.org Attachments: 3 attachments \| Download all attachments (3.6 MB) USS Mars ...jpg (1002.4 KB), USS Mars ...jpg (1321.9 KB), USS Mars ...jpg (1400.7 KB) I am processing a claim with the VA connected to Exposure to Agent Orange. The VA claims I am not eligible due to not being in country Vietnam. The unfair and illogical "VA boots on the ground policy" is causing this problem. I served on board the USS Pollux AKS-4 and the USS Mars AFS-1. Both ships repeatedly entered various harbors and rivers to distribute cargo to ships, river squadrons and shore bases in Vietnam. This email is for the specific periods I was their, however, the VA should be required to research all years that the Pollux and Mars were there not just while I was on board. These and all MSLF vessels which supplied the gun lines and harbors of Vietnam should be researched to determine eligibility not just the dates for a single claim. All AKS and AFS ships that were in Vietnam went into harbors and rivers in the routine execution of their duties. The VA informed me of the specific dates, listed below, I was in the combat zone of Vietnam. However the VA did not investigate if the ships entered any harbors or rivers which would qualify as in country. I would like someone to verify from review of any deck log pages which state the USS Pollux AKS-4 or the USS Mars AFS-1 entered or anchored in a harbor or river during the dates I listed below. Examples of Harbors we entered are An Thoi, Cam Ranh Bay or Da Nang and rivers in support of the river squadrons. USS Pollux AKS-4 10/05/68-------10/22/68 18 days USS Mars AFS-1 12/18/68---------------- 1 day 12/30/68-------01/13/69 15 days 01/26/69-------02/05/69 11 days 03/17/69-------03/24/69 7 days 03/31/69-------04/16/69 17 days 04/20/69-------04/26/69 7 days 06/02/69-------06/17/69 16 days 07/23/69-------07/30/69 8 days 08/03/69-------08/20/69 18 days 10/14/69-------10/27/69 14 days 12/03/69-------12/19/69 17 days 02/10/70-------02/21/70 12 days 02/26/70-------02/27/70 2 days 03/04/70-------03/19/70 16 days SKCS (SW) Kenneth W. Stewart USN (ret) ---------- SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5 Dec 68-May 70 Last Edited on 13-Feb-2010 1:38 PM
Darryl W 11 posts Apr 02, 2010 8:25 PM	I found the following listed with "Blue Water" ships that served on the inland waterways of Vietnam (in "brown water"). It says this about the USS Niagara Falls: NO ports or harbors will be considered inland waters for the purpose of presumptive herbicide exposure'. The mention of Cam Ranh Bay was apparently just poor wording and is not intended to imply that Cam Rahn Bay was the reason for listing of USS Niagara Falls. They did say that the USS Mars has already been submitted and that if you have any of the presumptive diseases from herbicide exposure, you should file your claim immediately. They said that most Regional Offices haven't heard of the new Program. They suggest that you request your cliam be submitted directly to Bradley Mayes, the Director for Compensation Services. This is going to help me and I hope anyone that reads this. D Wetzell BM2 1965-67
Darryl W 21 posts Dec 02, 2010 12:30 AM	THIS NEW LIST INCLUDES THE SHIP THAT I WAS TRANSFERRED TO FROM THE MARS. IF YOU SERVED ON ANOTHER SHIP AND ARE TRYING TO FILE AN AGENT ORANGE CLAIM, YOU WILL WANT TO LOOK AT THIS. HOPE THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE. USDVA Issues List Of Ships That Qualify For Presumptive Agent Orange Exposure VA Blue Water claims Update (Federal Update for July 12-16, 2010) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) has added the below named ships to the already existing list for Navy and Coast Guard ships and vessels that are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. If you serve on any of these mentioned ships and you have had a claim denied, you should reapply citing the VA list as the source for your reapplication. NAUS advises that the VA is already working on a third list that will have more ships listed. If you have a claim and evidence the ship you served on was in Vietnamese waters and/or actually tied up to a dock there, make sure you include that with your claim. Vessels that operated primarily or exclusively on the inland waterways: All U.S. Coast Guard Cutters with hull designation WPB [patrol boat] and WHEC [high endurance cutters] USS Mark (AKL-12) [light cargo ship] USS Brule (AKL-28) USS Patapsco (AOG-1) [gasoline tanker] USS Elkhorn (AOG-7) USS Genesee (AOG-8) USS Kishwaukee (AOG-9) USS Tombigbee (AOG-11) USS Noxubee (AOG-56) USS Okanogan (APA-210) [attack transport] USS Montrose (APA-212) USS Bexar (APA-237) USS Benewah (APB-35) [self-propelled barracks ship] USS Colleton (APB-36) USS Mercer (APB-39) USS Nueces (APB-40) Barracks Barge (APL-26 [sleeping quarters] Barracks Barge (APL-30) USS Tutuila (ARG-4) [repair ship] USS Satyr (ARL-23) [ repair ship] USS Sphinx (ARL-24) USS Askari (ARL-30) USS Indra (ARL-37) USS Krishna (ARL-38) USS Belle Grove (LSD-2) [landing ship dock] USS Comstock (LSD-19) USS Tortuga (LSD-26) USS Asheville (PG-84) [patrol gunboat] USS Gallop (PG-85) USS Antelope (PG-86) USS Ready (PG-87) USS Crockett (PG-88) USS Marathon (PG-89) USS Canon (PG-90) Floating Base Platform (YRBM-17) [repair, berthing, and messing barge] Floating Base Platform (YRBM-18) Floating Base Platform (YRBM-20) Winnemucca (YTB-785) [harbor tug] Vessels that operated temporarily on Vietnam's inland waterways or docked to the shore: USS Card (ACV-11) [escort carrier] [mined, sunk, and salvaged in Saigon River Harbor during May 1964] USS Maury (AGS-16) [mapping survey ship] [conducted surveys of Mekong Delta and other coastal areas and rivers beginning November 1965 through 1969] USS Henrico (APA-45) [amphibious attack transport] [operated on Hue River during March 1965 and conducted numerous troop landings through March 1967] USS Montrose (APA-212) [operated on Song Hue River during December 1965, operated on Long Tau River during March 1967, and operated on Cua Viet River and at Dong Ha during May 1967] USS Talladega (APA-208) [operated on Saigon River during October 1967] USS Bolster (ARS-38) [salvage ship] [crew operated on land] USS Canberra (CAG-2) [guided missile cruiser] [operated on Saigon River from March 31 through April 1, 1966, on Cua Viet River during December 15, 1966, and on Mekong Delta Ham Luong River during January 15, 1967] USS Sproston (DD-577) [destroyer] [operated on Mekong Delta and Ganh Rai Bay during January 1966] USS Picking (DD-685) [operated on Saigon River during November 16, 1965] USS Epperson (DD-719) [docked to Da Nang Pier on October 4, 1970] USS Southerland (DD-743) [operated on Song Nga Bay and Saigon River during July 1966] USS John W. Thomason (DD-760) [operated on Nga Be River during 1969] USS Buck (DD-761) [operated on Mekong River Delta and Saigon River during October 1966] USS Preston (DD-795) [operated on Mekong River Delta, Ganh Rai Bay, and Saigon River during September 28-29 and December 27-29, 1965] USS Warrington (DD-843) [operated on Mekong River Delta Rung Sat Special Zone, North of Vung Gahn Rai Bay during March 1967] USS Dyess (DD-880) [operated on Saigon River and Rung Sat Special Zone from June 19 - July 1, 1966] USS Perkins (DD-877) [operated on Saigon River during June 1969] USS Orleck (DD-886) [operated on Mekong River Delta during July 1969] USS Joseph Stauss (DDG-16) [guided missile destroyer] [operated on Mekong River Delta and Ganh Rai Bay during November 7 and December 7, 1968] USS Waddell (DDG-24) [operated on Cua Viet River during March 1967] USS Newell (DER-322) [radar destroyer escort] [docked at Port of Nha Trang during December 22-24, 1965] USS Duluth (LPD-6) [amphibious transport dock] [docked to Pier at Da Nang during March and October 1971] USS Cleveland (LPD-7) [operated on Cua Viet River and at Dong Ha, as well as Hue River, from November 1967 through 1968 and Saigon River during September 1969] USS Dubuque (LPD-8) [docked at Da Nang on March 15, 1970] USS Boxer (LPH-4) [amphibious assault ship] [docked to Pier at Cam Rahn Bay on September 9, 1965] USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) [landing ship dock] [operated on Cua Viet River and at Dong Ha during December 1967]
graphics.guy 8 posts Dec 22, 2010 1:33 PM	Nice list of Naval Ships but not one MSC or MSO or the Epping Forest MCS 7 noted & having served on the USS Whippoorwill MSC 207 which in 4 years hit every harbor in Nam & wonder what the orange stuff was that was in the water. Plus sitting in Da Nang aboard the Epping Forest. Then the USS Mars as noted. My claim was refused. Last Edited on 22-Dec-2010 1:35 PM
Darryl W 23 posts Jan 11, 2011 12:36 AM	Graphics Guy, I just sent this email to "Blue Water": Rossie, just wanted to know if any MSC or MSO ships are going to be added to the brown water service list, such as the USS Epping Forest MCS 7, or the USS Whippoorwill MSC 207? Thanks, Darryl... They should reply to me within 24 hours and i'll post the results. I'm sure these ships will be listed sooner or later. I can remember seeing the MSCs and MSOs all the time in Vietnam waters.
Darryl W 24 posts Jan 11, 2011 1:39 PM	Grafics Guy; (David C. Reed). Here's the reply from BlueWaterNavy.org, received today 1/11/2011: Darryl, Conflict, Inflict, and Fortify have been submitted. I would really appreciate your help in getting the others listed. It doesn't happen automatically and involves a bit of work. I think you MSO and MSC guys have an Association. I'm going to paste the Instructions below. You could turn your claim into the VA but it would go into a queue that is getting longer.... UNLESS someone else has already turned your ship's Deck Logs in. The VA won't let us see their internal list of all ships they've granted (denying access to the Senate Veterans Committee and Akaka's Office), so it's a shot in the dark. My advice is to do the homework for them, and then you'll know it's been done right. Please let me know if you have any questions. Remember, the ONLY thing the DVA is intrested in seeing if INLAND WATER SERVICE and possibly tying up to a dock in any port. But just being in the port won't count for anything. -Rossie The DVA is currently granting the crew of all ships that had Inland Water Service eligibility for benefits under the full 'presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam,' if that ship can prove is was on the inland waters, which is defined as any point inland from the mouth of a river or canal. Any presence in ports, bays or harbors, or any proximity to the shoreline is not being considered as qualifying for these benefits. There are actually several things that need to be done to prove a ship's Inland Water Service. You could leave it up to the VA to look for and find this information, but we conclude it can be much faster and 'correctly' accomplished prior to submission of claim. If you wish, you can just leave everything up to the VA - but just think of their track record in getting done correctly. The only evidence the VA will accept would be official documents. The Cruise Books would be the easiest to get hold of. Generally the Captain or the XO made a statement about 'how much fun we had' on any particular WESTPAC and usually mentions being up rivers, etc. Also in the cruise books, there are often photos which have printed descriptions, and some of those mention and show duty on inland water. It is not the photo the VA will rely on, it will be the written statement of what the photo represents. Personal photos or movies are not accepted, nor are buddy letters, etc. If Cruise Books is available to review, you might be able to find information that way. We began this project under the assumption that the Cruise Book information would be all that was needed. Sometimes a particular Regional Office will require only that. But to be certain of getting a ship into the internal DVA database, the Deck Logs need to be submitted, as the narratives would mention navigating into the river mouths, etc. However, the Deck Logs (which are available from NARA in Bethesda, MD) are fairly expensive, and unless you had only a day or two you would need to get, it could be almost cost prohibitive for any one person. The folks at NARA are very helpful, but the copies are $0.75 each. But the value of the Cruise Book would be to narrow or pin down the dates an inland water service occurred. I suggest that by getting all this information together prior to submission, you could both streamline the process and control the data that will be used to make the determination. Because this would be beneficial to everyone who was on board at that time, a Ship's Associations could help coordinate the activities. That way you could also see if anyone else has already procured a copy of the Deck Log for previous work they might have done and a larger group could share the cost. When all the information is complete, you can submit that with your claim. But please forward a copy of that to me. The best way would be scans of the specific page(s) of the Deck Log that states being up-river, and attaching that to an email. I will then forward that directly to the database, which will get it on file so that other shipmates can use that material at any of the 57 Regional Offices. If you are unable to scan the pages, you can fax them to 1-866-876-2962 and I can get the conversion done here. But faxed pages don't come out nearly as readable as scanned pages, so please try to do your submissions by scanning them. John Rossie, Executive Director BlueWaterNavy.org
Darryl W 27 posts Jan 30, 2011 8:59 PM	VA Releases New List Of Blue Water Ships Now Considered "Brown Water" Entire Crew Granted In-Country Status And Given Full Presumption of Exposure To Herbicides The Complete New January 2011 List of Ships Is Here, GO TO THIS SITE: http://www.bluewaternavy.org/newspage2.htm CLICK ON: The Complete New January 2011 List of Ships Is Here Darryl Wetzell 2nd Div. BM2 Dec 65-Dec 67 1/30/11 Last Edited on 30-Jan-2011 9:01 PM