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Message Board Page >
Updated 07 September 2010
VA Blue Water Claims Update 10:
SK2-Stew68-70
8 posts
Jan 31, 2010
4:14 PM
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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)
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
Last Edited on 15-Feb-2010 8:16 PM
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bbedwards
1 post
Feb 02, 2010
10:20 AM
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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.
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James Roy Emmons
13 posts
Feb 02, 2010
2:48 PM
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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
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SK2-Stew68-70
10 posts
Feb 02, 2010
4:30 PM
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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.
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
Last Edited on 2-Feb-2010 7:15 PM
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James Roy Emmons
15 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:18 PM
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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
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SK2-Stew68-70
11 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:44 PM
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James Emmons:
I sent an email directly to you moments ago.
I am in Inverness Fl. I can be reached 352-419-0207.
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
Last Edited on 5-Feb-2010 10:16 PM
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SK2-Stew68-70
15 posts
Feb 13, 2010
1:26 PM
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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)
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SK2(Stew)Ken Stewart
Hold Capt. Cargo Hold 5
Dec 68-May 70
Last Edited on 13-Feb-2010 1:38 PM
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Darryl W
11 posts
Apr 02, 2010
8:25 PM
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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
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