URGENT: I am a Vietnam Vet who has been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer related to Agent Orange. My cancer started in the lungs and has now spread to the brain, liver, kidney, and stomach.
I was in Vietnam between 1971 & 1973 my nickname was "Lurch" and I was in the U.S.A.F.
I am looking for anyone who like me was pulled for duty in Vietnam from any base or Country in sea by AIR AMERICA during this period for short or long duty without benefit of orders and who can attest to these happenings. I delivered cargo by flat bed from stretch - 8 up and down highway 1. Besides Vietnam, I was stationed in Okinawa and Thailand. Like many others, I was exposed to the sprayings, air breathing and consumption of local fruits and vegetables. Over the years, I became not only a Heart Patient with major surgeries, but also suffer from sleep apnea and PTSD. The disability related to Agent Orange is hard to prove for many of us and without orders to Vietnam it's even harder. While I am on borrow time, I would like to document any other case with similar circumstances that may make a difference in other's life.
If you have been through this, please contact me at: sirmio99@yahoo.Com

Please go to the Agent Orange forum, many people read that forum daily:
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/739197221

Please fellow posters and readers, if you can help our brother please contact him ASAP.

Thanks!
Dave

Intercepted message:
Scientist was on Agent Orange payroll
Clara Pirani, Medical reporter
December 09, 2006
THE world-famous scientist who first proved that smoking causes cancer was being paid by a company that manufactured Agent Orange when he told an Australian royal commission that the herbicide was not dangerous.
It has been revealed that Richard Doll, the British cancer expert who established the link between smoking, lung cancer and heart disease in 1950, failed to disclose that for 20 years he was a paid consultant for the US-based chemical company Monsanto.

In 1985, Sir Richard was receiving $1500 a day from the company when he wrote to the royal commission investigating claims that Vietnam veterans had developed cancer and had suffered ill health after being exposed to Agent Orange. He said there was no evidence that the chemical caused cancer, claiming the toxin in Agent Orange "is at most, only weakly and inconsistently carcinogenic in animal experiments".

The commission found there was no evidence Vietnam veterans had developed cancer or other health problems as a result of exposure to chemical agents.

Sir Richard's defence of Agent Orange was publicised by Monsanto in full-page advertisements in newspapers.

Ron Coxon, national president of the Vietnam Veterans Association in Australia, said Sir Richard's connection to Monsanto should have been revealed.

"At the time, we suspected that some of the experts giving evidence might have had links to companies, but we didn't know," Mr Cozon said. "I think it's disgusting but I'm not surprised.

"At the time, there was medical evidence of the damage that herbicides caused, but the problem was there were experts like Richard Doll who had come out and said there was no link."

But Ann Jones, CEO of Action on Smoking and Health Australia, said that in the 1980s, it was not standard practice for researchers to disclose their links to the pharmaceutical industry.

"Disclosure has become much more of an ethical issue now than it was 20 years ago," she said.

Sir Richard died last year. Among his papers was a contract he signed with Monsanto dated April 1986.

I hope the above will get your attention, on how bad Vietnam veterans were messed over. By government, industry, and the world of science.

This was just another cover-up. When I rolled my wheel chair across this country from Washington to Washington in 1990 it was with the intention of showing a link between cancer and Agent Orange that I had mixed. I had medical evidence from the dead fetus's my wife and I lost with the comparison of autopsy done on monkeys exposed directly to Agent Orange as well as the four children with birth defects and in 1994 we lost one of our daughters to non-hodgkins lymphoma. At the time of my wheel chair trip I had synovial sarcoma. While making this trip across the country in a wheel chair my life was threatened, I was attacked verbally by other veterans which we later found out worked for cover-up specialist. It took me three months to complete this trip in a wheel chair and finally the Agent Orange bill was passed three months after the completion of my trip. I was service connected for my cancer. We had proof that the dioxin was well known by the chemical companies to be carcinogenic. I thought that after my 3,143 miles across this country and bringing it to national attention Agent Orange would be compensated to all who were exposed. May God Bless you all.

just think of all of the time lost as well as lives on research and the truth.



SEMPER FI

quote:

Originally posted by allez1952:
just think of all of the time lost as well as lives on research and the truth.



SEMPER FI

we went and served our country as we were told, its been over 35 years since i came home and agent orange is slowly taking over control of my body, im tough but us old viet nam vets have our days numbered, im still to this day waiting to be approved for dis. comp. from my diabetes, talked to the v.a. just yesterday and all they can say is it takes time. alot of us dont have time, maybe thats what they are thinking? i want to personally thanks all my brothers and sister of all branches of the service an all to have a blessed christmas season

I agree. Here is a link to my website. It has much information on Agent Orange. Some you will not find in the VA.
http://www.geocities.com/dave_barker_amvet/index.html

quote:

When I rolled my wheel chair across this country from Washington to Washington in 1990 it was with the intention of showing a link between cancer and Agent Orange that I had mixed. I had medical evidence from the dead fetus's my wife and I lost with the comparison of autopsy done on monkeys exposed directly to Agent Orange as well as the four children with birth defects and in 1994 we lost one of our daughters to non-hodgkins lymphoma. At the time of my wheel chair trip I had synovial sarcoma. While making this trip across the country in a wheel chair my life was threatened, I was attacked verbally by other veterans which we later found out worked for cover-up specialist. It took me three months to complete this trip in a wheel chair and finally the Agent Orange bill was passed three months after the completion of my trip. I was service connected for my cancer. We had proof that the dioxin was well known by the chemical companies to be carcinogenic. I thought that after my 3,143 miles across this country and bringing it to national attention Agent Orange would be compensated to all who were exposed. May God Bless you all

Thank you for your many sacrifices! It is a tribute to Vietnam veterans that attention was at long last paid to AO and to PTSD. People all too often forget that Vietnam veterans themselves, suffering with PTSD were the ones who bore the burden of getting the diagnosis on the books.

quote:

Originally posted by sirmio:
URGENT: I am a Vietnam Vet who has been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer related to Agent Orange. My cancer started in the lungs and has now spread to the brain, liver, kidney, and stomach.
I was in Vietnam between 1971 & 1973 my nickname was "Lurch" and I was in the U.S.A.F.
I am looking for anyone who like me was pulled for duty in Vietnam from any base or Country in sea by AIR AMERICA during this period for short or long duty without benefit of orders and who can attest to these happenings. I delivered cargo by flat bed from stretch - 8 up and down highway 1. Besides Vietnam, I was stationed in Okinawa and Thailand. Like many others, I was exposed to the sprayings, air breathing and consumption of local fruits and vegetables. Over the years, I became not only a Heart Patient with major surgeries, but also suffer from sleep apnea and PTSD. The disability related to Agent Orange is hard to prove for many of us and without orders to Vietnam it's even harder. While I am on borrow time, I would like to document any other case with similar circumstances that may make a difference in other's life.
If you have been through this, please contact me at: sirmio99@yahoo.Com

Sirmio; I don’t think I can be of much help. But if you flew in or out of Vung Tau, or Nui Dat, I can verify as an eye witness to A.O. being stored in both locals during the period I was there, 4-68 through 12-69. Vung Tau was also used by Air America, but I couldn’t attest to what they were up too. My heart goes out to you, tuff break when it sucks to be you. Good luck sirmio and hang tuff.

Sirmio:

First of all, please don`t give up. Go to a new doctor, new hospital, you can be saved. Secondly,the VA has a list of cancers that are covered and of course you know lung is on it. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Tonsil Cancer that had spread to the lymphnodes and given at best a 50% chance to live. The VA will pay for nodes, but not tonsil so I was denied AO claim. I was at the U. of Mich and they have saved me...so far. Please answer and I will give you info on other treatment centers. Fight!!!!

Ron

As to a couple of the posters in here.

I credit the great changes in care and respect of the VA to the Vietnam vets. This was a marvel generation filled with heroes on more places than just the battlefield. Those who marched or wheeled to Washington to their Senator's office, who even worked their way into political positions or began organizations to support the veteran and uphold Lincoln's promise to care for the veteran and his widow. I have volunteered than worked at the VA since 1985 and the changes are incredible. I am no longer embarrassed or ashamed of the care we give our veterans. Yes, we have much to do and there is great room for improvement. But, nonetheless, every flu shot and diabetic clinic is a credit to you.

We appreciate your answer to the call to duty and the battles you fought on the homefront.

Lana

DaveBarker, has there been new evidence linking heart problems and Agent Orange. I suffered my first heart attack at age 47 in 1995, and since then have had open heart surgery and numerous other procedures. I spent two years in Vietnam. My first tour was mostly in VungTau, mentioned in your link as a base for Agent Orange spraying operations. My second tour was with the 1st ACD in Phuoc Vinh and Bien Hoa.

Lana:

Not sure if you were addressing me, but if so, I sincerely thank you. First honest thank you I`ve heard in 35 years.

Ron

Lana:

Pardon me...didn`t hear it, read it. PTSD kicked in. Lol.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by ShinyTop:
DaveBarker, has there been new evidence linking heart problems and Agent Orange. I suffered my first heart attack at age 47 in 1995, and since then have had open heart surgery and numerous other procedures. I spent two years in Vietnam. My first tour was mostly in VungTau, mentioned in your link as a base for Agent Orange spraying operations. My second tour was with the 1st ACD in Phuoc Vinh and Bien Hoa.

Yes there has been new evidence linking heart problems with exposure to the Agent Orange type herbicides. First was Dr. Cau's 10-80 Committee report which was buried by the U.S. District Court Brooklyn NY when the recent Vietnam lawsuit was thrown out. All testimony to be presented was ignored by the U.S. and its Vietnam war allies. Second was the U.S. government own USAF Ranch Hand Study 2000 which showed a ratio (link or nexus) suspect of heart problems related to Agent Orange type herbicides. That report admitted the original USAF Ranch Hand Study report was flawed. During my testimony before the National Academy of Sciences (July 8, 2004), I spoke one-on-one with a scientist, who admitted the original Ranch Hand Study omitted very important data, as he was not provided all data needed by the USAF. This was vital important information needed for a proper conclusion.
The current Secretary Mr. Nicholson of the VA has indicated he is not interested in further studies. This is a paramount indication of major illness never being linked. Only issues that are studied by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are those which have been requested by the Secretary. This is policy since the government agreed to do studies through the NAS in 1989. Those study results of known outstanding scientists and physicians, would be used in VA criteria for service connection, related to AO type herbicide exposure. After the scientists and physician report is submitted to the secretary, VA lawyers make the final conclusions of what the rules will be.
The VA and NAS agreement was made because the Center for Disease Control (CDC) completely failed in any logical research. The CDC was to political in their approach to the plight of the Vietnam veteran. I cannot repeat this enough, the CDC could not find 1,100 veteran in 1984 who were exposed to AO type herbicides. While in Columbus Ohio at the Franklin County Veteans Service Commission, I had already filed over 1,100 AO type herbicide claims and had proof of exposure for each and every one!
If you read my work early in the AO drama (1982-84), my criticism of the orginal Ranch Hand Study, as well as the CDC was apparent. As my book "In Search of the Truth For the Vietnam Veteran" and the added articles including "Thailand" clearly shows the cover up of the government from the 1960's until Edwin Derwinsi agreed to allow studies in May 1989.

quote:

Originally posted by RB56:
Lana:

Not sure if you were addressing me, but if so, I sincerely thank you. First honest thank you I`ve heard in 35 years.

Ron

Ron, I was addressing anyone who would hear (read) it.

Best wishes,
Lana

quote:

Secretary Mr. Nicholson of the VA

if it is not approved by the above, it will not be considered an A/O problem, regardless of what comes out in the news, or the Proof that it is actually considered connected to herbicides/pesticides

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I know this is a little late, but the VA now has access to verification of classified assignments. All you need to do is send the VA a 4138 detailing when and where you were assigned, and they can have the DOD provide acknowlegement that you were in fact assigned. Make sure you tell them that it was a classified assignment. The DoD won't release information regarding the assignment, but they will confirm to the VA that you were assigned.