Blue Water-Agent Orange:Loophole frustrates veterans

Loophole frustrates veterans
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 11:05 AM
By Steve Daniels, produced by Ross Weidner
The federal government says more than 400 thousand veterans are dying from illnesses linked to agent orange exposure from their time in Vietnam.

But now some veterans say a loophole in the law is letting the Veterans Administration leave them out in the cold.

Harry Spencer served as a Navy photographer during the Vietnam War as a member of what's called the Blue Water Navy, sailors who helped troops on the ground from ships right off shore.

"In the background of each picture, you can actually see the beach," says Spencer. He continues, "at times we were probably within a half a mile."

Spencer says because he was that close he and other sailors breathed in Agent Orange. Agent Orange is a chemical the army used to kill plant life in Vietnam. He also says they unknowingly drank it.

"They very basically take salt water from the sea and they make freshwater," says Spencer. He says freshwater on the ship, water used for drinking, cooking and washing clothing was contaminated with Agent Orange.

"Nobody knew at that point that it was going to hurt us," says Spencer. When he returned home to Raleigh from his ship off the coast of Vietnam, he ran a photo shop in eastern North Carolina until the day his cancer appeared.

"They informed me that I also had chronic emphysemic leukemia. First question out of the doctor's mouth was, 'You've been in Vietnam haven't you?'" says Spencer.
Spencer has all the classic symptoms but gets none of the compensation the government gives to Vietnam Vets because the VA says he didn't have his "boots on the ground."

"Boots on the ground means you actually set foot on the soil," says Spencer. He continued, "it makes no difference if it's one hour or one second, and you're eligible for benefits."

That means if you were in the navy off the coast, exposed to Agent Orange, and have the same illness as someone on land, the VA says you don't get a dime.

"It's like getting a knife, in your heart. I mean I gave the Navy ten years of my life. And now they just, basically say that I don't exist anymore," says Spencer.

"I know some of my friends have sent their medals back," says Wally Ward. Ward also served in the navy right off shore. HE says his two different kinds of cancer and diabetes are symtoms of Agent Orange exposure that other vets do get paid for. But, now he can't get help from the government and isn't even considered a Vietnam war veteran.
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