Veterans who served in Thailand during Vietnam War denied benefits

Thailand veterans contend they are scientific evidence VA claims it needs to grant benefits

WFLA 8 News
by: Steve Andrews
Posted: Jan 23, 2020

Because their job descriptions didn’t place them on base perimeters, the VA denied their claims for disability.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A top VA official in the Tampa Bay area told 8 On Your Side this week the Department of Veterans Affairs has come a long way.

Margarita Devlin, principal deputy undersecretary for veterans benefits contends there is no longer a huge back-log of veterans waiting for their claims to be processed and completed.

However, claims languish for veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War and were exposed to a dangerous herbicide known as Agent Orange.

Most U.S. bombing missions over North Vietnam originated in Thailand.

Tampa Veterans like Dan Tolly and Paul Devane supported the war effort from Thai bases.

At Korat, Paul remembers the toxic herbicide Agent Orange landed on him as he worked near the flight line.

Dan Tolly served in the Air Force in Thailand.
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Agent Orange: Florida veteran claims 40-year cover-up by Air Force

Florida veteran claims 40-year cover-up by Air Force
WFLA Staff Reports
Published: December 22, 2016

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A former U.S. Air Force pilot called it the great betrayal.

Scott Nelms claims a 40-year cover-up by the Air Force may have cost veterans and their families dearly. Nelms said the USAF sprayed significant amounts of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange at bases in Thailand.

The Pinellas County veteran has accused the Department of Veterans Affairs of stonewalling veterans who served in Thailand and ignoring facts about what and when they suffered exposure.

Nelms points to a now-declassified 1973 report that said significant use of defoliants occurred on U.S. bases in Thailand. The Project CHECO Southeast Asia report “Base Defense in Thailand” also stated the defoliants were used inside the perimeter of bases.

Nelms flew about 100 missions out of Thailand, refueling fighter jets and bombers during the Vietnam War. His new mission is getting out the word that U.S. veterans who served in Thailand were exposed to significant amounts of Agent Orange.

Nelms was stationed at U-Tapeo Air Force Base. “I had no idea they were spraying Agent Orange in Thailand,” he said.
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Remains of USS Mayaguez fallen to be buried together at Arlington

Remains of Vietnam veteran killed in 1975 will be buried at Arlington
Originally Published May 10, 2013
Lancaster Online
By JACK BRUBAKER
Staff Writer

Lynn Blessing probably thought he was home free when the Vietnam War officially ended in the early spring of 1975.

But a month later — May 15 — the Lancaster Marine died with 12 other American servicemen when their helicopter crashed while trying to recapture the SS Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand.

Private First Class Blessing, 19 years old, was Lancaster's last casualty of the war.

On Wednesday, 37 years to the day after Blessing died, his remains and the remains of others who died with him will be buried in a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

Lynn Blessing's mother, Thelma Blessing, of Lancaster, knew nothing about the ceremony when informed by a reporter Friday morning.

The Marines did notify her when the first remains of her son were found.
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Missing Vietnam War memorial plaque sold online, found headed to Thailand

Investigation turns up Cumberland memorial plaque for Vietnam veterans

By James Halpin
Staff writer
How exactly a veteran's memorial plaque that had been missing from Fayetteville for years ended up in a crate bound for Thailand remains a mystery.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently intercepted the plaque, dedicated to Vietnam servicemen who were missing in action or prisoners of war, at the Port of Long Beach in California, according to the Los Angeles Border Enforcement Security Task Force.

"It was bought off the Internet," said Suzette Schrump, whose father-in-law's name is among those on the plaque. "We believe it was being sold as a trophy to go back to 'Nam. What a disgrace."
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Investigation turns up Cumberland memorial plaque

U.S. Senator Jim Webb won freedom for Vietnam Vet John Yettaw

Yettaw's actions in Myanmar 'regrettable'
Story Highlights
NEW: American John Yettaw arrives in Thailand, later to head to U.S.

U.S. Senator Jim Webb won freedom for man who visited Aung San Suu Kyi

Suu Kyi punished after the uninvited American man swam to her home

Webb is first U.S. member of Congress to visit Myanmar in decade

(CNN) -- An American sentenced to seven years hard labor in Myanmar after he sneaked into the home of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, arrived in Thailand on Sunday with the U.S. senator who secured his release.


American John Yettaw smiles as he arrives at a military airport in Bangkok.

John William Yettaw was taken to hospital in Bangkok shortly after arriving aboard a military aircraft with Sen. Jim Webb.

"I believe what he did was regrettable. I believe it was hurtful to the person that he thought he was trying to help," Webb told reporters in Thailand.
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Yettaws actions in Myanmar regrettable

Agent Orange Advice regarding service in

Kurt is a Thailand Veteran & very experienced herbicide researcher that has recently been successful in winning his case for Diabetes due his AO exposure in Thailand & wishes to help others if at all possible. Kurt's website
"The Bottom Line" is located at http://tmai18.spaces.live.com
and it is packed full of information on the herbicide issues in Thailand.

Below is Kurt's ideas that may help other Thailand Vets

1. Tell your VSO that the claim is for 'direct exposure to herbicides outside Vietnam', and is not a claim under P.L. 102-4 for presumption of exposure to herbicides in the country of Vietnam 38 CFR 3.307(a)(6) and 38 CFR 3.309(e). As evidence, make sure the following is submitted. Agent Orange use was terminated November 26, 1971, so use 'herbicides' as defined in M21-1MR, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section C, paragraph 10a (http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21%5F1/mr/part4/subptii/ch02/ch02%5Fsecc.doc ) and 38 CFR 3.307(a)(6)(i),


Evidence: Your Military Orders to Korat with the dates of the assignment and DAFSC.
Evidence: A statement or performance report which states you performed duties along the perimeters of the base or in the MMS area.
Evidence: Attached copies of 'Mission Policy on Base Defense', 11/1/1969 from AFHRA FOIA 08-0020, this is the FOIA letter, you have the actual policy.
Evidence: Attached copies of 'Project CHECO: Base Defense in Thailand', excerpt from AFHRA FOIA 07-066, this is the FOIA letter, I believe you should include only the top letter and the attached excerpt.

2. Tell your VSO that your claim is filed in accordance with current regulations, laws, and court decisions, and is in no way reliant on your award of the Vietnam Service Medal and that: 'Notwithstanding the aforementioned provisions relating to presumptive service connection, which arose out of the Veteran's Dioxin and Radiation Exposure Compensation Standards Act, Pub. L. No. 98-542, § 5, 98 Stat. 2,725, 2,727-29 (1984), and the Agent Orange Act of 1991, Pub. L. No. 102-4, § 2, 105 Stat. 11 (1991), the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has determined that a claimant is not precluded from establishing service connection with proof of direct causation. Combee v. Brown, 34 F.3d 1039, 1042 (Fed. Cir. 1994); see also 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

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