tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439758578325482759.post8860049786442633767..comments2024-02-25T17:41:39.937-08:00Comments on Agent Orange - C-123K Aircrew & Maintainers - VA now honors our Agent Orange claims!: Ah, the smell! Malathion or Dioxin? Does it even matter?C-123 & C-130 Veteranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02099323548384182988noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439758578325482759.post-12997515644634297492019-10-18T08:57:20.125-07:002019-10-18T08:57:20.125-07:00I am a retired Army Master Sergeant (E-8) with one...I am a retired Army Master Sergeant (E-8) with one hitch in the USAF from 1970 to 1974. Presently, I reside in Western Washington just outside of JBLM and I am 68 years old. I trained to work on C123 aircraft at England AFB, LA in 1972 and was then assigned to the 51st ABW at Osan AFB, Korea. While stationed there I serviced and maintained C123 aircraft including two of which were deployed from Vietnam. In 1975 I joined the Army as a helicopter mechanic and served until 1993. I filed a claim with the VA for DJD and was rated at 30% and by 1995 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I am not overweight and have no history of diabetes in my family. My DJD became progressively worse and I was eventually rated at 70%. In the back of my mind I always believed that my diabetes was due to chemical exposure while serving in the military, but had no way to prove it. However, stories begin to surface about secondary exposure to Agent Orange thanks to Major Wes Carter and the media, and by 2015: “The VA decided to acknowledge exposure to Agent Orange for personnel whose military service involved regular contact with the contaminated C-123 aircraft, based on an HMD report”. I filed a claim with the VA and my rating went from 70% to 100%. Although, I would rather have my health back the compensation and benefits have made my life much better, and I now feel somewhat redeemed on a psychological level. Again thanks Wes!!!<br /><br />Polmer W. Burke, MSG USA Retired Wayne Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13884275792733647095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439758578325482759.post-20337832514182058582014-04-23T09:30:27.915-07:002014-04-23T09:30:27.915-07:00If the VA or DOD accepts claims from Air Force Per...If the VA or DOD accepts claims from Air Force Personnel for aftereffects of Agent Orange exposure it will have to expand to the areas where the agent was stored loaded and used around Airbases and military installations all over the South Pacific. The DOD would have to admit to treaty violations regarding, use, storage, and contamination of areas well beyond Vietnam, like Thailand, The Philippines, Guam, Okinawa, Taiwan, and Japan. We are cowards who fear the truth of our involvement in poisoning so large a swath of the Planet. Most of us Vietnam era Veterans affected in the outlying bases in South East Asia are dying out and will soon be a fading memory too. The VA and DOD will continue to deny, deny, until we all die ! Problem solved ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com