It was approximately three miles wide, and eight miles long. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? Famine, malnourishment and starvation set in. Agent Orange also contained the contaminant TCDD as a byproduct of its production, which is the most toxic of all dioxins. Fifty years ago this was one of the largest U.S. bases in the country, covering the southern I Corps and northern II Corps with air support as well as having large medical facilities to receive wounded for advanced treatments. What a great bunch of guys. If you are still interested in that Chu Lai chapel, I dont know if its the one you are expecting but I can still send the one I have. (LogOut/ Johnston Atoll is an island located off the southwest coast of Hawaii. The barrels . The VA offers health care and disability benefits for veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides during military service. I was there as a Bn. Recreation activities at the United Service Organizations (USO) in Chu Lai, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Lots of other memories, but insufficient space and time. Dioxins enter the bloodstream after being eaten or touched, build up in the food chain and can cause reproductive problems, cancer, hormonal interference, immune system damage, and developmental issues. Your email address will not be published. We area project of Veterans For Peace. Over the years the base hosted large units from the U.S. Marine Corps, ARVN units and Army units from the Americal Division. Caution should be exercised though as live ordnance is still found around the base area. How to be a combat dentist go to YouTube. Hundreds maybe thousands came to admin pad for transportation to surrounding LZs Quin Yon, Duc pho, Danang..Bob Hope show came in in Dec 68 with Ann Margaret. Named for the colored stripe painted on its barrels, Agent Orange best known for its widespread use by the U.S. military to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War is notorious for being . Also on Facebook 1st Marine Air Wing; Chu Lai, RVN. Artillery fire was coming up at us from somebody and if we hadnt climbed, we would have been shot down. Stood at the bottom. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. I did convoy work hauling artillery shells in a 5 ton dragon wagon and night guard at the ammo dump among other jobs.. but I wanted to do heavy Engineer work for which I was trained. go to. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Naval Air Support Unit at Chu Lai 1969. Abandoned after the end of the Vietnam War, it was reopened as Chu Lai International Airport in 2005.. First squadron to land at Chu Lai was Vma 225 (pre-arranged) June 1, 1965 along with Vma . He was a Sgt. All Rights Reserved. It stands exposed after the Afghan fiasco and it is by now clear that they will only lie to defend their position. Were there any Viet Cong tunnels at Chu Lai? I have also seen those areas, and wondered what had happened. I was at Chu Lai twice in one day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtr1JTf62Us&t=337s. Veterans who qualify and . It was awesome in its destructive capacity and terrifying in its legacy. Naval Air Support Unit at Chu Lai 1969. We just blew away that jungle, recalled Tom Essler, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam between 1967 and 1968, in an oral history. copyright 2003-2023 Homework.Study.com. Lai Khe: 57,120: 22,300: 1,800: 81,220: Loc Ninh . As the years have passed, Agent Orange affected me with cancer and ischemic heart disease. (LogOut/ The quantity of herbicide listed in the map descriptions are per mission. Answer (1 of 16): Source; Wikipedia Agent Orange is an herbicide and defoliant chemical, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. sept 65 (debarked from LST 824, Henry County) Left in Sept 66. Went on alot of MedCap travels along with supply trips to outlying Marine Aide Stations and ferrying wounded out to Hospital Ship. Herbicides were used extensively in Vietnam by the U.S. Air Force's Operation Ranch Hand to defoliate inland hardwood forests, coastal mangrove forests, and, to a lesser extent, cultivated land, by aerial spraying from C-123 aircraft and helicopters. Does anyone recall the location of LZ Gude which was established in early October 1967 by the 11th Aviation Group (attached to the 1st Cvalry Division) on an unidentified island near Chu Lai? I went by Dallas back then. Createyouraccount. 0. For instance, which pages you go to most. The most widely used of these agents was Orange. You Vietnam Vets out there having any problems check with the VA. Got Ischemic heart disease from agent orange. But the aftermath of the war destroys the dreams of many young Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. This substance was used to destroy enemy crops and limit the amount of naturally occurring cover. Find defoliant spraying missions by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces over . 1st Marine Div. It is widely known for its use by the U.S. military as part of its chemical warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. On arrival, attached to perimeter security for 30 days. My husband was stationed here in 1970-71. Vietnam era veterans who served in Thailand have long fought for the recognition of health problems linked to Agent Orange exposure in Thailand. I was with the 547th sig det in 69 70. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam, health care, and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. I would be very interested in seeing some of the photos. The U.S. military used Agent Orange and other herbicides . Thanks to the VA, Im being compensated for it. My heart goes out to all Vietnam vets and the Hell they were put thru. Veterans who want to be considered for disability compensation for health problems related to Agent Orange exposure must file a claim. Abandoned after the end of the Vietnam War, it was reopened as Chu Lai International Airport in 2005.Chu Lai Air BaseBattles/warsVietnam War Operation StarliteAirfield informationElevation1,759 feet (536 m) AMSL. Thank you. Did you happen to know my Dad, Lt Colonel Robert Harris? Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). Thanks Mike The base was located on the K H peninsula north of Highway 1 approximately 60 km southeast of Da Nang. For years, VA only conceded herbicide exposure for Thailand veterans with evidence that they were regularly on or near the perimeters of military bases. Co-written by Communications Intern Sophie Ota August 10, 1961 marked the start of the aerial spraying of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange, mixture of herbicides that U.S. military forces sprayed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971 during the Vietnam War for the dual purpose of defoliating forest areas that might conceal Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces and destroying crops that might feed the enemy. We overlapped. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Herbicide drums were identified by a 4-inch-wide circular band of paint colored in correspondence with these color codes. You also can zoom in on a particular town or area by entering its name in the search box. Soldiers relax and enjoy at the beach. Co. Good friends were- Billy Merrill, Jimmy Clark, Jeff Butterworth, and cant forget Snag Thompson! Veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, are eligible to enroll in VA health care. July 1967 To July 1968 Defoliant tests began on that fateful day in the Kontom Province of Vietnam. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. These Veterans do not need to show that they were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides in order to get disability compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. Agent Orange was a 50/50 mix of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). He was medic station in Chu Lai and said the hill was defoliated with Agent . Did the CIA back the coup d'etat of Salvador Allende? Im grateful for this fine article and the extensive material included. MILES. The Veteran further must provide a statement of personally going ashore. If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website the button is located at the top right of this page. ED is something caused by diabetes. Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the government of. I was a turboprop mechanic and I had worked on all of our airplanes, so it was really nice to see them in action. The registry data helps VA understand and respond to these health problems more effectively. These cookies do not store any personal information. My unit was VMA-214 (Black Sheep Squadron). Evidence indicates that Agent Orange was used in the following places: As of the PACT Act, veterans who served anywhere in Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof, from January 9, 1962 to July 30, 1980 are eligible for VAs presumption of Agent Orange exposure. As a result, it will now be easier for Johnston Atoll veterans to establish service connection and receive VA disability benefits for conditions linked to their Agent Orange exposure. Agent Orange specifically is composed of a 50/50 mixture of herbicide agents 2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T. He experienced mortar attacks and/or sniper attacks on a regular basis while at Chu Lai. 178 ASHC Jan 68 to Jan 69 in the USO Show and of Robert Mitchums visit and a few of those stationed there at that time. Your dependents and survivors also may be . Visit VAshealth benefits explorer