USS Decatur DDG-31 & agent orange

[inlineskater]

Tony West is sending information to his congress man that we were with in the designated distance off the coast of Viet Nam to try to get our ship added to the list of destroyers under the blue water sailor act. I have copies of the documents he sent if any one that served on that ship wants them emailed.

[99-Am.Star]

If they approve that ship it will open Agent arrange diseases tall members of the crew. Good luck getting it done. Y'all deserve to get compensation if you have any of the diseases, and I have seen where they are saying there could be 100,000 claims to the VA now that they have approved a great number of Navy ships.
Hope it all goes quick for you brothers...... John Nam 66-67

[Old-Biscuit]

That info only covers Dec 1968, May/June 1970 and Nov 1971.
USS Decatur made two other WESPAC tours in 1973 and 1974/75 which are within the AO/Blue Water Navy Act time frame.


Unfortunately I have NOT been able to find ANY deck logs/info about the Decaturs activity during those two WESPACs

I remember spending time on the gun line chucking 5" shells inland...which would require being within the 12 mile demarcation line.
And providing fire support dring the Demining Operations of the Tokin Gulf



I have been in touch with Tony and he is working diligently to gather as much info as possible......hopefully more will be released/made available before Jan 2020 when the VA will begin processing Blue Water Navy/AO Claims.


1st Vietnam WESPAC deployments were July 1968 thru February 1969.

Two more Vietnam WESPAC deployments during 1970 and 1971-72

Last two Vietnam WESPAC deployments in 1973 and 1974-75



IF you have a disease listed on the 'AO Presumptive Disease List' and served on-board ship during Vietnam you should file AO Claim(s) and let the NAVY figure out whether the ship was within the 12 mile limits as outlined in the Blue Water Navy/AO Act.


Presumptive AO Diseases
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/expo...ge/conditions/