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After developing illnesses linked to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, Rhodes filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Furthermore, there are several reference reports admitting herbicide use throughout bases in Thailand. Although VA recognizes there was significant use of herbicides at numerous Thailand military bases, it only recently granted Thailand veterans the presumption of exposure afforded to Vietnam veterans. Once Operation Ranch Hand began, around 20 million gallons of Agents Green, Pink, Purple, Blue, White, Orange,. NAM PHONG ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE - (This was home to a major U.S. Marine Combat Air Wing and supporting units; U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion; U.S. Army Green Berets; U.S. Special Forces.) From February 2 to 5, 1969, RANCH HAND flew Laos missions from Udorn. A recently declassified Department of Defense report written in 1973 titled, "Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand 1968-1972," contains evidence that there was significant use of the herbicide Agent Orange along the fence-line perimeters of military bases in Thailand to remove foliage that provided cover for enemy forces. Public Law 116-23, the. The VA has recognized certain cancers and healthcare problems associated with Agent Orange, as outlined above. We heard from VA officials about the agencys decision-making process when determining benefit eligibility forveteranswhose illnesses were caused by exposure to toxic hazards while on active duty. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? If a veteran served in an area other than Vietnam, such as Thailand or Korea, but was nonetheless exposed to the same herbicide agent as used in Vietnam, then they were to be awarded the same benefits as would a Vietnam veteran for the diseases associated with such exposure. Worked in As Mr. Raymond Gross, a PACAF agronomist, conducted the training, the herbicide manual was most likely employed throughout Southeast Asia. If you have kept in touch with any former comrades-in-arms from those bases who did not make the military a career, or their spouses if they have already died, you may Because service members were exposed to herbicides that were used inside the base, not just at the base perimeter, veterans who served in Thailand should not have to prove that their duties required them to be near the perimeter. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Improving Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange During Service where they were, and that ' someone else ' said: "Welcome to the Rose Garden" I'm sure this happened more than once!