If one accepts the total 2.7 million Americans as actually having served “In-County,” and I believe 800K (approx.-do you agree with this 800K figure?) were “Blue Water Navy Veterans” then the government has, or hopes to have about 1.9 million VN Vets to deal with. Obvious to most, they are trying to reduce the figure. Of course this number was prior to illness, car/truck deaths, work deaths,etc. taking their toll since war’s end.
Oddly, I have census figures (inexact as they are) that show 1.7 million VN Vets alive in 1995, yet only one million alive in Y2K, only 5 years later. Much confusion here.
How do we address this problem if the gov. doesn’t even know how many of us are alive today? No wonder so many “phony vets” surface! Some even drawing veterans benefits.
Methinks the gov. is trying to draw a line somewhere, but excluding (from the class) 800K recipients of the Vietnam Service Medal who received it some 40 years ago is grossly unfair. Only turns one vet against another.
Ever noted how gov. dislikes intensely the retroactive AWARDING of medals (CAB, CMB for Aviation Unit medics), Air Assault Badge,etc., yet deigns to strip the VSM (in essence) and toss 800K sailors from the ship?
A couple of bills have been introduced that may help, assuming you guys (Blue Water Navy) aren’t excluded from the class. And vets in general. They would be:
H.R. 6798-Service connects ALL gastro-intestinal cancers to those who served in VN as a result of exposure to herbicides. Introduced Aug. 1, 2008.
H.R.5595-Extends dental coverage to all vets getting 10% or more compensation.Introduced April 1, 2008.
And of course all will be watching for Courts ruling on Haas.
If Navy took on water from inland waterways, by whatever means, then you may wish to research cholangio cancer. ramifications are many of exposure to such water.
Lastly, (Army here-know little about Navy), I wonder if research of ships such as Tioga County, used in Operation Shad/Project 112, then later used to transport troops as well as ship’s compliment off coast of VN would have any causative effects? Cancers, etc. as such ships were used in tests of Sarin, etc. earlier. Just a thought....