I have this deep and inherent distrust of the government, the way I feel that way is more simplistic than most people would think. The government is made up of people, people by nature are shady as f**k. That is until they know they are being watched and there will be accountability.<\/p>\n
I prefaced what I really want to talk about what with the above statement because it needed to be said and this topic is somewhat controversial. I and many other who post here have always said that Jonn does not censor us. Believe me it\u2019s the truth.\u00a0 I sometime call or email him with an idea that I want to write about, several weeks ago I told him I had an idea and he asked me to hold off. I did. To tell you the truth I had forgotten about it until the other day when out of the blue Jonn told me to go ahead and publish.\u00a0 This post is not directed at any one individual nor any group.\u00a0 Bernath will swear this is aimed at him. It\u2019s not, but if the shoe fits\u2026<\/p>\n
Agent Orange, we all know the name and what it was for, however just in case someone has been living under a rock for the last 40 years I will give a brief explanation.\u00a0 Agent Orange was one of many defoliants used in the jungles and river regions of Vietnam.\u00a0 It is now know to be a carcinogen.\u00a0 For many years the government denied any link between Agent Orange and cancer and other illnesses in Vietnam Vets. Study after study proved that link exist, as a result the VA now assumes a connection between these diseases and most Vietnam Vets.<\/p>\n
Notice I said most Vietnam Vets. There is one major subgroup of Vietnam Vets that do not get an automatic assumption of connection, Blue Water Navy. \u00a0Service members in this group must prove a connection on a case by case basis. \u00a0The Navy painstakingly compiled a list of all Ships that were exposed to Agent Orange in any way.<\/a> That list includes ships that were in port or anchored for even part of a day.\u00a0 Service members on those ships are not included in the Blue water Navy Group.<\/p>\n The Navy did not transport Agent Orange on carriers or any other ship. With the exception of the Riverine patrol they played no part in its use. Agent Orange was applied by specially modified aircraft flying at low level.\u00a0 I read many boring studies researching this. I also spoke with a Meteorologist as well a Chemical engineer. The one thing that I found to be very interesting is this. Wind Patterns.\u00a0 Spraying occurred only at times when the weather would permit greater than 80 percent of the Agent to reach the ground in the target area.\u00a0 The Coastal regions of Vietnam have a predominate on shore wind pattern. That is the wind comes from the ocean most of the time. \u00a0This makes the chances of Blue Water Navy exposer due to drift of overspray almost impossible. There is also the fact that the types of cancer and other illness that are occurring among the ground troops are not occurring in an increased rate among the Blue Water Vets.<\/p>\n Are there Blue Water Vets that were exposed? Absolutely, but not in large numbers.\u00a0 Many of the complaints that the Blue Water Group have can be linked to other causes. Ships have many different chemicals and toxins on them.\u00a0 Not all illness in vets is connected to their service. We have become a culture that looks to the government for everything possible. Many Vets abuse the system. We hear about people dying while waiting on an appointment because the system is overwhelmed.\u00a0 We as the veteran community bear some of the responsibility.<\/p>\n If your illness of disability is linked to your service then I urge you to use the VA, that\u2019s what it\u2019s there for. But if it\u2019s not, then you are taking away from your Brother\u2019s and sister\u2019s.\u00a0 When we have VA disability claims for PMS or PTSD because you thought you might have to do what you got paid to do then we have a problem.<\/p>\n Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and I bid you peace. I am heading to the TAH bunker at my place in western WV until the insanity is over, Oy Vey<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"