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Dear Folks, There is a conflict between the VA requirement for you to provide "Proof of Service" in Vietnam to collect benefits and the mobile mission of the 1st Mobile Communications Group. The generic problem in a nutshell: Given the nature of the mission, most of us were constantly deployed to countries different from our home base. Our military records clearly reflect our assignment to the 1st Mobile Communications Group and to it's home base at Clark Air Base, Philippines. These records probably do not contain any information regarding any temporary duty (TDY) assignments to other locations including Vietnam. To to the best of my knowledge after many years dealing with this issue, I beleive this is because the USAF in general and the 1st Mobile Communications Group in particular did not put an individuals TDY assignments into his personel records or if they did place the TDY records, they were subsequntly purged. So, in fact, there were no records kept of any individuals TDY assignments from the 1st Mobile Communications Group. This was compounded by the fact that, at least in my day, all movement of Mob equipment and personal was classified at a minimum of secret with a number of Top Secret deployments. Years later, while applying for benefits applicable to personal that served in a particular country, you are required to furnish "Proof of Service," usually in the form of a DD-214 reflecting service in that country. If you served in the 1st Mobile Communicatations Group your DD-214 may not reflect any service in Vietnam even though you did go there TDY. (Entirely possible, given the mission and what I wrote above.) It may contain your award of the Vietnam Service Medal, but the VA Proof Of Service procedures say this ALONE is not good enough to prove "boots on the ground." This did not only effect the 1st Mobile Communications Group. There were plenty of outfits that used TDY assinments to move people in and out of Vietnam. Over the years, I've had many people from other outfits contact me with the same story. From time to time, I get requests from Alumni asking if anybody has a particular set of TDY orders or the like, or if anyone remembers them being on a specific team. I normally put out a request to the Alumni membership that served at the same time to see if any one has a set of old orders the would help with this "proof of service." The specific problem: On November 9, 2000 The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the addition of Diabetes mellitus (type II) as a presumptive condition for in-country Vietnam veterans. In-country service in Vietnam presumes exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange if the veteran meets the criteria regarding dates of service. (January 9, 1962 - May 7, 1975.) By
presumptive condition, they mean, if you served in Vietnam during those dates,
and you have Diabetes mellitus (type II), or other conditions listed below, they will treat you. They go on to
say: "You will however, need to show evidence of military service in Vietnam.
Usually, a DD Form 214 will serve as proof of service in the Republic of
Vietnam." We do have many Alumnus looking for help. Regards, Don Devine |
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The following health conditions are presumptively recognized for service connection. Vietnam veterans with any of these conditions do not have to show that the illness is related to their military service to get disability compensation. A current medical diagnosis of the condition and a DD Form 214 showing Vietnam Service is normally all that is needed to accompany a completed Veterans Application For Compensation or Pension VA Form Number 21-526. 1. Chloracne (must occur within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange). Chloracne is a skin condition that looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. The first sign may be excessive oiliness of the skin. This is accompanied or followed by numerous blackheads. In mild cases, the blackheads may be limited to the areas around the eyes extending to the temples. In more severe cases, blackheads may appear in many places, especially over the cheekbone and other facial areas, behind the ears, and along the arms. 2. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a group of malignant tumors (cancers) that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue. These tumors are relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, and although survival rates have improved during the past two decades, these diseases tend to be fatal. 3. Soft tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma.) Soft tissue sarcoma is a group of different types of malignant tumors (cancers) that arise from body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues (not in hard tissue such as bone or cartilage). These cancers are in the soft tissue that occurs within and between organs. 4. Hodgkin's disease is a malignant lymphoma characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia. 5. Porphyria cutanea tarda (must occur within 1 year of exposure.) Porphyria cutanea tarda is a disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. 6. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of specific bone marrow cells that is characterized by bone marrow tumors in various bones of the body. 7. Respiratory cancers, including cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus. 8. Prostate cancer is a cancer of the prostate and one of the most common cancers among men. 9. Peripheral neuropathy (transient acute or subacute. It must appear within 1 year of exposure and resolve within 2-years of date of onset.) A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. This condition affects only the peripheral nervous system, that is, only the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. Only the transient acute (short-term) and subacute forms of this condition (not the chronic persistent form) have been associated with herbicide exposure. 10. Diabetes mellitus: Often referred to as Type 2 diabetes: A condition characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body's inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin. 11. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Final rule and regulations pending). A disease that progresses slowly with increasing production of and older) who live in areas where it's offered. VA health care providers occasionally see combat veterans with multiple unexplained symptoms or difficult-to-diagnose illnesses that can cause significant disability. Two new VA centers offer specialized evaluations for combat veterans with disabilities related to these difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. The centers, called War Related Illness and Injury Study Centers - WRIISCs (pronounced "risks") are at the VA Medical Centers in Washington, DC, and East Orange, NJ. Veterans who were deployed to combat zones, served in areas where hostilities occurred, or were exposed to environmental hazards while on duty may be eligible for services. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update for 22 August 2003] Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Extract from "EMO" Tichacek's great military retiree newsletter, "The RAO Bulletin," dated 090903 |
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