SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Comp & Pen Update
By USVCP Staff Writers
July 31, 2018
Many veterans, VSO’s, and veterans organization representatives may not be aware that Compensation and Pension (C & P) Service has initiated a program to collect data on Vietnam Naval operations for the purpose of providing VA Regional Offices with information to assist with development in Haas related disability claims based on herbicide exposure from Navy Veterans. USVCP has verification from various sources showing that a number of offshore “blue water” Navel vessels conducted operations on the inland “brown water” rivers and delta areas of Vietnam. We have also identified certain vessel types that operated primarily or exclusively on the inland waterways. The ships and dates of inland waterway service are listed below. If a veteran’s service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through military records during the time frames specified, then exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further development.
All vessels of Inshore Fire Support (IFS) Division 93 during their entire Vietnam tour:
USS Carronade (IFS 1)
USS Clarion River (LSMR 409) [Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket]
USS Francis River (LSMR 525)
USS White River (LSMR 536)
All vessels with the designation LST [Landing Ship, Tank] during the entire tour [WWII ships converted to transport supplies on rivers and serve as barracks for brown water Mobile Riverine Forces]
All vessels with the designation LCVP [Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel] during their entire tour
All vessels with the designation PCF [Patrol Craft, Fast] during their entire tour [Also called Swift Boats, operating for enemy interdiction on close coastal waters]
All vessels with the designation PBR [Patrol Boat, River] during their entire tour [Also called River Patrol Boats as part of the Mobile Riverine Forces operating on inland waterways and featured in the Vietnam film “Apocalypse Now”]
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