I also have heart disease (ischemic heart disease) and two other guys that worked out of the Auto Pilot AMS shop have Type II Diabetis and one has Prostrate Cancer. The Herbiside For Lunch Bunch.
I saw alot of drag chutes dragging along behind F-105s that just landed. The end of the runway where they tookoff from was at or very close to the perimeter. Aircraft that landed made their turn off the runway down at that same end.
I was on a aircraft Launch team that put me at the perimeter. Our Launch truck parked down at the end of the runway while the F-105s were preparing for Launch.
The VA says there was nothing in my records that show I was a perimeter guard for the Air Police. I assume you got a similar denial. I say that it wasn't my responsibility to put that in my records. It's not my fault there's no record entery. A lot of guys got pulled for that duty. It was problem just considered a loan of manpower to the Air Police for a month. Not an actual official TDY or any kind of transfer.
Do you have string memories about your augmentee duties? I do. I put it on paper and I hope the VA considers it evidence since there's nothing in my records. I pulled augmentee duty in May or June of 69.
I feel your chute packing duties exposed you to herbisides. Your augmentee duty definatly did.
We can help each other out with Buddy Letters.
Do you have an photos of the end of the runway areas. The AF and VA now admit AO and other herbiside were used along the perimeter. Some day that may expand to the whole flightline. I have a photo I took that shows F-105s with drag chutes deployed making their turn down near the end of the runway. My case is still open and in review so I don't know if I could share that photos with you yet. I'll ask my DAV rep that's helping me with my claim process. Are you working with a VSO? I'm using DAV (disabled american veterans.)
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