Ahoy SSgt Hamilton...
all Takhli VETs... all Thailand VETs ...every affected VETs and Families... essentially.. all concerned American's, given your Country's Military Defenders have and are not only being Offended by the Government most had Volunteered for, but as well your NAVY has been dwindled to but 36% of what it was when considered Invincible
All Services being intertwined, WE must Guard each
of it's 5 Uniquely related Divisions..
Though for now.. this refers solely to USAF ...
While rarely writing on this Board, perhaps a few times annually, this novel-length writing should be accepted as it substitutes the 10 Pages I may have written each of the past 5 Yrs. Also hopefully provide some insight and facts not seen discussed enough, nor much at all....
Thanking Admin. and all active contributors to this Mssge Brd.
Regarding that 105 towed over the threshold > She Lived to Fly, we've all witnessed far worse. Heard about that 105 Snafu, then soon forgot, though also aware a few 105's jumping wheel chocks & cables, running @ 100% + A/B. One fellow speaking of a B-66 Crash at TAKHLI South-end, tho I witnessed another B-66 slide on her back at the North End. Story was Crew ejected from the then (Intentionally Inverted) doomed A/Craft thru the Downward Ejection seats rising upward. This Pilot apparently sacrificing himself, saving his Crew. Any updates on topic welcomed.
TWO Crucial Points may help restore stagnant Cases for TAKHLI Herbicide CLAIMs >>>
--------------
1.
(4) TRIM PADS Existed Years 1967-1968 (also prior Yrs & still exist today -GoogleEarth).
All (4) T-PADs well INSIDE 500 Meter (CHETCO) Eastern "PERIMETER" (just East & parallel to TAKHLI's (N-S) RUNWAY. While these (2) Northern TRIM PADS also well-within 500M of Northern BASE Security "PERIMETER" primarily used by Pilots running final CHECKLISTs, fully ARMED, preparing for Take-Off. When Pilots detected Problems, they would Call-In a "RED-BALL" requesting Urgent Assist, commonly our Electric Shop Trouble-Shoot /Remedy, preventing Canceling that BIRDs flight. Typical Month, Electric Shop would be Dispatched covering "RED-BALLs" a few times per week, hence we worked within 800 Ft of EASTERN SECURITY PERIMETER, and within 1200 Ft. of NORTHERN SECURITY PERIMETER. As well take Coffee Breaks in the AIR Conditioned Facility North of the "RED-BALL" PAD, even closer to NORTHERN PERIMETER Jungle, conversing with patrolling AIR POLICE having Smoke Breaks next to the freshly Sprayed shrubs. Supervisors stated the "Spray" was "Mosquito Repellant", yet Mosquito's were no less plentiful, while grass, brush, and Tree leaves turned brown and died after near nightly Spraying. This Fog of War on Plants and Airman leaving it's pungent, bitter-sweet scent in the Air, and leaving Oily film on Arms & Uniforms.
2.
Most ALL VETs Working TAKHLI TRIM-PADs, at least during 1967 -1968 >>> AGE Shop, Mechanics, Crew Chiefs, etc., & We Electricians (Spark-Chasers) were Regularly subject to being Dosed with Over-Spray from "Defoliants" as Spray-Trucks motored behind our Birds (During SWING-SHIFTs 8pm-11pm [Minimizing AO Evaporation during Hot Sun Days] Spraying Lush Brush and Tree's adjacent to each of our (3) TRIM-PADs and (1) PAD (Pilots Final Checks) @ NW End of Runway. Suspended FOG of Oily Residue lingering for Hours settled on bare Arms, Face, and Uniform, permeating it's unforgettable pungent Smell *until* vigorous Shower/Scrub. (Yes I regularly Soaked & Scrubbed my Fatigues & Hat on Shower Floor, then pay Hooch boy to Wash again, Dry, & Press). Only to become Saturated again the next Swing Shift at the TRIM PADs... where 60% of my work occurred during Takhli tour. As well, similar Spraying during short Tours at LS-36, LS-85, & other Thai & VN Bases (also have TRIM PADS), my Specialty trouble-shooting Hot- Birds, Cargo A/C, Helo's, and occasionally TACAN Equip. Assigned Jobs at these TRIM PADs had me Running F-105's up to 100% + A/Burn + Water-Injection, then Idle-back to 50% - 70% for the Remainder of my standard Electrics Checks. Working mostly alone majority of times was a Blessing given the freedom of Decision-making, due to the Trust gained by supervisors knowing there wasn't one System I couldn't Trouble-shoot and Fix alone. Once Crewchief did checks & signing me onto his Bird, he left for another Bird arriving elsewhere. Once Gen-Set arrived and Lights illuminated the Bird, the AGE man left too. Only thing left was Hot Air, Mosquito's, Blister-Bugs, a Jet needing my TLC... and that Pungent , sticky Oil permeating my Skin & Uniform.
-------------
Given that unmistakable Scent (Overpowering even JP-4, Diesel & Gas Exhausts) remained airborne nightly, and unforgetably > the TASTE of IT remained on the tongue seemingly continuously. there can be Zero-doubt, all persons Working the T-PADs not only ingested this Chemical mist, with Skin absorbing it, but those Smoker's (near Perimeters) likely inherently inhaled more. Chemicals had to be entering our Blood-Stream at Different Rates & Quantity, PER individual Dosage durations, and proximity to Source, of course. This would account for both Similar & Dissimilar CANCERs that varies between VETs performing Duties at same or different locations on same Bases (or numerous Bases).
These "VARIABLES" near-Infinite to ever expect anything more than Guestimate Calculations. Heavy Doses could have been ingested from exposing Coffee cups over several nights, or inhaled over several weeks or months interval..
Certainly ANY alleged "Mosquito Repellant" wasn't **quite that Great** at Killing Weeds, thick Brush, and entire stands of Tall Tree's !
Apparently, there existed an abundant supply of Chemical Defoliant Barrels that became the Preferred method of aggressive Foliage abatement and Control. Surely over-growths near Barracks and Flight-Line Area's needed to be Cleared well, if only for COBRA & PIT VIPERs, witnessed often.
BUT NOT while SACRIFICING fellow AIRMAN with your Known TOXINs on a Nightly-Basis subjecting your own AIR FORCE Personnel to horrible Long-Term (Potentially Terminal) Diseases !! Inexcusable! and being premeditated, conspired by many more than One Top Official and more than One Corporation, any Legitimate DOJ, and Supreme Court Judge would, should, and hopefully shall find Criminality of the highest order....
Noticing Hooch Boys often Sprayed (Same Smell) from Back-Pack Canisters (or Hand-held Cans) with Nozzles around our Open-Air Barracks [All Foliage Died, leaving only Dirt]. Also noticing dead, brown, brush-piles around our Chow-Hall, again only dead Dirt. Never once did I see any Electric-Weed-Eaters, or Brush-cutting / Tree-falling Machines, mowing down Vegetation surrounding Flight Line, PADs, Taxi-Ways, or Living Area's. Besides, such practice would totally disregard SAFETY Protocols, yielding greater potential of "FOD'' (Foreign Object Damage) flying onto TAXI-WAYs, TRIM PADS, and even carried by Winds, Rains onto RUNWAYs... Pilots not wanting to Hear that Sucking Sound upon Landing after Surviving their deadly-risky Missions, Especially NOT on 100th Mission !!
Furthermore, as my MOS Documents my Work on HH-43's commonly outfitted with FIRE-Fighting Equip, but once witnessing a "Special HH-43 MOD" (jury-rigged experiment) with a Spherical Tank & Spray assembly; unknown the Chemical, but Definitely NOT Fire-Fighting suppressant !? Never-the-less, based on personal Observations witnessed during my 1967-68 Tours, I can and do Firmly attest to these Facts, confirming "On-Base Spraying" ( Inside "Perimeters" ) ................ which clearly Refutes your Governments Firm Contention >>>
"ONLY Base-Perimeters were Sprayed with Defoliants, Herbicides, AO (or the other (5) Carcinogenic / Toxic Chemical Variants of AO "
Additionally & Notably > the Northmost "PAD" where we were Dispatched to "RED-BALLS" (A/C Armed & Running, awaiting our Elect. Cross-Checks /Repairs prior T/O for Missions), was within the 500 Meter (CHETCO) Zone from the NE PERIMETER. Google-Earth and MEASURE yourselves, doing your Own Due-DIL then Logging FACTs > Best-Bet for CASES. Those working T-PADs at Night recall how Dark the Jungle was (often only One Light Stand illuminated one BIRD there, leaving GI's & BIRDs perfect Sniper targets, again justifying keeping T-PAD Foliage back & minimized). Though be assured, all while most of us Repair / Maint. Crews were concentrating on our Jobs, I can tell you, most your AIR POLICE & GUARDS & DOG Sentry's were "On-the-Job". Having again personally witnessed a CALL come in to AP Office > A 19 Year-old One-Striper taking a Radio-Call > "INFILTRATOR IN the LOX PLANT", this KID in his next Breath > "PURSUE & ANIHILATE IF NECESSARY" - Short & Sweet !! Also LBJ was Scheduled to Land > Celebrating TAKHLI being 1st BASE to receive our F-111's oversea's, but a report of possible MORTAR Attack steered AF-1 & LBJ to some other Base.
Big Question is > How many surviving Takhli VETs (and other Bases) can recall this ever-present Scent/Characteristics of this "Defoliant FOG-of-WAR" upon our countless 1000's of Personnel? Describe your recollection (of any "Oily-Skin", Pungent Odor in the Air, Taste in Mouth) and Spray-Trucks (Describe Truck Color, Size, Barrel Storage & Loading area and OP Areas). ALSO > IF anyone has caught these Vehicles in Photo's or old FILMs (Looking in Far-Ground & Fore-Ground)?! This may be Tough, due to Trucks appearing to be THAI Base Trucks, driven by THAI Military Drivers (Or Contractors). my having observed them crossing Runway heading EAST back to Thai side. Indicating Barrels may also have been Stored on Thai side. Any Bets how Healthy these Thai handlers and Drivers and their offspring are?
NO BETTER TIME TO REPORT ANOTHER "NOTABLE EVENT" FINALLY EXPOSING "MONSANTO" CONCEALING THE LEVEL OF DEADLY TOXICITY OF "ROUND-UP" WEED-KILLER, SEE THE 200+ CALIF. LAWSUITS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK . NOW DO REALIZE > THAT THIS "ROUND-UP" CONTAINS THE SAME TOXIC COMPOUND "G L Y P H O S A T E" THAT AO CONTAINED, YET "ROUND-UP" IS LESS THAN 1/10 AS POTENT AS AGENT ORANGE ! NOW HOW DEADLY DO YOU CONSIDER "AGENT ORANGE" WAS TO YOUR BODY?
Do Abide our Wise VETs on this Message Board emphasizing sharing BUDDY-Letters, Co-Confirming your mutual observations, collating coinciding accounts, building and supporting your CASES.
For the VA RECORD > If or as my Health turns worse, may THIS WRITING --- from this USAF Honorably Discharged Veteran > Serve as MY Official 'BUDDY LETTER' to all those it may apply, Not merely for TAKHLI VETs, but also for aiding 1000's of our Personnel having worked the TRIM PADs & Perimeters at other AIR BASEs across Thailand, Okinawa, Guam, etc. where AO & other 'Designer Tactical Chem/Weaps' were Stored, Handled, Deployed ..
===============
The following IS NOT my Writing >
Christina Sarich wrote this >
http://naturalsociety.com/still-eating-agent-orange/
This is why countless people continue to rail against Monsanto. It’s why Monsanto and their nefarious crew of poison mongers (the Grocery Manufacturer’s of America) spend millions of dollars illegally to try to defeat GMO labeling Bills.
The truth is that RoundUp, in the form of "glyphosate", is just another product of the military industrial complex, and an evolution of Agent Orange. If we don’t wake up and fight, en masse, then Monsanto and its government connections will completely destroy our food supply and our planet.
-------------
DO YOUR HOMEWORK FOLKS...
=============
Endless Thank You's to ALL whom served ALL Previous Wars, our many AO VETs, and our DU VETs (Depleted Uranium) alike, may we Team together for our mutual Survival today .. just as We were all Team players - "WILLINGLY-Supporting" our Governments every Orders back then.
WHEN WE were Ordered to Ramp-up Combat Flights over VN, WE never blinked adding many more Hours to our work shifts, and WE NEVER Told this Govt. > "Sorry You're being Denied SUPPORT", nor DID WE CAUSE THEM to "AWAIT 7 Years more", after already Making them AWAIT 50 Years ! WE PRODUCED RESULTS ON COMMAND, RIGHT ON QUE ! NO DENIALs, NO APPEALS, NO QUESTIONS, MINIMAL DELAYS, Providing Endless SWEAT-EQUITY, earning Below MIN. WAGE, NOR EXCUSES or BS.
WHILE WE SACRIFICED our Lives from our Families, Friends, Loves, Lovers... Ask WHAT has your GOVT., Officials, Bureaucrats, & Agency's truly SACRIFICED ? Unless Public Investigations exposes a GOVT. Employee's Crimes, you can BET such Employee's would Scream to High-Hell IF their OFFICE told them >
"To Receive YOUR Pension, YOU must 1st FILE, then APPEAL 3 TIMES, and AWAIT 7 YEARS (or More) to ever begin Collecting what you FEEL you are morally and Lawfully OWED !"Gee whiz, Mrs Lyndon Johnson, your Deceased HUBBY's Pension Check just came thru, too bad HUBBY can't Collect it, and NO.. So Sorry but "OUR REG'S" REQUIRES the Spouse MUST *REFILE* to Collect her Share of his Pension". But Don't Worry Mrs. Johnson, most Applicants Receiving Checks in just 6 YEARs?" !
LONG-OVERDUE (YOU, the PEOPLE) Give the Other HALF of "YOUR Government" a Decade-Long-TASTE of their Own Medicine >
SEE HOW THEY LIKE SWEATING OUT 6 - 10 YRS. all while AGING into their 70's, facing Diseases (Not Covered), facing losing their Homes (Not Covered), losing their Family's due to Poverty (Not Covered), after How many Years of Service!?
"Too BAD.. Mr. & Mrs. U.S. GOVERNMENT, if Only Your DEPT of DEFENCE had turned over $30 BILLION to their Sister Agency > the VETS ADMIN. "WE the VETs" wouldn't have LEVIED a MORATORIUM Against the U.S. GOVT., forcing YOU into Extreme Loss, Desperation, Bankruptcy,& far Shorter LIFESpan!"
WE VETs "Remembered You in your TIME of NEED !"
BEWARE U.S. GOVT. >
"DENYING WE VETs any Help in our TIME of NEED"
IS NOT CONDUCIVE for any Symbiotic Relation
Might consider Reminding these Younger RO's, many of whom never seeing WAR, let alone Sacrificing Four or more Years of their Youth Volunteering to "Support" a GOVT. that Lost that WAR. As most of us have been DENIED Compensations, WE are the VETs Losing this WAR ! ON OUR SHIFT !! While being Held to Represent ourselves for the most part, only to be continuously Impeded, Delayed, and Stalled, you can be assured your Children deciding to Serve this Govt./ Military will also face the same Treatment and Outcome, as well their Kids after them...
Unless all Surviving VETs begin Now > applying substantial Pressure - submitting Formal, Lawful, Constitutional Amendments that can and will Over-Turn this GOVT's Severely Flawed POLICY's covering VETERAN's Lives, Benefits, and Awards already-Earned during their devoted Service, with the Additional MANDATE that ABOLISHES this GOVT. REQUIRING EACH VETERAN TO >>
"FEND for THEMSELVES, Fighting for EVERY SINGLE %PERCENT% THEY ARE DUE" causing VETS to PROVIDE AND PROVE EVIDENCE ALREADY GATHERED BY PRIOR VETS, ON THE SAME BASE, DURING THE SAME PERIOD, FULFILLING the SAME OR similar DUTY's !"
THIS TOTALLY BOGUS "REQUIREMENT" SERVES ONLY AS THIS GOVERNMENTS "DELAY TACTICS" BECAUSE THEY HAVE OVER-DRAWN THEIR ACCOUNTS (GOVT. SHUTDOWN THREATS -RINGING ANY BELLS !?), LEAVING VETS / AMERICAN'S "HOLDING THEIR GOVT'S DIRTY BAG OF DEBT",
ESSENTIALLY.. DOUBLE-JEOPARDY !
WE VETS, ALL PAID ALL OUR DUES and DEBT to GOVT!
TIMES UP, FOR YOUR GOVT. PAYING OFF THEIR DEBT !
OR THE "U.S. SHARE-HOLDERS" SHALL TAKE ACTION..
JUST AS FAILING "CEO'S & EXECS" ARE OUSTED FOR SIMPLY FAILING ONLY SEVERAL QUARTERS. ASK YOUR-SELVES .. HOW MANY QUARTERS HAVE YOU FORGIVEN THE "CEO'S MANAGING YOUR "FEDERAL RESERVE" WHO KEEP ORDERING YOUR MIS-MANAGED "TREASURY" TO PRINT MORE "FIAT (PHONY) MONEY" FRIVOLOUSLY, LACKING ANY REGARD THAT EACH "PRINTING" FURTHER DEVALUES WHAT LITTLE VALUE REMAINS >>>> ( .04 CENTS IN "REAL $DOLLARS" -2010) NO MATTER HOW
"OFFICIALS" SWEAR BY THE VALUE of YOUR BUCK.
Your Joint TEAMs face this WAR together, involving all U.S. MILITARY Units, especially now our US NAVY who have yet again been DENIED AO-Related VET Coverages; WE must Compel this GOVT. to Reply morally, Supporting US Vets as WE Supported this Government, just as TIMELY !
Do vigorously SEEK ALL Truth's and Facts, fast- developing your personal Investigations with vigilant perseverance, revealing your findings and experiences with your surviving Military brothers and sisters... Strength in Numbers ..
Blessings & Prayers for every VET & their Families
Mike Christiansen
1