U S S R E E V E S (DLG-24/CG-24) A SSOCIATION

Spring 2015 Volume 8, Issue 1

The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter

Membership Scorebox 2106 Reunion SiteSite————SanSan Antonio, Texas Current 43 Plan on attending our biggest and tel was filled with another military re- Lifetime 5 best reunion yet at the El Tropicano union. Past Due 137 Riverside Hotel in downtown San An- As the hotel is on the westside of Snail Mail Ad- tonio. We will be alongside the histor- Riverwalk, it is located on the Muse- dresses Only 265 ic Riverwalk and a short distance from um Reach at the original Hugman Email Address 482 the Downtown San Antonio Mercado Dam. El Tropicano Riverwalk hotel is District. perfectly situated at the beginning of Total Shipmates 3.621 This is a really difficult time for this serene 1.3 mile of stretch of the setting up reunions around the River- Riverwalk. Museum Reach meanders Dues Notice! walk area. Now is the season for con- north and ends at the renovated Pearl Please be sure to check your mailing label or email nota- ferences, conventions and professional Brewery area featuring outstanding tion. gatherings. Pressing ahead with the local restaurants, shops, weekend If it doesn’t say Current expressed membership desire from the Farmers Market, outdoor concerts and above your name at the top of the label, you should re- Portland reunion that we gather river- the acclaimed Culinary Institute of new your annual dues. To side in San Antonio, we have worked America. reach the greatest number of shipmates, we will publish with the El Tropicano Hotel to get the Along Museum Reach you will the complete Association best room rate in the Downtown/ encounter a Lock & Dam system, San newsletter to any valid email or snail mail address. Your Riverwalk area for early October. Antonio Museum of Art, River Taxi’s, dues payments make this Thankfully, the El Tropicano wants to Bike and Jogging Trail, art installa- possible. provide a military reunion venue. tions including Bruce Lipski’s Inside this issue: F.I.S.H., and natural preservation are- President’s Message 2 as of native wetlands. Emails, Etc. 3 Take a Trolley, River Taxi, or walk to the South and encounter the Retiree Council 4 traditional Riverwalk area, 1.2 miles West Nile Virus 4 walking on the Riverwalk and .7 miles Reunion 2016—San Antonio 5 by street level. Enjoy the many restau- rants and shops in this area and of Iwo Jima Reflections 6 course the famed Alamo. Grab a Trol- Ships Store 7 ley and visit Market Square or explore Agent Orange COA Ruling 8 the King William Historical District as Agent Orange Notes 9 In fact, when Woodie and Claire well. Stegall were conducting a site visit This is really important—there is Lyme Disease 10 with our sales representative. The ho- regular transportation from the hotel to Master Chief Charlie 11 anywhere in the Riverwalk area. PageP a g e 222 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter The President’s Page Greetings to the to be especially true in San Antonio, topic that has stayed on point is that Reeves Associa- as we were educated that room rates of Agent Orange. Many of the DLG tion Family; in the River Walk area are quite a crew members were onboard the Springtime is fi- bit higher than we had in mind. Reeves (and other ships) during a nally upon us, and Who knew? We had a number of time in the Vietnam War when ex- like most of you, hotels decline the opportunity to posure to Agent Orange was a very we’re more than host our reunion, as they were prob- real possibility. Now, many years happy to be done ably above our expectations for later, many Vietnam Era Veterans with winter. room rates. Six hotels did respond are experiencing health issues from Spring weather here in Southern back to us with offers to consider. their exposure to Agent Orange. The Colorado turns out to be quite the Out of those six proposals, we did Ironman Newsletter is proud to be guessing game, as we’re never quite manage to find that one hotel that an information and/or education sure what the day will bring. The seemed to be right where we wanted source for veterans who may be ex- local quote is “if you can’t have four to be, had a rate we could live with, periencing health issues. If you seasons in one day, why bother.” A provided breakfast, met our enter- have any information that could be few days here lately have proven tainment needs, and was willing to helpful to this cause, please pass it they weren’t kidding. We’re ready negotiate. Score! along to us. If you have family or for summer. Mike has provided more infor- friends that may have been exposed Right now we’d like to turn our mation on the hotel and the selec- during their time in Vietnam, please attention to the upcoming Reeves tion process in his article on Page 5, pass our articles along to them. Association reunion. Wait, that’s which is complete with pictures. I The other issue that would help not until October 2016 right? Yep, guess the reason I brought it up…. us with keeping our newsletter read- we’re talking 2016. Turns out what was to point out to you just how for- able and enjoyable is some story seems like a long way off is really tunate we are to have someone will- input from our members. We know “right now” in terms of making im- ing to devote the time and energy everyone has a few favorite Reeves portant decisions. Mike Robertson, required to make the reunion venue stories that the rest of us would like our esteemed reunion organizer, has search work for all of us. I don’t to hear. Why not write them down been working towards the venue for know about you, but one of the last and share them. We fully realize our next reunion since he unpacked things on my mind over the last six that while most every sailor may be from our last reunion. Mike devel- or seven months was the room rates a proficient teller of sea stories, not oped the RFPs (Request for Pro- and amenities in San Antonio for a all of us are writers. We can help posals) early to get our specs out to date some 18 months in the future. with that. Just jot down your favor- all the hotels in the San Antonio Mike and Lorri have once again out- ite story and send it along. We’ll be area. We were fortunate to have done themselves. happy to edit your raw material into some help from our association As to other association business, something more printable, and then brothers in Texas, who stepped up things are also moving along as share you best Reeves story in the to advise and assist Mike on the San smartly as can be expected in a non- Ironman. You’ll get the story credit, Antonio scene. reunion year. We could use a little and we have more material for our Finding hotels with the right help from the membership on a few newsletter. Win, win! combination of location, services, issues that are regularly featured in Here’s wishing you Fair Winds amenities, and low per-night rates is our newsletter. You’ll notice that and Following Seas! always the challenge. This proved we’re still working on items of in- //tom terest to many of our brothers. One Life Memberships This newsletter is published by: The USS Reeves Association At the 2014 reunion in Portland, ship- Age Amount 15709 N Sycamore St, Mead, WA 99021 mates voted for a Life Membership. < 50 $500 After researching various Associations, Newsletter Editor - it was decided that the US Navy Cruiser <60 $400 Michael Robertson Sailor Association’s plan was best for <70 $300 Phone: 509-315-8107 the USS Reeves Association. Monies <80 $200 E-mail: [email protected] for life membership are placed in an All comments, suggestions, submissions =>80 $100 and criticism are welcome. My email is interest-bearing account and not mixed always open... with operating funds. We already have five life members. The schedule is simple: Volume 8, Issue 1 PageP a g e 333 Emails, Etc. Mike, in medical school with my ultimate TRICARE and its contractors never goal being to become a pediatrician". call and ask for personal information Attached is an article I would like to or health information. Beneficiaries submit for the next installment of the If you would like to view the scholar- should be wary of unsolicited at- REEVES newsletter. You can use the ship's summary please visit the fol- tempts by any entity asking them for email subject as the article title. ( See lowing link at Delta State: personal or health information, either page 4 of this newsletter.) by phone or in person. http://www.deltastate.edu/college-of- I am coming up on my final year with arts-and-sciences/biological-and- For more information, visit the Council, and I sure would like for physical-sciences/sci-schol/ www.health.mil/News/ my replacement next year to be a fel- Articles/2015/04/10/TRICARE- low REEVES crew member. Don Beneficiaries-%20Appropriations

Thanks, Eric Wenzel Just trying to find out if there are any Mike All other Reeves shipmates who were on the Reeves during her Nam cruise in I saw the following item in this 72-73 who may be experiencing any Charles and I were out shopping this week's Fleet Reserve Bulletin of the diseases associated with Agent afternoon and Charles was wearing Orange and who may have possibly his USS Reeves shirt. We Internet Explorer Must Be Updated filed any VA claims. I have come walked passed the HHGregg store for DFAS The Defense Finance and down with two of the diseases associ- and there was a gentleman standing Accounting Service (DFAS) has an- ated with Agent Orange and am now there with his cell phone. He looked nounced that effective 21 April 2015, in the process of filing a VA claim. In up and noticed Charles' shirt. He said myPay users who access their ac- talking with several VA reps and also to him "did you serve on the counts through the Internet Explorer the DAV it sounds like it's going to Reeves". Well, of course, that got our web browser must have Internet Ex- be a rather discouraging process. Let attention and we walked over to plorer version 8 or higher in order to me know if there are any out there him. He said 'my ship bombed your access their accounts. Earlier versions and if you have had any luck with a ship'. He was on the Midway when do not have the necessary security VA claim. the Reeves was hit. He said he had a protocols, and attempts to log on with shirt made that said "Midway 1, earlier versions of Internet Explorer Reeves 0". His division head told will be denied. Robert M. York him to never wear that in his line of sight. For more information go to: http:// My mom dug these out of storage ~ paycheck- chronicles.military.com/2015/04/16/ Just extremely interesting that this news-from-dfas/#ixzz3Xsmtdvgr . would happen in Tampa!. Don Nancy Elkins From FRA Weekly Newsletter

All The Defense Health Agency, Office of Program Integrity has received a I have received a thank you letter significant number of contacts from from Ms Megan Lynn Johnson of TRICARE beneficiaries concerning Utica, MS. She is the 2015-2016 re- unsolicited attempts by “call centers” cipient of the MARY CAMILLE to encourage them to provide person- Aaron Hightower CARUNCHIO Endowed Scholarship ally-identifiable information and at Delta State University. She writes health information so that they (the "This scholarship money will greatly callers) can allegedly provide pre- assist me by easing the financial bur- scribed cream medications to the den as I complete my senior year at TRICARE beneficiary. Delta State University. Upon gradu- ating from Delta State, I plan to enroll P a g e 4 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter SECRETARY OF THE NAVY RETIREE COUNCIL

The Secretary of the Navy estab- the membership rotates off of the clude current civilian position held lished the Retiree Council to: (1) Council each year (usually 7 to 9 and number of years spent in civilian consider issues of significant im- members). Applicants are needed career; portance to retired military person- from all regions of the country. - Education to include degree nel and their family members; (2) to However, the Council is in dire need (s) and field of study; and facilitate interaction between De- of a representative from the WEST- - Include any involvement partment of the Navy leadership and PAC Region, specifically . with military/retiree associations and the Navy-Marine Corps retired com- organizations. munity; and (3) to facilitate partici- Selectees are recalled annually to pation in other aspects of the Retired active duty for one week and issued The completed resume' should be Activities Program. In accomplish- temporary active-duty orders. The submitted (snail mail) to: ing these objectives, the Council government will pay for travel and may review the effectiveness of cur- lodging expenses. The Council nor- Mr. Jim Stone rent programs and policies affecting mally convenes sometime in August 5720 Integrity Drive retirees. The Council may make rec- at the Admiral Gooding Center, Bldg 457, Room 202 ommendations to the Secretary con- Washington Navy Yard. Millington, TN 38055 cerning improvements to benefits, privileges, other assistance to retir- The deadline for submitting an ap- All applications first are reviewed ees, quality of life and morale as- plication is 30 September 2015. This by the Navy and Marine Corps. pects of the retired community, and gives you plenty of time to consider Once the Navy and Marine Corps any other matters relating to retired it, discuss it with your family, and to have determined the most qualified personnel. Members of the Retiree make a decision. If this is something candidates for each vacancy, each Council are strongly encouraged to that would interest you, follow the Service sends a nomination package make themselves available to assist instructions below and submit a one- to the Assistant Secretary of the Na- host commands located in their geo- page resume' and attach a 2x2 pho- vy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). graphic area to plan and conduct tograph (head and shoulders) in the There, all of the nominations are Retiree Seminars/Appreciation upper left hand corner. The one- reviewed, and once the final selec- Days. They are also encouraged to page resume' must include: tion is made of the slate of new volunteer in local RAOs and RLOs. members, an official appointment - Basic contact information letter is drafted. This normally hap- There are 22 Retiree Council mem- (mailing address, phone number(s), pens at the end of the calendar year bers and two Co-Chairmen. Eight- email address(es) prior to the year in which the new een of the members are from the - One paragraph highlighting Council members will begin their Navy, and six are from the Marine your military career, including high- service. Each new member will be Corps. The Council is evenly split est rank achieved, military specialty, notified by the Office of the Assis- between officers and enlisted per- total years active duty, total years of tant Secretary of the Navy sonnel (nine of each for the Navy; Reserve service (if applicable), ser- (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) of three of each for the Marine Corps). vice entry their selection. Membership on the Council is nor- date, and retirement date mally for three years with an annual - One paragraph highlighting Shipmate Eric Wenzel reappointment. About one-third of post-military civilian career to in- West Nile Virus West Nile virus didn’t evaporate reported to the CDC. Of these, 1,283 the CDC. So CDC experts advise that with California’s drought, say officials (60 percent) were neuroinvasive (such you reduce the risk of infection by us- who report 2014 was a record high as meningitis or encephalitis) and 839 ing insect repellent and wearing pro- year for the mosquito-spread ailment. (40 percent) were non-neuroinvasive. tective clothing to prevent mosquito They remain concerned for 2015 as Most people will develop no symp- bites. To keep mosquitoes away, in- dryness exacerbates the problem in- toms; about 1 in 5 infected people will stall or repair screens on windows and stead of abating it. In 2014, 47 states develop a fever with other symptoms. doors, and regularly empty standing and the District of Columbia reported A few —less than 1 percent of those water from flowerpots, gutters buckets, West Nile virus infections in people, infected —will develop a serious, pool covers, pet water dishes, discard- birds or mosquitoes, the Centers for sometimes fatal, neurologic illness. No ed tires and birdbaths. [Source: Mon- Disease Control and Prevention says. medications can treat West Nile, and eyTalksNews | Jim Gold | May 04, Overall, 2,122 cases in people were no vaccine can prevent it, according to 2015 ++] Volume 8, Issue 1 PageP a g e 555 Reunion 2016: San Antonio, Texas Back at the Portland Reunion downtown hotels—or throughout the area. As done at in October 2014, our shipmates complimentary parking on the past reunions, there will be a selected San Antonio as our 2016 hotel properties. Welcome Reception in the reunion site. In the proposal from El Hospitality Room with hosted bar In a search of all of San Tropicano, several problems were and heavy hors d’oeuvres on Antonio venues, dealing with the overcome. The largest was an Friday evening. CVB, and a conversation with acceptable daily room rate. The HotelPlanners for the hotels next was the daily complimentary alongside the River Walk and breakfast. This was followed elsewhere in San Antonio in 2015, closely by no charges for the only one was able to accommodate hospitality and banquet rooms, or us at a reasonable rate in the place setup and daily service fees, And we’d really like to be: El lastly, the hotel agreed to Tropicano River Walk Hotel . participate in our Friday welcoming reception. Basically, the hotel was willing to negotiate. Since there is so much to do on the River Walk, and the nearby La Villita Restaurantsd Downtown and Old Town (Mercado) areas, only one day trip Thursday and Saturday is planned—to the National evenings will be free to explore the Museum of the Pacific War culinary delights along the River (Admiral Nimitz Museum) in Walk and in the Mercado. Fredericksburg. During the visit to For those who feel more agile Fredericksburg, there will be a and adventurous, there is the El Tropicano Pool memorial service to remember our Ultimate San Antonio Segway tour We received six proposals of the downtown tour highlights. from hotels throughout the San That would a memory worth a Antonio area: airport, Western million pictures. Hills, northern suburbs, etc. Many Set aside the dates 9 October hotels declined to submit a 2016 through 12 October 2016 to proposal as they couldn’t meet our meet with many shipmates at the RFP criteria. Room rate was the El Tropicano River Walk Hotel in overriding but unstated reason for downtown San Antonio. Many of disinterest. our 50+ Texan shipmates are Only two River Walk hotels already planning a big Texas provided a proposal. An in-depth Admiral Nimitz Museum welcome. search on the Tivago website was very informative. shipmates who have already Before suggesting San passed. Antonio, we didn’t know just how There will be more information expensive any accommodations in future issues of the newsletter. along the River Walk would be. It San Antonio tours depart the was a very rude awakening. hotel regularly and cover all sites Without exception, daily room of interest. The most complete city rates varied from $150 to over tours are the all-day Ultimate $300 per day, even in October, our Trolley Tour and the Grand City preferred meeting month. And, as Highlights Tour. we found out, there is no such As there are no plans for a thing as complimentary dinner cruise, evenings are free to transportation from the airport to explore the many restaurants The Alamo P a g e 6 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter Financials Iwo Jima Reflections FY 2015 Operating Marshall Harris from Elk Riv- ed was all smashed up. Our tracks er, Minnesota enlisted in the Ma- were shot off, so it couldn’t be Income rine Corps after he graduated from steered very well in the water. We Dues $2121 high school early because of World got a reserve tank after the first War II. Harris participated in sev- day.” The first night after the first Donations $145 eral campaigns throughout the Pa- wave, Harris’ tank circled around Reunions $0 cific including Saipan, Tinian and the backside of Mount Surbachi to Iwo Jima. Harris served as a ma- fire at targets of opportunity. Ship’s Store $114 chine gunner and radio operator “When it got dark, we’d see a muz- Cost of Goods $77 with the 2nd Armored Amphibian zle blast, but before the gunner Total Income $2306 Tank Battalion. While at Tinian, could get his sites on it the light Harris was standing on top of his was gone. We used phosphorus to Expense tank when a mortar hit and light up the area. We don’t know if Advertising $108 knocked him off of his tank and we hit anything at night. It was into the water. Harris landed on a pitch dark.” Newsletters $299 bed of coral rock, which he said, Postage/Delivery $116 cut him to shreds. Harris spent two- Harris could see the assault on Reunion Expenses $500 to-three weeks in the hospital re- the beach as his amphibious tank covering. “I was afraid they’d get a Total Expense $1128 floated in the water around the replacement for me in the tank. I backside of Mount Surbachi. “The Net Income $1178 didn’t want to lose my crew. In the Japanese were firing from Mount middle of the night I walked out of FY 2015 Assets Surbachi and from a hill about a the hospital and got a ride in a jeep. quarter mile away. The hill was the Total Assets $7437 I met back up with my crew and base for the Japanese commander, Liabilities $11 they called me ‘the ghost of the Gen. [Tadamichi] Kuribayashi. It 2nd armored’ because they were all was a 350-foot hill loaded with ar- Net Equity $7473 tanned and I was as white as a tillery. They were all shooting ghost.” down on the beach area. The Ma- Charitable/Educational Objectives rines were caught in crossfire. It The USS Reeves Association is an edu- was slaughter. There was no place cational, non-profit 501(c)(3) organiza- tion registered with the Internal Reve- to hide. I felt so sorry for those nue Service, FEIN 86-1163983. For guys. They walked into death. We that purpose at the 2010 business meet- knew fear and we were scared. It ing, it was recommended that future was a different kind of fear. We excess funds be used for donations and weren’t afraid of dying.” scholarships as determined at business meetings starting in 2012. Marshall Harris served in the Marine Corps from June 1943 to Shift Colors November 1945. After Harris spent about 30 days on Iwo Jima the war To receive the Navy‘s Shift Colors was over for him and his crew. newsletter via email send the following information to They left Iwo Jima aboard a land- [email protected] -- First Harris was part of the 68 tanks ing craft vehicle and headed back name; Last name; E-mail address; Title that hit the black, sand beaches of to Maui, Hawaii on a troop ship. (Mr., Mrs., rank, etc.); and Military Iwo Jima at the beginning of the “We just did what we had to do, affiliation (retiree, surviving spouse, battle. “A lot of the tanks got stuck what 18, 19 year-old kids could veteran, other). There is no longer any trying to climb a rise and had to be do.” funding for hard copies to be printed abandoned. We were catching and mailed. To receive Shift Colors it small arms fire all night long so does not matter whether or not you‘re [Source: Defense Media Activi- anything that wasn’t armored plat- retired, active duty, a veteran, a surviv- ty –Marines | Melissa Karnath | ing spouse, or just someone who‘s in- terested in receiving the newsletter. Volume 8, Issue 1 PageP a g e 777 Ship’s Store

Ships Photos ($10) + s/h Challenge Coins ($14) + s/h

1968— Entering Sydney Harbor 1985—Yokosuka from Australia Ball caps ($10 each) + s/h 2009— 2010—Chicago 2012—Charleston 2014—Portland - Sold out 1975—Departing Pearl Harbor 1992—Seattle Sea Fair Festival Golf Shirts ($20) + T-Shirts ($15) + s/h s/h (2XL/3XL-add $2) (2XL/3XL-add $2) Mousepads ($10) + s/h Ship—DLG 24 Ship—CG 24

USS Reeves Association – Ship’s Store Order Form Price S/H Total Description

Total Shipping and handling: Shipping Label Shipping is via USPS Priority or To: Fedex. Please add the following for each item to cover the Association’s Address: packaging and postage costs: City, State, ZIP: Photos: $2 per photo Phone: Ball caps: $3 each Email: Mousepads: $3 each Challenge Coins: $2 for 1, $.50 for Send order to: USS Reeves Association each additional coin c/o Michael Robertson 15709 N Sycamore St Shirts: $3 per shirt Mead, WA 99021 P a g e 8 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter Landmark Ruling of COA for Vet ClaimsClaims————AgentAgent Orange The Court of Appeals for Veter- To put the icing on the cake, the vy Organization offered a different an Claims has made a landmark court ruled that the VA’s reliance take to the conclusions of VSO ruling that will help many Navy on the IOM’s (Institute of Medi- Mike Day regarding the Court of and Coast Guard vets who have cine) 2011 report on dioxin expo- Appeals for Veteran Claims ruling. been classified as Blue Water Sail- sure is unacceptable because the He wrote: ors. The case was Gray vs McDon- IOM was “too general and incon- The CAVC did in fact say that ald and was decided on April 24, clusive in nature”. This means that the current VA definitions for 2015. This will greatly benefit the VA’s rating system cannot con- “inland water” and “river mouths” many Viet Nam Navy veterans ef- clusively contend that some off- were thrown out because there was fected by Agent Orange. In it they shore vessels were NOT contami- ambiguity and unreasonable logic declared that the Harbors of nated by AO. Finally, the court or- involved; and no basis in the defini- Danang, Cam Ranh Bay, and Vung dered the VA to redraw its lines tion that referred to the regulation Tau must now be classified Brown and rules as to what are the 7 prop- that requires connection to “sprayed water instead of Blue water. Basi- er boundaries and “exercise its fair exposure to herbicide” rather than cally the court said these ports were and considered judgment to define to any geographical descriptions classified as deep-water but should inland waterways in a manner con- used by the VA. However, the have been classified as being in the sistent with the regulations with Court did not specify what that def- spray area and not by the fact that emphasis on the probability of ex- inition should be and offered no large vessels could enter them. The posure”. In essence they said the direction on how the VA should VA must now declare all vessels present methods are patently unfair. solve their problems. They did not that entered these harbors as dioxin This ruling should bode well for say whether any harbor was inland (AO) exposed and compensate the sailors and Coast Guardsmen who or blue water, but they invalidated sailors on them that have presump- sailed and flew into areas that the VA’s past approach to naming tive diseases that are recognized as should have been considered con- them one or the other. They in- having their genesis in AO expo- taminated long ago. However, for structed the VA to remove the am- sure. all vets who may have a claim in biguity in previous determinations In regard to service in mouth of the works, the regulations are going and to submit new definitions but rivers, such as minesweepers, the to have to be promulgated by the they did not say how soon to do court said that even the VA Secre- VA and they must decide if they that or how many chances VA tary declared that there is no defi- wish to honor past claims as they would receive to get it right. Essen- nite boundaries of a river mouths, may look at this as new rules that tially, the Court did nothing but re- therefore they cannot just make a did not apply when the original move the groundwork the VA es- decision by “flipping a coin” as to case was denied. The VA can be tablished. what vessels were exposed and very obtuse about how they honor a So there was no direction given which were not. The court further change of the code of Federal Reg- about what the status a port or har- stated that inland water service can- ulations. They also have a right to bor had and no definition currently not be limited to the ships that are appeal this to the U.S. district Court exists for what constitutes the on their “official” ships list. The but that is very doubtful. ‘mouth of a river.’ There was no emphasis should be on the likeli- direction about how things “must hood of exposure to herbicide and Synopsis prepared by: now be classified.” The Court left that the fact that a large river’s Mike Day all of that completely wide open. brown water plume can extend far That leaves many avenues open for out to sea. It stated that the use of Veteran Service Officer CLAIMS that state a ship was in an “mouth” and “borders” around Viet Catholic War Veterans USA “inland harbor” or “at the mouth of Nam may extend well beyond the a river” based on the creativity of physical land mass of a river and Alternative Interpretation . whoever is writing up the claim. the VA’s current interpretation of There are currently no guidelines the code of Federal Regulations that claim raters can fall back on. If that cover this area are “arbitrary The Executive director of the and capricious”. Vietnam Veterans Blue Water Na- (Continued on page 9) Volume 8, Issue 1 PageP a g e 999 Agent Orange (cont) the old rules are used, the claim is Harbor was sprayed by Ranch present, there is no directive for the a CUE. Hand Operations), or into water VA raters to halt the adjudication My suggestion is that the em- that fed into the harbor from rivers. Blue Water Navy claims, but that phasis of any rationale for expo- River mouths could extend out into may be the VA’s next step. sure to herbicide that occurred the South China Sea by virtue of the plume created by the discharge within a harbor or bay be based on John Paul Rossie, an exposure that resulted from water of the river into the sea. In Executive Director herbicide that contaminated the some satellite pictures that can be bay or harbor by aerial spraying, seen to be measured in kilometers Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veter- either directly into the harbor (and or, in the case with the Mekong ans Association there is evidence that Da Nang River, hundreds of kilometers. At .

More Agent Orange... Here at the Association, we deck logs from National Archives. ly make it so. have been focused on getting the This entails perseverance in calling So, we need help. The VA and ship on the Danang visit list for the the clerks at the National Archives, the Government are waiting for all Reeves indoctrination visit on 7-8 and sending for the documents. of us to pass. This is a job that July 1966 for more than a couple of The Association will pay for the takes some dedication, a lot of years. We have been working with notarization and postage costs for faith, and a sprinkle of faith in a other groups who are experiencing these documents. disappearing system. the same frustrations and inabilities The documents must then be Please contact me, to move ahead. submitted with some sort of cover- Before any shipmate can begin ing documentation to the VA. And [email protected]. to file an Agent Orange claim the this is just to get the ship on the Also, read the fine print: Reeves must be on the VA’s Agent list. Exception: Blue Water Veterans with Orange Ship List. We have photo This is the first hurdle: The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be copies of the deck logs for those ship had to anchor in the inland granted service-connection without dates when Reeves was anchored waters of Vietnam—thus the above showing inland waterway service or in Danang Harbor. article—and we know it did. A that they set foot in Vietnam. This is No one can move ahead with shipmate had to actually set foot because VA also recognizes non- any claim until Reeves is published ashore on the soil (dirt) of Vietnam Hodgkin's lymphoma as related to on the VA exposure list. I believe within the inland water boundaries service in Vietnam or the waters off- the simplest way to achieve that is where Agent Orange and a couple shore of Vietnam during the Vietnam to simply provide notarized copies of other herbicides had been de- Era. - See more at: of the deck logs for 7-8 July 1966. ployed—and we know they did. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/expo Those have yet to be obtained. sures/agentorange/locations/blue- Now, it appears, we have to water- We need a shipmate to focus on prove the ship was in the inland terans.asp#sthash.EvQtp47y.dpuf this singular issue—getting the waters of Vietnam at the time. The ship on the list. That will mean Court of Appeals says it is so, but getting the notarized copy of the without the means of proof to real-

Last Agent Orange Note Lorri and I went to a Garden Show As we were all the same age, the in case. Watching the news on the here in Spokane recently. We met conversation moved from services VA, this may be a lengthy endeav- with an Air Force and Army cou- to the VA, Vietnam, and Agent or. But then, I’m retired. Just ple at one of the eat’s areas. It was Orange. There was a strong push bring a book or two to the Spokane an interesting lunch. by this couple to get registered VA and plan to spend a lot of time. with the VA for the whatever, just P agea g e 10 1 0 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter Lyme Disease Blacklegged ticks spread Lyme shower as soon as possible after com- The type of antibiotic your doctor disease, the CDC says. Symptoms ing indoors to wash off ticks and gives you and the number of days you include fever, headache, fatigue and a more easily find any left crawling on take it will depend on your symptoms skin rash called erythema migrans. If you. Parents should check their chil- and the stage (early or later) of the left untreated, infection can spread to dren; pet owners, their furry friends. disease. Talk to your doctor if you joints, the heart and the nervous sys- The symptoms of Lyme disease have any questions about your antibi- tem. The CDC reported 27,000 con- depend on the stage of the disease. otic treatment. Antibiotic treatment firmed Lyme disease cases in 2013, You may first notice symptoms for early Lyme disease is effective, the latest figures available, and sus- weeks to months after the tick bite. If and symptoms usually go away with- pected 9,000 more. The harsh North- the disease isn't treated, it may pro- in 3 weeks of treatment. The earlier east winter’s snowpack this year gress from mild symptoms to serious, antibiotic treatment is started after made a blanket protecting the re- long-term disabilities. infection, the faster and more com- gion’s ticks from severe cold rather · In the first stage, you may have pletely you will recover. If Lyme dis- than killing them off. That means a a rash (erythema migrans camera.gif) ease isn't diagnosed and treated until tougher Lyme disease season ahead, at the site of the tick bite. You may later problems arise, it may take you a health officials say. also have a lack of energy or a head- long time to get better. Or you may Ticks aren’t just in forests and ache and stiff neck. Sometimes peo- need more treatment. If the disease fields, Ralph Garruto, head of the tick ple have no symptoms at this stage. If gets worse, treatment options include: -borne disease program at New you don't have symptoms during · Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory York’s Binghamton University, told stage 1, your first symptoms may be drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or The AP. “We’re finding plenty of those found in stage 2 or 3. ibuprofen. These are usually helpful infected ticks in built environments, · In the second stage, symptoms for symptoms of arthritis that can oc- places like city parks, playgrounds, may include memory problems and cur with late Lyme disease. work campuses, college campuses. pain and weakness in the arms and · Antibiotics. These may be used What makes the problem worse is legs. for achy joints caused by chronic that people don’t perceive of these · In the third stage, symptoms Lyme arthritis. But joints that have environments as risky,” Garruto said. may include swelling and pain (like been badly damaged by Lyme arthri- Avoid tick bites by staying away arthritis) in the joints, not being able tis may take a long time to get better, from wooded and bushy areas with to control facial muscles, and numb- or antibiotics may not improve symp- high grass and leaf litter and wear ness and tingling in the hands, feet, or toms. repellant containing 20 to 30 percent · Long-term antibiotics. These DEET on your skin and 0.5 percent back. are commonly used to treat nervous permethrin on clothing. Bathe or system problems such as tingling and numbness or conditions such as men- Valuable News Sources ingitis. · Antibiotics plus other treat- As I have said before, the semi-monthly ments. These are used to help people RAO Bulletin is an invaluable source of who develop serious heart problems, USN/DOD news for this newsletter. I such as severe irregular heartbeat or strongly recommend every Veteran sub- pericarditis, from Lyme disease. But scribe to this informative and timely these problems are extremely rare. source: Heart problems may start getting bet- Lt. James “EMO” Tichacek, USN (Ret) ter on their own, even before antibiot- ics or other treatment has started. Editor/Publisher RAO Bulletin

"If ye break faith - we shall RAO Baguio, PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO Irish People with partial facial paraly- not sleep" AP 96517 sis as a result of Lyme disease may Proverb Tel: (951) 238-1246 in U.S. or Cell: improve on their own without more 0915-361-3503 in the . treatment. Even after successful treat- Email: [email protected] ment for Lyme disease, you can get it again. So it is important to continue Web Access: to protect yourself against tick bites. http://www.veteransresources.org , [Source: MoneyTalksNews & http://frabr245.org or WebMD | Jim Gold | May 04, 2015 http://vets4vets.zymichost.com/rao.html ++] Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 1 11 1 Master Chief Charlie A bad command climate survey chief's mess. Then - Electronics San Diego with Master Chief Char- may have sunk the career of a San Technician 1st Class (chief select) lie tied up on the aft missile deck. Diego cruiser skipper, but then there Darren Wilks told Navy Times then "It's a pretty long transit and every was that deal with the goat. When that Johnson never really guessed time we'd walk by I'd be thinking, investigators began peeling back the they'd have followed through on it. 'Man, this goat is going to die,' " the onion on cruiser Lake Erie earlier "We were initially thinking of get- source said. But Master Chief Char- this year, they started hearing stories ting a stuffed goat or something to lie, like a true old salt, braved the about Master Chief Charlie, a four- hang in the mess," Wilkes said. "But wind and waves and made it to his legged visitor who occasionally ap- we decided to get him a real live new sunny SoCal home. When offi- peared on the ship and even made at goat. We thought he'd get a kick out cials began reviewing Lake Erie's least one Pacific voyage. Master of it." So, sure enough, the CPO command climate survey, it appears Chief Charlie, an adopted pygmy selects acquired a newborn pygmy they were not amused to discover goat that enjoys granola bars, served goat, which sported a white coat Charlie's big Pacific voyage, which as a mascot for the Lake Erie. He with black and brown spots. They may have violated some Navy regs. bleated at command picnics and issued him a tiny blue – and gray To be sure, there is no specific regu- family events, according to a source Navy working uniform goat vest lation that prohibits the boarding of with direct knowledge of Char- livestock on Navy ships, said a lie's handling. The source re- Navy official with direct quested anonymity because he knowledge of the investigation wasn't authorized to speak pub- who spoke on background to licly about the handling of a na- discuss interstate goat transfers. val animal. "Charlie was the un- official face of Lake Erie," the According to California's de- source said. "He's always a big partment of food and agriculture hit with the kids." website, goats entering the state have to be examined by a veteri- When Capt. John Banigan, narian within 30 days before the cruiser's commanding of- moving, be tagged or micro- ficer, agreed to take Master chipped, and the owners issued a Chief Charlie along for the permit. The laws are similar for ship's homeport shift from Hawaii with a Lake Erie command crest cats and dogs, though it's unclear to San Diego, he unwittingly ran patch midway down the back. At what the laws are governing enlisted afoul of California's regulations on the time Master Chief Charlie was pet pygmy goats. Master Chief transporting domesticated goats into christened "Jack" after the master Charlie is in good health and spirits, the state. Banigan was removed 27 chief. Navy Times was unable to said the Navy official who was una- APR from his post as the cruiser's determine when the goat's name was ble to provide the goat's location as CO; an investigation into the com- changed to Charlie. "It's amazing of 30 APR. The official also de- mand's climate remains ongoing. how such a little guy like that has clined to say whether anyone else Violating "California's domestic pet brought us all together, tighter than on the ship was under investigation, entry laws" is one of the points of we originally were," Johnson told as part of the command climate the investigation that led to Ban- Navy Times. probe or for the Master Chief Char- igan's relief, two official sources lie affair. Charlie, 3, could not be confirmed. Banigan, 49, declined a Well, the chiefs earned their an- made available for comment. On 1 request for comment through a chors and the goat was kept on now- MAY, a prankster seemingly spokesman. Chief Wilkes' ranch, making the amused by the ordeal established occasional appearance at ship the Twitter handle Here's how it all went down. It events. Fast forward to September @MChiefCharlie, which quickly started as a joke in 2012 by Lake 2014. The ship is departing Hawaii garnered close to four dozen follow- Erie's then - Command Master on a homeport shift to San Diego. ers. His bio states "I'm a four-legged Chief Jack Johnson, who told the The chief's mess didn't want to de- sailor yearning to return to the vast Erie's chief selects they should get a part Hawaii without its mascot. So seas." goat as a mascot, a play on "goat they decided to make the week-long Source: NavyTimes | David locker," a slang phrase for the transit across the Pacific Ocean to Larter | April 30, 2015 ++

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