Project CHECO: Thailand and Agent Orange Exposure
The declassified Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report provides evidence that herbicides were used on the perimeters of military bases in Thailand to remove foliage providing cover for enemy forces.
In recent years, the VA has conceded that the herbicide(s) used there were Agent Orange or its functional equivalent. However, the presumption of Agent Orange exposure afforded to veterans who served in Vietnam isn't applied as leniently to those who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
While veterans who served in Vietnam only have to establish service in Vietnam during the presumptive period and obtain a diagnosis of a presumptive condition, proving exposure in Thailand is more difficult.
What do Vietnam War veterans who served in Thailand need to show to obtain a presumption of Agent Orange exposure?
- Air Force or Army service at Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, or Army service at some small Army installations in Thailand,
- between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
- Service as a military policeman or duty near the base perimeter.
It is this third requirement—duty near the base perimeter—that can be a difficult hurdle to overcome. Why? Many veterans who served in Thailand did not serve as a military policeman and struggle to establish any military duty near the base perimeter. Others do not qualify for the presumption because they served at bases in Thailand other than RTAF or passed through bases in Thailand without an official assignment there. This is the case despite the fact that many of these veterans were exposed to Agent Orange.
If a veteran believes he was exposed to Agent Orange in Thailand, how can he establish service near the base perimeter?
The VA requires credible evidence of service near the base perimeter. What that means will vary from case-to-case. It will depend upon access to evidence and each veteran's unique experience. With that caveat in mind, the following is a non-exhaustive list of useful evidence:
- Unit history reports
- Statements from other veterans
- Evidence of daily work routines placing you near the perimeter
- Performance or evaluation reports
- DD-214 showing a job that would ordinarily require a veteran to serve near the base perimeter
It's going to take more work if your AFSC/MOS doesn't read Security, Dog Handler, or Military Police, but that doesn't mean you should give up!
For more information about Agent Orange, including a list of exposure areas and presumptive conditions, click here.