Goldsborough Shipmates,
I received a call today from Mr. David Schoenle, who is a retired Marine and currently works for the VA out of their Buffalo, NY office. He is working on a agent orange claim for a Goldsborugh shipmate and he needs some information about the ships movement after it was hit by shore batteries in December of 1972.
First let me explain the two types of agent orange contact that the VA is considering. One is PRESUMPTIVE EXPOSURE, which is what the vast majority of the deep water ships and crews would be claiming. DIRECT EXPOSURE applies if you were a brown water sailor, traveled up rivers or were on the ground in Vietnam at any time and on the ground means even a steel pier in DaNang harbor.
Mr. Schoenle is trying to determine that after the ship was hit, the initial repairs were done in the DaNang harbor prior to going to Japan for permanent repairs. If, and there is where the big if comes in to play, the ship did tie up in DaNang harbor the crew at that time may be eligible for the DIRECT EXPOSURE compensation which much easier to approve and means quicker compensation for the vet.
As such, Mr. Schoenle needs any documentation that the ship did in fact tie up in DaNang or go into the dry dock area. Ships logs, crew photos, a POD, anything that documents the ship being in DaNang harbor would be a tremendous benefit to our fellow shipmate.
This damaged was after my deployment so I need crewmembers from the 72 cruise to search their memories, their letters, photos or anything that could assist our shipmates with their claim.
If you have additional question, please contact Mr. Schoenle directly at 716-857-3122 or his e-mail of david.schoenle@va.gov.
Hope to see many of you in Colorado Springs in August for our 10th reunion. It looks like it will again be a great time and another chance to rekindle old friendships. Details can be found throughout the web site.
Pat Taylor, President