Appreciation to Warren Burch and Lou Christiansen for the information below and work getting the Calvert on the VA’s list of ships covered for Agent Orange disability compensation.
The Calvert was added to this list in July, 2013, and the record is available here. The Calvert’s entry is below:
| Calvert (APA-32) (Amphibious Attack Transport) |
Entered inland waters of Qui Nhon Bay during October 1965Served as Da Nang Harbor station ship with crewmembers going ashore from November 1965 through January 1966 |
Please visit the VA page here for more information about disability compensation related to Agent Orange exposure claims.
’65 – ’66 DECK LOGS
For reference, below are the deck logs that Lou obtained and submitted in his disability case that led to the confirmation that the crew of the Calvert were eligible for disability compensation based on their participation in the ’65-66 WESTPAC Cruise.
These deck log excerpts, from late-1965 to early-1966, provide anchorage and shore duty information while the Calvert was in Vietnam. This information will be helpful of members of the Calvert’s crew who are submitting claims for agent orange exposure during their time aboard the ship (while in anchored in the harbor, manning landing craft in the harbor, and duty ashore).
- 1965-OCT-23 to 1965-OCT-25 – Qui Nhon, Vietnam (Brown Water)
- 1965-NOV-24 to 1965-Nov-26 – Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam (Brown Water)
- 1965-DEC-26 to 1965-DEC-31 – Da Nang, Vietnam (Brown Water)
- 1966-JAN-01 – 1966-JAN-17 Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam (Brown Water)
Many thanks to Lou Christiansen for investing time to visit the Naval archives in Maryland to obtain copies of these documents. Additional thanks to Wasey Broussard for sending these to me as electronic documents to be published on this site.
“Brown Water” Explained
If you are considering submitting an Agent Orange related disability claim, it is important to understand the distinction between “blue water” and “brown water.” Additional information is available at the following sites:
- US Department of Veterans Affairs – Information regarding US Navy ships in Vietnam and the VA’s “Blue Water” criteria.
- Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association – Site dedicated to the efforts to pass legislation regarding coverage for blue-water navy personnel.
- Navy Times article, February, 23 2010
Pingback: Calvert’s Deck Logs – Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam (Agent Orange Claims) | USS Calvert (APA-32)
Please let me know if anyone is looking into brown water exposure during the ’62 Westpac. My husband transported Marines to shore, but I am unable to prove boots on ground.
I’m not sure how early they started using agent orange.
There was an extensive report on Da Nang harbor that may help.
I was aboard the Calvert during this time period in Viet Nam. Can anyone give me information
about disability benefits regarding Agent Orange?
You have to go to VA to get onto AO registry. Hi Ron.
Dan Beason
what office? How are you and your sweet wife?
My name is Billy L. Riley I was on the USS Southerland dd 743 in 1968
I am trying to find out how to get my ship on the agent orange list for the year
Of 1968. It is on the list for 1966.
Pingback: Lou Christiansen Jr., Commander USS Calvert Associates, January 2015 | USS Calvert (APA-32)