13405 Colfax Drive
Fort Washington, Maryland 20744-5438
(301) 758-8365
abccc_association_president@verizon.net
December 28, 2010
Mr. Thomas J. Murphy
Director
Compensation & Pension Service
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Mr. Murphy,
Thank you for your October 5, 2010 change to the Department of Veterans Affairs Agent- Orange-Use-In-Thailand Policy. The new VA policy is certainly a huge step in the right direction.
Although the Airborne Battlefield Command & Control Center (ABCCC) Association has not received a reply to our September 22, 2010 letter to you, we consider the October 5, 2010 change in the Department of Veterans Affairs Agent-Orange-Use-In-Thailand Policy a direct result of the information provided in our September 22, 2010 letter.
However Mr. Murphy, the members of the ABCCC Association do not believe that the new Agent-Orange-Use-In-Thailand Policy goes far enough. We believe that the new policy should include all United States Air Force personnel who were stationed on a US Air Force base in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
In order to correct this omission, we intend to write a letter to President Obama, a friend of the US military, informing him of the history of the ABCCC Associations battle to provide Agent Orange compensation to all United States Air Force personnel who were stationed on a US air force base in Thailand during the Vietnam War
We also intend to inform President Obama that six years ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to even admit that Agent Orange was ever used in Thailand. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Kurt Priessman, a former Air Force security policeman, who was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War and actually saw Agent Orange being sprayed, the VA would still be denying that Agent Orange was ever used in Thailand.
Sincerely,
CMSgt Kenneth D. Witkin, USAF (Ret.)
ABCCC Association President
