ALPHABETIZED SHIPS LISTED BY THE VA
AS HAVING EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE
The list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships associated with military service in Vietnam and possible exposure to Agent Orange has moved to the Veterans Benefits Administration compensation website.
The updated list can now be found on VBA’s “Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange” Web page.
IMPORTANT: Ships are regularly added to the list based on updated information confirmed in official records of ship operations.
Note: Even if your ship or boat is not included in the Mobile Riverine Force, Inshore Fire Support Division 93, or the above designations, it may still appear in our alphabetized list of ships that had contact with Agent Orange.
The VA maintains a list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships associated with military service in Vietnam and possible exposure to Agent Orange based on military records.
This evolving list helps Veterans who served aboard ships, including “Blue Water Veterans,” find out if they may qualify for the presumption of herbicide exposure.
Veterans must meet VA’s criteria for service in Vietnam, which includes military service aboard boats on the inland waterways or brief visits ashore, to be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides unless they are on the List of Ships already approved.
Veterans who qualify for the presumption of herbicide exposure are not required to show they were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides when seeking VA compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure.
Check the list of ships that had contact with Agent Orange.
You can search the link below to see if your ship is listed.
Ship not on the list and you think it should be?
- You served on ships or boats that were part of the Mobile Riverine Force or Inshore Fire Support Division 93, or
- You had 1 of the following designations:
-
- AGP (Assault Group Patrol/Patrol Craft Tender)
- LCM (Landing Craft, Mechanized)
- LCU (Landing Craft, Utility)
- LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel)
- LST (Landing Ship, Tank)
- PBR (Patrol Boat, River)
- PCF (Patrol Craft, Fast or Swift Boat)
- PG (Patrol Gunboat)
- STABS (Strike Assault Boats)
- WAK (Cargo Vessel)
- WHEC (High Endurance Cutter)
- WLB (Buoy Tender)
- WPB (Patrol Boat)
- YFU (Harbor Utility Craft)
Note: Even if your ship or boat is not included in the Mobile Riverine Force, Inshore Fire Support Division 93, or the above designations, it may still appear in our alphabetized list of ships that had contact with Agent Orange.
Check the list of ships that had contact with Agent Orange.
You can search the link below to see if your ship is listed.
EXAMPLE OF SHIPS LISTED ON ALPHABETIZED LISTING OF SHIPS
They are listed alphabetically by ship type. Example, ACV, ADG, etc.
USS Card (ACV-11) [Escort Aircraft Carrier] mined, sunk, and salvaged in Saigon River Harbor during May 1964
USS Core (ACV-13) travelled on Saigon River to delivered aircraft to Saigon during June 1965
USS Bennington (CVS-20) [Anti-Submarine Aircraft Carrier] entered Qui Nhon Bay Harbor to pick up Bob Hope for onboard Christmas show on December 26, 1966
USS Surfbird (ADG-383) [Degaussing Ship] conducted anti-mine degaussing operation for ships on Qui Nhon Bay during November 1967 and August 1969 (see other categories)
USS Wrangell (AE-12) [Auxiliary Explosive, Ammunition Ship] entered Mekong River Delta to supply ammunition for US Coast Guard vessel on November 21, 1968
USS Firedrake (AE-14) operated on Ganh Rai Bay during April 1966 USS Pictor (AF-54) [Auxiliary Stores Ship] entered Cua Viet River while delivering supplies to Dong Ha during September 1967 (see other category)
USS Vega (AF-59) conducted resupply operations on Mekong River Delta September 13, 1966 (see other category) USS Mars (AFS-1) [Combat Stores Ship] operated on Mekong River July 8, 1966
USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) unloaded supplies on Saigon River and Cam Ranh Bay
USS Lynde McCormick (DDG-8) operated on Cua Ham Loung River and Mekong River Delta during April 1966 and Mekong River Delta during March 1969
On board USS NIAGARA FALLS AFS 3 1967 to 1968 moored at Danang HARBOR for 3 days unload supplies .filed my disability claim diagnosed with bladder cancer/ hypertension /with nexus letter from my provider that my cancer and hypertension are more likely than not caused by exposure to agent orange. Waiting for VETERAN decision. Filed my intent to file sept.11 2019.
Thank you
Very respectfully
FROM Lamberto D arciaga.
U S NAVY RET.
Lamberto, thank you for visiting my site. Did you or any of your shipmates go ashore in Danang? If so, you will be compensated. Good luck and thank you for your service.
Joanne Nesbitt
Was the USS Kearsarge (CVS) ever expose to agent orange doing Vietnam war?
WasPac 1964.
Eddie, I will look into this for you. It may take a little while to research the coming and goings of the Kearsarge but we will find out. Please be patient and I will get back to you;
Joanne Nesbitt
Eddie, I have attached the link for the deck logs for the USS Kearsarge for 1964. Maybe this will help you. If you have any questions, please contact me and I will see if we can get answers to your questions. Just be prepared for a long journey to discover the truth.
https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=USS%20Kearsarge%201964&f.ancestorNaIds=594258
Joanne
Eddie, I found a link to the USS Kearsarge and Asbestos. Check this out:
https://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/jobsites/ships/aircraft-carriers/
Joanne
Eddie,
Great news! The USS Kearsarge was in territorial waters in September 1964 and therefore the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange! This is documented and if you check the Deck Logs I sent you the link for, you can find it under September 1964! Congratulations! If you need more help, please contact me at joanne2887@att.net.
Was the USS Clifton Sprague ever exposed to agent orange in the years of 1981-1985. The ship went to St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Cuba, Honduras, PANAMA, Italy, Greece, Djbuti, Baharain, Pakistan, Grenada War. Let me know what other info would be of help.
USS Piedmont AD 17 received an updated Vietnam counter offensive medal for Feb. 6 & 7 OF 1966 for their service . It was updated on March 6, 2020. Place it also on your blue water ship list.
Sharon, thank you for the information. I will update my records to reflect the USS Piedmont.
Joanne Nesbitt
any update on SS Clifton Sprague
Craig,
Still researching. Thanks for your patience.
Joanne Nesbitt
Craig, I researched your question and unfortunately the government states that no Agent Orange was used after 1975. I hope that answers your question.
Joanne Nesbitt
Craig,
I just learned that the government states that no Agent Orange was used after 1975. Sorry I couldn’t find a more positive answer.
Joanne
For some reason the USS Piedmonts history for 1966 has been concealed—also no cruise books. You see no mention of it taking all hands –over 1000 men–3 days to load ammunition and explosives and what ever else aboard ship. Some was unloaded in Yokosuka, Japan in Jan., 1966 and the other in Olongapo, Philippines. Few days later the Piedmont was ordered to Da Nang on Feb. 6, 1966 to form a task unit with 2 other ships. But the significance is while on our task we did not record our co ordinances.