TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A top VA official in the Tampa Bay area
told 8 On Your Side this week the Department of Veterans Affairs has come a
long way.
Margarita Devlin, principal deputy undersecretary for
veterans benefits contends there is no longer a huge back-log of veterans
waiting for their claims to be processed and completed.
However, claims languish for veterans who served in Thailand
during the Vietnam War and were exposed to a dangerous herbicide known as Agent
Orange.
Most U.S. bombing missions over North Vietnam originated in
Thailand.
Tampa Veterans like Dan Tolly and Paul Devane supported the
war effort from Thai bases.
At Korat, Paul remembers the toxic herbicide Agent Orange
landed on him as he worked near the flight line.
“It just floats onto
you and you can feel it when it hits your skin because it is an oily substance
you can’t wipe it off,” Paul explained.
Dan Tolly’s missile shop at Ubon was close to the heavily
sprayed perimeter.
“It was like less
than a hundred feet away,” Dan remembered.
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