Category Archives: Agent Orange

Letter of Commendation, DaNang, Vietnam, 12/25/1965 – 01/16/1966

Appreciation to Warren L. Burch, RMC (retired Navy, 1982) for providing the following Letter of Commendation for the period December 25, 1965 to January 16, 1966.

Mr. Burch was aboard the Calvert from August 1963 (as an RMSA, direct from boot camp and EM School) through to August 1966 (RM2). He remained in the Navy and retired in 1982 as an RMC (Chief).

This letter is further evidence of the USS Calvert’s time in DaNang, Vietnam related to crew members’ records for Agent Orange claims.

Additional information on Agent Orange claims can be found on this page as well: https://www.usscalvert.com/2013/08/23/uss-calvert-added-the-brown-water-ship-list-agent-orange-disability-claims/

Jack E. Hancock, RM3 – 1965 – 1966

Appreciation to Mr. Jack Hancock for sharing these photographs of the Calvert’s Radio crew, OR Division.

Mr. Hancock can also be seen in this 1965-66 movie footage, at the 16 minute, 5 second to 15 second section. Jorge de la Rossa (left), Skip Steedsman (middle), Jack Hancock (right), as the camera pans to the left and then back right.

Mr. Hancock also helped to produce the ’65-66 Cruise Book and took many of the photographs included in the book.

Lou Christiansen Jr., Commander USS Calvert Associates, January 2015

Lou Christiansen, Commander of the USS Calvert Associates, passed away in January 2015. Lou served aboard the USS Calvert during ’65 and ’66. His obituary is available here.

Lou scoured the National Archives for records that would prove that the Calvert’s crew was exposed to Agent Orange during 1965 and 1966. His success in this research led to the addition of the Calvert to the VA’s “Brown Water.” Lou’s work opened the way for veterans aboard the Calvert in late ’65 and early ’66 to be eligible to apply for Agent Orange related illness benefits via the VA. Additional information is available here.

Louis H Christiansen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later in his life Lou co-founded Drug Crisis in Our Backyard as described here and here.

 

USS Calvert Added to the “Brown Water” Ship List (Agent Orange Disability Claims)

Appreciation to Lou Christiansen for his 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).

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: