For decades, “Blue Water” Navy veterans, those who served offshore rather than on the ground or in Vietnam’s inland waterways, were left out of the presumption of Agent Orange exposure that applied to their “Brown Water” and boots-on-the-ground counterparts.

That changed with the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which extended the presumption of herbicide exposure to veterans who served aboard a U.S. Navy or Coast Guard vessel operating within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.

However, proof is required that a service member’s ship was actually inside that 12-mile zone for dates served aboard a U.S. Naval ship.

Hill & Ponton, a veterans disability law firm, has built an interactive Blue Water Navy map that lets veterans and their families check whether a specific ship’s recorded deck log positions fall inside the eligible zone. The tool works by plotting coordinates pulled from National Archives deck logs, cruise books, and other ship history records against the 12-nautical-mile boundary defined by the law.

The USS Calvert is available in the ships’ list for this interactive map, and shows the ship’s position in January 1966 as anchored in Danang Harbor which corresponds to historical records.

For the full, official eligibility requirements, including the complete list of presumptive conditions, the other locations and service periods that qualify for presumptive exposure, and how to file a claim or supplemental claim, visit this VA website: Agent Orange Exposure and Disability Compensation (VA.gov)

If you believe your ship operated within the eligible zone, the next step is gathering your military records (like your DD214) and any supporting evidence of your service dates and location, then filing a claim — or a Supplemental Claim if you were previously denied before the law changed.

Note: This post is for general informational purposes and isn’t legal or medical advice. Every veteran’s service record and claim is different — if you think you may qualify, consider speaking with an accredited VA representative or a veterans disability attorney about your specific situation.

On behalf of the USS Calvert Associates, make plans to attend and invite your friends and family to join us in Spokane in September!

Below are the details for this year’s USS Calvert Associates Reunion, including printable registration forms and hotel reservation contact instructions.

The Reunion Registration Package Price is $250.00 per person and includes all scheduled reunion meals (lunch, dinner, and Saturday banquet), Hospitality Room snacks & beverages, tour bus transportation, & all gratuities.

• The reunion registration form, and fee, is due September 1st.
• Open and download the Registration form: https://www.usscalvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-USS-Calvert_Reunion-Registration-Form.pdf

Hotel location: Ramada by Wyndham Airport Spokane | 8909 West Airport Drive | Spokane, Washington 99224

• Hotel reservations must be made by September 1st, and must be placed by phoning the Hotel Reservation desk.
• Reservation details, and per-night pricing, is provided in the following Hotel Information form, which can be opened and downloaded here: https://www.usscalvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-USS-Calvert-_Hotel-Registration-Form_July14_2026.pdf
• The hotel is the same hotel in which we had a great USS Calvert Reunion in 2022.

Reunion itinerary

• Wednesday, September 16
  • Arrival day; Greet & Meet Calvert people in Hospitality Room
  • Dinner provided in Hospitality Room
• Thursday., September17
  • Greet & Meet in Hospitality Room
  • Lunch & Dinner in Hospitality Room
  • Spokane City Tour (departure time TBA) will include 100-acre Riverfront Park, a legacy left from the 1974 Expo World’s Fair, Spokane River & Falls, and other scenic Spokane sights planned by Tom & Shirley Upchurch
• Friday, September 18
  • Greet, Meet, & Reminisce in Hosp. Rm.; Lunch & Dinner in Hosp. Rm. (a great time to share photos & USS Calvert memorabilia!)
• Saturday, September 19
  • Greet & Meet in Hosp. Rm.; Lunch in Hosp. Rm; Business Meeting & Memorial Service in
    Hosp. Rm., Banquet in Hotel
• Sunday, September 20
  • Departure
• Reunion hotel rate also good for departure on Monday, September 21st
  

For the period June 11, 1958 to December 31, 1958, the Calvert and crew participated in the 1958 Far East Cruise. The following 42 page document provides details for the events of this period of time: 

• USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1958.06.11 to 1958.12.31 (the document will open in a new tab).

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• San Diego — June 11–12
• Underway to Yokosuka, Japan via Pearl Harbor — Rex 58-C Convoy Exercise — June 12–July 3
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — June 19–21
• Yokosuka, Japan — July 3–19
• Underway to Okinawa — July 19–23
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — Periods at anchor and moored, with daily operations — July 23 – August 12
• Underway to Hong Kong, B.C.C. — August 12–15
• Hong Kong, B.C.C. — August 15–18
• Underway to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands — August 18–20
• Subic Bay, Philippine Islands — Emergency repairs — August 20–24
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa — August 24–26
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — August 26 – September 1
• Underway to Taiwan — Operation Land Ho rehearsal landings — September 1–6
• Toshien Harbor and Fang Liao, Taiwan — Operation Land Ho — September 6–10
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa — September 10–13
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — September 13
• Underway to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands — Evading Typhoon Helen — September 13–19
• Subic Bay, Philippine Islands — September 19–25
• Underway to Kao Hsiung, Taiwan — Cargo delivery — September 25–27
• Kao Hsiung, Taiwan — September 27
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa — September 27–29
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — September 29 – October 1
• Underway to Yokosuka, Japan — September 30 – October 2
• Yokosuka, Japan — October 2–18
• Underway to Iwakuni, Japan — October 18 – 20
• Iwakuni, Japan — October 20–23
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa — October 23 – 25
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — October 25 – November 3
• Kobe, Japan — October 29 – November 1
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa — November 1 – 2
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa — November 3–8
• Underway to Yokosuka, Japan — November 8–9
• Yokosuka, Japan — November 9–22
• Underway to San Diego, California — November 22 – December 8
  • Crossed the International Date Line — November 28
• Moored, U.S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, California — December 8

For the period May 5, 1957 to June 11, 1958, the Calvert and crew spent their time in their home port of San Diego for upkeep, training, and amphibious exercises. For a month the ship and crew participated in Operations Tradewinds in Hawaii, with a follow-on three-month period of overhaul at Hunter’s Point, San Francisco. For the final three months of this period the Calvert and crew underwent refresher training in the area of San Diego in preparation for the Calvert’s 1958 Far East Cruise.

The following 75 page document provides details for the events of this period of time: 

• USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1957.05.05 to 1958.06.11 (the document will open in a new tab).

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• San Diego — May 5 – July 21
• Underway to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to participate in Operation Tradewinds — July 22–30
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — July 30 – August 6
  • Operation Tradewinds — Rehearsal landing, Maalaea Bay, Maui — August 7
  • Operation Tradewinds — Naval gunfire exercise, Kahoolawe Island — August 8–9
  • Operation Tradewinds — Amphibious assault, Barking Sands, Kauai — August 10–14
  • Underway to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — August 14–15
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — August 15–19
• Underway to San Diego, California — August 19–26
• San Diego — August 26 – September 22
• Anchored off San Clemente Island and San Mateo Point — Helilex I-58 — September 23–27
• San Diego — September 27 – October 1
• Anchored off Aliso Canyon, California — Helilex II-58 — October 2–4
• San Diego — October 4 – November 13
• San Clemente Island — MAGLEX 58-G pre-D-Day FIREX — November 14–15
• Aliso Canyon, California — MAGLEX 58-G amphibious landing — November 17–20
• San Diego — November 20 – January 3, 1958
• Underway to San Francisco for shipyard overhaul — January 4–6
• Underway to San Diego — March 13–15
• Aliso Canyon, California — Helilex III-58 — October 9–11
• San Diego — Post-overhaul refresher training — March 15 – June 11