Added 02/21/2015
Dale Hoffman sent in this note about Agent Orange at the 7th RRFS
Richard: I served at the 7th in 1972 with USAFSS 6924th Security Squadron. I will shortly be appealing a denied claim for herbicide exposure. I would like permission to use the LAYOUT PLAN MAP of the 7th RRFS as part of my claim. If the scale of 1" to 600 feet is accurate; then there was no point on the base more than 500 meters from the perimeter. 500 meters = 1640 feet divided by 600 = 2.73 inches. If I double that, 5.46 inches. No matter how I lay my ruler, there is no point on the base outside of that 500 meter buffer. I find it hard to believe that no one has seen this yet. Maybe you can add it to the AGENT ORANGE issues on the website.
Link to "Field Manual Tactical Employment of Herbicides 14 December 1971"
See Yellow highlighted areas on Page 6 and 17.
Page 2-1 of that manual on "Physiological Properties"characteristics of Agent Orange: [Page 6 of PDF]
(8) ORANGE is low in toxicity to man, fish,
and wildlife; but it will cause slight skin irritation
and minor inhalation effects.
Page 5-5 that manual on "Guidelines for Using Ground Dissemination
Systems": [Page 17 of PDF]
Using ground-based systems allows exact
placement of herbicide on the target and minimizes
downwind drift of agent. Applications
should not be made if windspeed exceeds 10 knots,
or if it is raining or rain is predicted. The major
disadvantages of ground-based systems for spray
application are: the target area must be occupied
and controlled by friendly troops; the terrain
must be traversable by spray apparatus; and current
systems have only a limited standoff capability.
A 500-meter buffer distance should be maintained
to avoid damage to desirable vegetation near the target.
Looks like the Army wasn't too worried about a 500 meter buffer for man in December of 1971.
Steve Moore and a group of men from the 7th with claims filed with the VA are putting together a letter and files to send to the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee, requesting assistance as to why the VA will concede and grant service connection and presumptive status to Military Police and Security Police but other MOS's that had to walk through the perimeters and to the operations compounds daily are not given that concession.
Agent Orange Question