Infantry 11B20, Korea, 68-70

[kateavery2002]

Posting for my uncle, Jackie Ray Wheeler, fighting prostate cancer and he's asking me to help him with his disability claim... he's trying to figure out where he was stationed, I think to see if he was exposed to agent orange... can anybody offer any advice?

Thanks!

Dee

[TinCanMan]

Not much we can do unless we know if he had service in the Republic of Korea at the DMZ. He can get his Military Personnel Record and his Service Medical Record and his DD-214 by contacting NARA and submitting a signed SF-180. Go here: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/

Whether he has the qualifying service will depend on when he was there and which unit he served with. You do not have to show you actually were at the DMZ.

If you know he served in one of these units at the appropriate time, don't wase time getting the records. Just file the claim and let VA get the records. They can get NARA's attention much faster than you and I.

DoD has confirmed that Agent Orange was used from April 1968 up through July 1969 along the DMZ

Combat Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division
Division Reaction Force
3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 38th Infantry
4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Counter Agent Company
1st Battalion, 17th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry
1st Battalion, 31st Infantry
1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry
1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 10th Cavalry
3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry.
3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry.
1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry
1st Battalion, 72nd Armor
2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor
1st Battalion, 12th Artillery
1st Battalion, 15th Artillery
7th Battalion, 17th Artillery

Combat Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division
Division Reaction Force
3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division
5th Battalion, 38th Artillery
6th Battalion, 37th Artillery

[TinCanMan]

Kate:

You don't need to go this alone. Every Veterans Service Organization (VSO) and some States and Counties have VA certified Service Officers (SO's) that will assist veterans and their spouses with presenting their claims. Call The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion (AL), the American Red Cross (ARC), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Military Order of the Purple Heart (MoPH) or any of the other hundreds of organizations and ask for help filing a claim. It's free and you don't have to be a member.

One thing to remember is that all SO's are not cut from the same cloth. Choosing one is pretty much a crap shoot unless you get personal recommendations in your area from other vets. SO's can be both good and bad depending on the individual SO. Talk to several, find out which ones return your calls and are available when you call them. Most of the major Veterans Service Organizations have training programs but not all require it. In the end, find someone you can work with.

[Guarango]

Blyme TCM
You never stop to amaze me m8. You 8in the CIA? You forgot more yesterday than I will ever learn. Mr. VA Encyclopedia. Keep ut the outstanding help m8. We all need it.