IV. Ships with crew members going ashore in Vietnam, or operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore
The VA Says: “This category includes large ocean-going ships of the Blue Water Navy that conducted a variety of missions along the close coastal waters of Vietnam for extended periods of time. Documentary evidence has been obtained for all ships in this category showing that some crew members actually went ashore. Examples of such vessels include hospital ships, harbor repair ships, mine sweepers, and seaplane tenders. Also included are combat ships, such as destroyers, when evidence shows that crew members went ashore. Because shore activity of some crew members has been documented, any Veteran aboard the ship at the time of documented shore activity will be eligible for the presumption of exposure if that Veteran provides a lay statement of personally going ashore.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs places a ship on this list when “documentary evidence shows that it fits into a particular category.” The required evidence can come from an official ship history, deck logs, cruise books, Captain’s letters, or similar documents. A ship can be listed in more than one category, based on its activities.
For a presumptive service connection for exposure to Agent Orange or other toxic herbicides, evidence requirements may vary depending on the dates the Veteran was aboard and what ship activity occurred on those dates.
Below is the current list of ships with crew members going ashore in Vietnam. What if a ship I served on is not on this VA Agent Orange ship list?
• USS Isle Royale (AD-29) [Destroyer Tender-Repair Ship] salvaged the beached USS Mahnomen County (LST-912) at Chu Lai during January 1967 with crewmembers going ashore for stripping operations
• USS Surfbird (ADG-383) [Degaussing Ship] sent crew members ashore during anti-mine degaussing operations at Cam Ranh Bay, Vung Tau, Da Nang, and Con Son Island during September-November 1967; March-July and December 1968; March and December 1969; and January-February 1970
• USS Pyro (AE-24) [Auxiliary Explosive, Ammunition Ship] sent small boat ashore from Da Nang Harbor with injured crew member for medical treatment on September 29, 1972
• USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7) [Amphibious Force Flagship] Command ship for 7th Fleet Amphibious Force operated out of Da Nang during 1969 with evidence that crew members went ashore
• USS Eldorado (AGC-11) sent crewmembers ashore for beach party at Cam Ranh Bay during July 1970
• USS Estes (AGC-12) sent crewmembers ashore for beach picnic at Vung Tau during April 1968
• USS Oxford (AGTR-1) [Technical Research Ship] conducted numerous month-long deployments along the Vietnam coast collecting data, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore, between 1965 and 1969
• USS Jamestown (AGTR-3) conducted numerous month-long deployments along the Vietnam coast collecting data, with photographic evidence that crewmembers went ashore, between January 1966 and September 1969
• USS Repose (AH-16) [Hospital Ship] operated continuously on close coastal waters from 1966-1970, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Sanctuary (AH-17) operated continuously on close coastal waters from 1967-1971, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) [Fleet Oiler] sent crew members ashore to visit the An Thoi Naval Base on April 27, 1969
• USS Tolovana (AO-64) sent crew ashore for beach party at Phu Quoc during May 1971
• USS Calvert (APA-32) [Amphibious Attack Transport] served as Da Nang Harbor station ship, with crewmembers going ashore, from November 1965 through January 1966
• USS Cavalier (APA-37) served as Da Nang Harbor station ship, with crewmembers going ashore, from June-July 1966
• USS Cook (APD-130) [High Speed Transport] conducted tactical beach surveys with crew members ashore along Vietnam coast during June and July 1966
• USS Ajax (AR-6) [Repair Ship] anchored in Vung Tau area for repair duties with evidence of shore-based repairs during June 1968, September to October 1969, April to May 1970, and August to November 1971
• USS Hector (AR-7) anchored in Vung Tau Harbor repairing other vessels from July 20 to August 16, 1970, with deck logs stating that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Jason (AR-8) anchored in Vung Tau Harbor repairing other vessels with deck logs showing evidence of crewmembers going ashore June through August 1968, December 1969 through January 1970, and March through April 1971
• USS Safeguard (ARS-25) [Salvage Ship] anchored in Da Nang Harbor repairing other vessels with evidence that workboats went ashore during July 1971
• USS Delta (AR-9) anchored in Vung Tau Harbor repairing other vessels during July 1969 with deck logs showing that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Klondike (AR-22) anchored in Vung Tau Harbor repairing other vessels during April 1969 with deck logs showing that crewmembers went ashore
• USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) [Helicopter Repair Ship] anchored in Cam Ranh Bay from 1966 to 1969 with US Army crew of helicopter repair technicians who went ashore regularly and assisted a Vietnamese orphanage
• USS Ute (ATF-76) [Fleet Ocean Tug] conducted numerous salvaging operations on beached vessels from April 1966 through April 1971 with crewmembers going ashore and all attended beach party at Cam Ranh Bay on April 12, 1969
• USS Currituck (AV-7) [Sea Plane Tender] anchored at Cam Ranh Bay for month long periods during 1966 and 1967 to repair and tend to Navy sea planes, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Pine Island (AV-12) anchored at Da Nang during August 1964, and Cam Ranh Bay for month long periods during 1965 and 1966, to repair and tend to Navy sea planes, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore on liberty leave
• USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13) anchored at Da Nang during February 1965, Con Son Island during May 1965, and Cam Ranh Bay for month long periods during 1966, to repair and tend to Navy sea planes, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore
• USS New Jersey (BB-62) sent 30 crew members ashore for Thanksgiving dinner while offshore near Hue on November 28, 1968
• USS Saint Paul (CA-73) [Cruiser] while anchored in Da Nang Harbor, small boats sent ashore on May 9, 1969, and May 25, July 17, and September 17, 1970
• USS Canberra (CAG-2) [Guided Missile Cruiser] sent small boats and helicopters ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor during April 1965
• USS Chicago (CG-11) [Guided Missile Cruiser] while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on May 22, 1969, deck logs show a utility boat went ashore for one hour with 8 crewmembers aboard
• USS Long Beach (CGN-9) [Guided Missile Cruiser, Nuclear] while anchored in Da Nang Harbor, deck logs show that utility boats went ashore with passengers on May 5, 1968 and the Captains Gig went ashore on September 4, 1969
• USS Porterfield (DD-682 [Destroyer] while operating in close coastal waters on March 19, 1966, two officers and a seaman went ashore in a junk and, on April 8, 1966, a small boat went ashore from Da Nang Harbor with Vietnamese officers
• USS Wiltsie (DD-716) while operating in close coastal waters during September 1970, two officers and five sailors were sent ashore by helicopter for one night
• USS Epperson (DD-719) while anchored off Phan Thiet on November 16, 1969, crewmembers went ashore for liberty leave
• USS O’Brien (DD-725) sent motorized whaleboat ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on December 16, 1969
• USS Maddox (DD-731) sent motorized whaleboats ashore while anchored in Vung Tau Harbor on March 3, 1967
• USS Blue (DD-744) anchored in Da Nang Harbor on April 21, 1968, with crewmembers going ashore for picnic
• USS Lowry (DD-770) sent motorized whaleboat ashore at Phan Thiet on June 5, 1968
• USS Stormes (DD-780) sent motorized whaleboat ashore to assist 2nd ARVN and 2nd US Advisory Group on September 17, 1966
• USS Eversole (DD-789) sent motorized whaleboat ashore to Chu Lai from offshore anchorage to transfer two crewmembers on July 25, 1972
• USS Shelton (DD-790) conducted small boat inland waterborne logistics craft (WBLC) surveillance of Cua Viet River on August 16, 1972
• USS Higbee (DD-806) sent small boats ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on September 9, 1965 and December 7, 1967
• USS Corry (DD-817) sent small boats ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor January 11-12, 1969 and Nha Trang Harbor February 20, 1969
• USS New (DD-818) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mission briefing on August 8, 1967
• USS Carpenter (DD-825) sent medical team ashore at Song Tra Village on December 20, 1968
• USS Everett F. Larson (DD-830) sent crew members ashore for beach party while anchored in Van Phong Bay on September 15, 1969
• USS Hanson (DD-832) sent motorized whaleboats ashore from Da Nang Harbor on September 17, 1972, for medical evacuation and mail pickup
• USS Power (DD-839) sent Commanding Officer and others ashore in whaleboat for briefing while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on November 13, 1968
• USS Bausell (DD-845) sent small boat ashore for briefing while in Da Nang Harbor on November 27, 1968
• USS Richard E. Krause (DD-849) sent motorized whaleboats ashore while in Da Nang Harbor on December 29, 1972
• USS Rupertus (DD-851) sent motorized whaleboats ashore while in Da Nang Harbor on January 4, 1973
• USS McCaffery (DD-860) sent small boat ashore while in Da Nang Harbor December 12-14, 1972
• USS Vogelgesang (DD-862) anchored in Da Nang Harbor and sent 30 crew members ashore on August 15, 1966
• USS Steinaker (DD-863) anchored off Phan Thiet July 25- August 3, 1968 with crew members going ashore to visit Junk Base
• USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869) sent small boat ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on April 12, 1970
• USS John R. Craig (DD-885) anchored off Nha Trang during summer 1968 with crewmembers going ashore for beach party
• USS Fechteler (DD-870) sent crew ashore for beach party on September 25, 1965, and while conducting night patrols of Da Nang Harbor, crew members went ashore for daytime liberty leave during October 1965
• USS Duncan (DD-874) sent small boat ashore for briefing while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on December 14, 1968
• USS Henry W. Tucker (DD-875) sent whaleboat ashore at Da Nang for briefing on January 23, 1969 and medical team ashore while off Quang Ngai on 27 February, 1969
• USS Rogers (DD-876) sent whaleboats ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor July 29-August 3, 1971
• USS Hull (DD-945) sent small boats ashore while anchored off Nha Trang on February 17, 1968
• USS Morton (DD-948) sent small boat ashore at Hue on November 13, 1972
• USS Barney (DDG-6) [Guided Missile Destroyer] while serving as Flagship for Destroyer Division One Six Two, sent crew members ashore at Da Nang for gunfire mission planning during June-July 1967
• USS Berkeley (DDG-15) sent small boats ashore at Da Nang and elsewhere for gunfire support missions during May-June 1970
• USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) sent small boats ashore from Da Nang Harbor on December 20 and 24, 1972
• USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) sent small boats ashore from Da Nang Harbor on September 17, 1969 and December 22, 1970
• USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838) [Radar Picket Destroyer] repeatedly sent small boats ashore with naval gunfire spotters in II Corps area during April-May 1966
• USS McGinty (DE-365) [Destroyer Escort] sent crew members ashore at Da Nang for a party on WESTPAC cruise during spring 1962
• USS Davidson (DE-1045) sent motorized whaleboat ashore while anchored off coast of Tan My on September 20, 1972
• USS Gray (DE-1054) sent motorized whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mail pickup on October 7, 1972
• USS Ouellet (DE-1077) sent motorized whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor on July 29, 1972
• USS Koiner (DER-331) [Destroyer Escort, Radar] crew had liberty leave at Vung Tau and survey parties were sent ashore at various locations while on Operation Market Time radar patrol during 1967
• USS Forester (DER-334) crew had liberty leave at Nha Trang on June 28 and July 10 1965, with whale boat ashore for medical assistance on August 20, 1965
• USS Wilhoite (DER-397) sent crew members onto enemy vessel in De Sey Ky River during July 16, 1965 and sent landing party ashore from Vung Tau Harbor on September 28, 1968
• USS Hissem (DER-400) moored to port side of USS Tuluita (ARG-4) for repairs in Vung Tau area from January 11-23, 1967, with evidence that crewmembers went ashore for liberty leave and sent motorized whaleboat ashore for briefing at An Thoi on February 3, 1967
• USS Mahan (DLG-11) [Guided Missile Frigate] sent a “group of personnel” ashore at Da Nang for a short tour of Monkey Mountain on October 6, 1968
• USS Dahlgren (DLG-12) sent motorized whaleboat and Captain’s gig ashore while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on June 4, 1967
• USS William V. Pratt (DLG-13) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mission briefing on August 8, 1967
• USS Dewey (DLG-14) sent whaleboat ashore for briefing while in Da Nang Harbor on January 15, 1968
• USS Worden (DLG-18) sent whaleboat ashore for briefing while in Da Nang Harbor on November 27, 1968
• USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG-20) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mission briefing on December 4, 1966
• USS England (DLG-22) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mission briefings on March 9, 1967 and July 30, 1968
• USS Belknap (DLG-26) while in Da Nang Harbor on December 1, 1969, received crew members back to ship from temporary duty ashore
• USS Jouett (DLG-29) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for mission briefings on February 15, April 15, and June 1, 1968
• USS Fox (DLG-33) sent small boat ashore from Da Nang Harbor with Captain for mission briefings on October 24, 1967
• USS Biddle (DLG-34) sent whaleboat ashore from Da Nang Harbor for briefings on March 5 and June 2, 1968 and delivered North Vietnamese fisherman ashore at Da Nang on July 30, 1969
• USS Truxtun (DLGN-35) sent small boats ashore from Da Nang Harbor on June 2, 1968 and October 25, 1969
• USS Cleveland (LPD-7) [Amphibious Transport Dock] sent Naval Academy Midshipmen on training mission ashore at Da Nang on 9-10 July, 1970
• USS Tripoli (LPH-10) [Landing Platform Helicopter] sent crew members ashore for beach party at Da Nang on July 29, 1967
• USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) [Landing Ship Dock] served four-month duty as “boat repair ship” in Da Nang Harbor during 1965, with evidence of crew members going ashore
• USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) served as station and repair ship in Da Nang Harbor with evidence of crewmembers going ashore from January through March 1966
• USS Whetstone (LSD-27) anchored as long term “boat haven” in Da Nang Harbor for repairs of smaller vessels, with evidence of crewmembers going ashore, during April-May 1965
• USS Alamo (LSD-33) while anchored in Da Nang Harbor, sent crewmembers ashore for R&R beach parties during March-April 1969
• USS Epping Forest (MCS-7) [Mine Countermeasure Support Ship] conducted “goodwill” tours at Cam Ranh Bay and Nha Trang with crewmembers going ashore and Vietnamese coming aboard during September-October 1964, and mine sweep of Cua Viet River using smaller vessels from main ship during May 1968
USS Guide (MSO-447) [Minesweeper-Ocean] sent motorized whaleboats ashore for briefings while in Da Nang Harbor during May 1970