All, but those on the '72 cruise, do any of you remember the date when we pulled into Da Nang to drop off CPO Rice's remains? Was probably Nov time frame.

The Veterans Association of Sailors of the Vietnam War
vasvw.org/
Is helping to restore the VA rights for blue water Sailors (S.1629, the new Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011) for Agent Orange. We were off the coast for two deployments (close in and far out) plus we pulled into Da Nang harbor. 

We need to find out and get this info out there. Our evaps were sucking up water and possibly Agent Orange. There's a lot of diseases out there that Agent Orange has been linked to.

I remember we left Kao Shung and Chief Rice died that night and we headed for Da Nang harbor to off load his body.  I do belive that it was in Nov time frame.

For some of you that made the 66 cruise there is a picture in the cruise book of the Cochrane setting in Da Nang harbor also.

If any one can confrim these two times please post them.

Dan Fugate
GMCM USN RET.

Regarding Chief Rice, He died on Nov 21st 1972.  I remember his remains were put in the reefer until we arrived in DaNang, The exact date I don.t recall. I do remember that Chief Bill Rice( No relation to Chief Jack Rice ) escorted his remains back to Florida for burial.
He was my chief in the As div. and he was really looking forward to our next port of call, Hong Kong. Hope this helps.

Pat O'Brien TM3
(smiley)

Thanks for the replies. This is important for any Blue Water Sailor exposed to Agent Orange that was on the COCHRANE during 'Nam.
Now we need to get the deck log for the day to prove it with the VA.

Jim Fryckman
CMDCM, USN, Ret.

I was on the motor whaleboat detail that took the body of Chief Rice into the DaNang Harbor and turned it over to the personel there. It was November 22,1972. I obtained the ships logs from the Archives to doument the event because of a claim I filed with the Veterans Administration.

RS Roman.
Ex BM 3

I seem to recall the '66 stop in DaNang.  Whenever it was, it was brief.  In and Out in just a few hours.

Paul Anuschat ('65-'67)