WASHINGTON – US Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand testified on Tuesday before the Senate Veterans’
Affairs Committee urging passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
Act of 2015, which would make easier for the VA to process Vietnam War
vets’ claims for service-connected conditions.
Blue Water veterans were those who served off-shore in territorial waters within 12 miles of the mainland, who became exposed to Agency Orange through the chemicals that ran off into the ocean.
Carol Olszanecki of Ulster County is the widow of a Navy veteran who died as a result of the toxic chemical jungle defoliant.
“Hopefully this bill will pass; we can get this through and these gentlemen and ladies who have been exposed, they will be able to get benefits for them and our veterans, the ones who are very sick and dying, they can die with a little dignity,” she said.
Mrs. Olszanecki’s husband, John, was in Vietnam when he was in contact with Agent Orange and later died.
