tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946574192356237518.post1022615596753293402..comments2023-11-03T03:20:15.066-07:00Comments on Military & Veterans: Politics for the deserving: Agent Orange in PanamaMike (Beetle) Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17607744991190390695noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946574192356237518.post-6771282681157511192015-09-18T14:18:50.962-07:002015-09-18T14:18:50.962-07:00My name is Israel Ramirez and stationed at Panama ...My name is Israel Ramirez and stationed at Panama Canal Zone for a period of two (years). My first duty station was at Summit Hills Transmitter Facilities. I will not go into the specifics of what went on there, but it was a base in the jungles of Panama and it included a housing area of about 15 units for families and a three (3) story Barracks for Navy personnel both male and female and about a 30 man Marine Corp Detachment which did the Perimeter protection of the very small base.<br /><br />During my stay at the base from November 1974 to February 1976 our base was constantly sprayed aerosols to control bugs and flying insects, I also observed gardeners liquid spraying the jungle overgrows since it constantly rained torrentially and this kept the jungle growth at bay.<br /><br />One side of our base was right on the the Panama Canal and I remember getting on top of the Barracks roof with other sailors and watch the military war games going on their with explosions, tracer bullets, smoke or some type of fumes which at times the wind would bring over to our side of the Canal and envelope all our base. I remember a friend that constantly had skin erruptions and the the Medics or Doctors at Gorgas hospital were unable to diagnose it. I still remember his name. I remember the smoke had a very acrid or sweet smell. We hiked quite a bit in the jungle and besides observing Bushmasters and some wildlife, there were also some areas where parts of the jungle were brown dead. Our Base was in the area of the Canal Zone Summit Hills Zoo and close to Gatun Lake and the Golf Club. Presently I am suffering from some Respiratory ailments, some peripheral burning and pain of my feet and am pre diabetic. Starting to suspect that some of these are due to my being stationed in that area. Any additional info please let me know.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13312728759188462271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946574192356237518.post-72464322864827132952015-09-15T17:14:55.249-07:002015-09-15T17:14:55.249-07:00KJ I also was stationed at Fort Clayton, Panama fr...KJ I also was stationed at Fort Clayton, Panama from 1972 to 1974. I also witnesses the regular spraying for mosquitos, termites and cutter ants. I also witnessed the "dead jungle" which I found was very strange. My MOS was 11c10 81MM Motar Firer. We stayed in the jungle. The spraying of herbicides/pesticidescontinued and the witnessing of the dead jungle was a regular. In 2014 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was diagnosed as aggressive with the highest level possible. In 2015 I had a radical prostectomy; my prostate was removed and the surrounding lymph nodes to the extent possible through surgery. I still have prostate cancer that now has spread to the bladder and I am being treated for that at present. There is no history on my mothers or fathers side of cancer. I feel that we were subject to agent orange and other unknown chemicals. We need to work diligently together to get Panama on the accepted list of Agent Orange locations.IF you were there between 1968 and 1975 and witnesses any of the same please help to set thr records stright. Panamakwjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590698244570034642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946574192356237518.post-87749089246703942952013-07-07T22:29:37.221-07:002013-07-07T22:29:37.221-07:00when i was in panama i was realy sick do to hebaci...when i was in panama i was realy sick do to hebacides had to have my tonssils out and 8 day stay on the other side of canal to get detoxified<br />rashes that skin docs never seen befor chlonce/ as acne ect records said i need permission from the say atorneys off to get the hospital reports,never got them .<br />soon i will make a claim for herbacide exsposer .i also of 3 kinds of heart deseases,i was there during the treaty protecting the canal in 77-79Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com