USS GOLDSBOROUGH DDG-20 1963-1993

Goldsborough Shipmates,

I received a call today from Mr. David Schoenle, who is a retired Marine and currently works for the VA out of their Buffalo, NY office. He is working on a agent orange claim for a Goldsborugh shipmate and he needs some information about the ships movement after it was hit by shore batteries in December of 1972.

First let me explain the two types of agent orange contact that the VA is considering. One is PRESUMPTIVE EXPOSURE, which is what the vast majority of the deep water ships and crews would be claiming. DIRECT EXPOSURE applies if you were a brown water sailor, traveled up rivers or were on the ground in Vietnam at any time and on the ground means even a steel pier in DaNang harbor.

Mr. Schoenle is trying to determine that after the ship was hit, the initial repairs were done in the DaNang harbor prior to going to Japan for permanent repairs. If, and there is where the big if comes in to play, the ship did tie up in DaNang harbor the crew at that time may be eligible for the DIRECT EXPOSURE compensation which much easier to approve and means quicker compensation for the vet.

As such, Mr. Schoenle needs any documentation that the ship did in fact tie up in DaNang or go into the dry dock area. Ships logs, crew photos, a POD, anything that documents the ship being in DaNang harbor would be a tremendous benefit to our fellow shipmate.

This damaged was after my deployment so I need crewmembers from the 72 cruise to search...

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Welcome to the brand new USS GOLDSBOROUGH blog/website. In the ever changing world of technology, this new blog, is another way for shipmates to keep in touch.

As the Association begins its tenth year, many changes have occured since its inception in San Diego a decade ago. Our founding fathers did a great job in getting us moving forward and bringing what had been a vision of those faithful few in the beginning to what we have today. We're an organization with over 900 registered members that holds an annual reunion to bring old friends and shipmates together to share their love for our ship and to rekindle friendships from decades long past.

Be sure to check out our roster list by dates. Going to your time on board you may be able to find long lost shipmates. If they have an e-mail address, you will hopefully be able to contact them directly.

Our annual reunions are also a great place to see old friends and to share with others the time you had on “Goldy”. We would love to hear from any crewmember or their family.

God Speed to All,

Pat Taylor (HM2), President