Million Veterans Program

[Paul Albertine]

anyone else getting mail from "the million veterans program" that states it's authorized by the VA?  It is a 5 page survey for anyone getting healthcare at the VA.   It appears that first thing they want you to do is have a blood draw for genetic testing.  I get them about every 4 or 5 months, never responded...genetic testing is a little invasive for my 'hermit mentality'

[Ben (Smitty) Smith]

   I have never seen one.

[kid purington]

I have not received any such mailings myself. Only heard about the MVP research program from a Gulf War Vet who has received the mailing...

Further information:

    www.research.va.gov/mvp/veterans.cfm    

[Mike Brinck]

Paul et al:  Check out this VA web page:

https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2806

Mike

[Paul C. Daiute]

The Million Veterans Program is much like the Agent Orange Registry , it collects information that could be helpful in the care of veterans. I have volunteered to be part of the research and was told up front that it was unlikely that I would learn of any results from the efforts. The research is going t be for the long term. I was a Corpsman and still want to look out for and help my comrades. We wanted to look out for each other back in Nam, we need to continue to do so even now.
Paul C. Daiute HM3
NSA Binh Thuy
ATSB Song Ong Doc
ATSB Ca Mau 70-71

[kid purington]

 Thank you Paul C. Daiute for giving a first hand report here.  I'll ask about the program next time I'm at the VA..

 We may have crossed trails out at Song Ong Doc. I was with the Seawolf detachment (Det 6) operating from the beach there.  I used to run barefoot with the local kids up and down the AO covered mud river banks crawling with worms and parasites of all sorts. Having a great time fishing with them local kids. (another story).. well seems one time them mud worms/parasites crawled up under my skin as far as my ankles and had my feet covered with wiggly critters moving about, that itched, burned and a whole lot more.. was "NOT" fun... So I wandered over to the AMI's and checked in with the Corpsman on duty.. (after about two days of putting up with them ankle eating beast) ...Doc gives me some ointment or cream to rub into the infected areas.. I went about that quickly, which resulted in killing off them miserable varmints...still have the scars from those flesh eating, Vietnam, Song Ong Doc, tropical blood-sucking inboard leech type cooties... Thank you most kindly for being a Corspmen, (yet another story), and if you was the person who was involved with my plight".. my hats off to you Sir..
                                                                                                             ... freegunner" Det 6... kid".  

[Paul (Bac Xe) Daiute]

Hi Kid,
 I was at SOD 22 Oct 70 and was on the floats when they were towed up river to Old SOD and then to Ca Mau. I left Ca Mau for a while in Dec and was back in Jan and stayed till May. I took care of lots of guys with rashes, among other things. Back in Binh Thuy, (Jun 70 to Oct), I'm the guy who gave all the Hal-3s their GG shots ad other immunizations. I got lot's of thanks for that little chore! While I'm talking about "thank yous", Thanks to all of HA(L)-3 for what you did. I was grateful to load my patients on to a Sea wolf and happy to see them spray the fields with minis a couple of times. No one knows what the River Boats did or what a Sea Wolf is unless you were there.
Paul

[kid purington]

... Thanks again Paul..  even for the GG shot".... Yes I was there Oct 20 1970.. After the attack Det 6 moved to the Gulf of Siam aboard the Garrett County LST 786..  SOD forever with me, "Good People"....

[Paul (Bac Xe) Daiute]

Kid,
 I must have taken care of you.
 The day I landed at SOD they brought me a dead woman on a stretcher. I didn't know how long she head been dead and started to do CPR on her and got a mouth full of rice and nuc mam as I did my mouth to mouth. We didn't wear gloves back then either. I got tested for hepatitis and was thrilled to find I was negative. I started and IV her and had a Doctor come from a ship off shore. His first question was, why did you start the IV, I knew I was in trouble for him to ask me that question and I never looked for help again. I don't mean to highjack  this thread. The Sea Wolves flew that MD in for me, I do remember that. Do you remember that happening, do you remember flying over the floats as we went up river with them? Thank God we had the Sea Wolves and the VC s didn't!
Paul

[kid purington]

.. Moving to new message post... Apologize for staying on your message site Paul Albertine.. kid"

[Paul Albertine]

always enjoy your posts and graphics...

[Paul (Bac Xe) Daiute HM3]

Here are some statistics from the Million Veteran Program!
616,269 Veterans have enrolled in the program.
48.6%  of the enrollees were in service, Aug. 1964 to Apr. 1975.
32.6% of the enrollees are Army.
14.5% of enrollees are Navy.
11.7%of enrollees are Air Force.
7.4% of enrollees are Marines.
4.0% of enrollees are National Guard.

Top 10 Reported Diseases on Baseline Survey!
Hypertension 40%
High Cholesterol 35.6%
Acid Reflux 21.6%
Tinnitus 21.5%
Hearing loss 19.5%
Depression 18.4%
Diabetes 17.3%
Cataracts 16.8%
Sleep Apnea 16.6%
Other Arthritis 14.9%
It would seem to me that the above information could be helpful for veterans looking for disability claims if the information when compared to the general population, shows a higher incidence among the veteran population.
 I would like to see a higher enrollment among Navy personnel for health problems that might be unique to our service experience. I'd really like to see better participation from the Marine Vets but by their nature they may not contribute their patient health history for fear of being less the a tough Marine.
 I hope you HA(L)-3s find this information, interesting and helpful.
Paul