However, Bluewater Navy veterans were not included in the legislation. In order to benefit from the Agent Orange Act, veterans had to be on Vietnam soil or inland waterways from January 9, 1962 - May 7, 1975. Bluewater Navy veterans served on ships off the coast of Vietnam.
VETERAN FOCUS
MCVSO Community Impact By Bethany Sigler
Dr. Andrew Kester
“Our reach and our capacity is a reflection of Mayor Durrett. I asked Mayor Durrett, 'What’s my breadth?' He said, 'As far as you can go.'” -Dr. Andrew Kester To begin with the nuts and bolts, the Montgomery County Veteran Service Office is a state mandated free organization created to serve Tennessee veteran populations. According to state law, each county is required to have one part time, 20 hour per week, veteran service officer. Shelby County only has one service officer who serves over 50,000 veterans. Montgomery County has nine fulltime service officers. Counties who only have one can’t do outreach, and therefore cannot get more funding or support because the numbers simply aren’t there. MCVSO is not part of the VA, it was established to help veterans navigate the VA system. Montgomery County Veteran Service Office Executive Director Dr. Andrew Kester has been at the helm since 2019, and in that time has seen the largest increases in both reach and economic impact in the history of Montgomery County. Kester attributes their success to the dedicated, collaborative efforts of his team, and the express support of Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett. 50 • CLARKSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Kester says, “Our reach and our capacity is a reflection of Mayor Durrett. I asked Mayor Durrett, 'What’s my breadth?' He said, 'As far as you can go.'” “This office sees veterans internationally; we have veteran contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan who pass out business cards," Kester continues. Unlike understaffed counterparts in neighboring counties, having 9 officers allows MCVSO to do outreach. All MCVSO service officers are veterans and collectively have over 100 years of military service and over 40 years of claims experience.
HUMANIZING THE NUMBERS
MCVSO is essential to the health, wellbeing, and protection of veterans. The following is one of 2020’s greatest accomplishments:
Agent Orange run off permeated the seas, and water used on ships was purified seawater. Unfortunately, the purification process did not remove the toxins from Agent Orange. So, our Bluewater Navy was unknowingly eating, drinking, and showering with Agent Orange toxins, yet were never recognized as an afflicted population. Finally, in January of 2020, through dedicated advocacy from organizations like MCVSO, the VA conceded. The VA now recognizes Bluewater Navy veteran claims from those within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam coast, and the impact has been immediately significant. Montgomery County Navy veterans have seen massive awards including $200,000 and more in back pay. From a human standpoint, that impact is unfathomable. The depths of suffering experienced, and the following just recompense received is an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. Economically, that is all tax-free income directly being injected into the Montgomery County economy. Kester says, “This is how you get the buy in. You have to show the economic impact.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Vietnam veterans were subjected to exposure of Agent Orange. The ramifications of exposure are prolific and lifelong.
In terms of commonly used vocabulary when discussing veterans, disability is a misnomer. Kester says, “'Disability”'causes confusion. It’s a huge stigma.”
To compensate persons exposed to the poison, the Agent Orange Act was passed federally in 1991.
Traditionally, tax free compensation for our veterans is referred to as ‘disability’ compensation: we will instead default to
