TO MY HONORED VISITORS:

I've made a concerted effort to remain apolitical on my business web sites but sometimes you just have to speak your mind.

As some of you are aware, I published a book in 1995 called "The Secret Vietnam War: the United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961-1975." It was the first (and probably still the only) wall-to-wall history of our efforts from seven bases in Thailand, of which I was a part: 15 months, two tours.

After the book came out, I began receiving calls and letters from veterans, and survivors of veterans. We were suffering from the same diseases as our Vietnam-based brothers but due to policies of the US government, we were denied the same benefits. The fight continues.

Today, I received a phone call from a gentleman in Oklahoma. He suffers from Type II diabetes and filed a disability claim, which was denied. He found my name in a data base and asked if, by virtue of my book research, I could offer any help. I could not. Although I pored over dozens of unit histories and other official documents in seven years of research, the amount of information on the use of herbicides-defoliants in Thailand is scarce. This man is going to Washington, DC, to plead his case before a review board. He has diabetes and I have peripheral neuropahy -- and I'm one of the lucky ones. Please visit Dale's web site:

http://www.veteransvoteyourcause.com/

This site serves to promote my photography because it's what I do. But, there's also the part of me that's what I am; and that is a young man who went to serve his country 40 years ago. Now, I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with others like me who ask only fairness but instead find denial. They gave me sergeant stripes and told me to fight an enemy who never did anything to hurt me; now those stripes are faded and 'the system' that sent me there has turned its back on me and the others.

What we are asking is for our elected representatives and officials to give us a fair shake in our claims. Today's veterans are heroes for fighting in the Middle East, and that's how it should be. But don't forget about those of us who went before them.

Thank you,

Jeff Glasser
Sgt., USAF, 1970-1974
Vietnam veteran; 1972-1973