|
VA Watchdog Stuff
cups, hats, shirts
click here to
support the site
Be sure to get all five
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases
VSO Press
Releases
Download
your
free copy of the
2007 VA benefits
handbook here...
|
Printer-Friendly Version
AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM -- "At this time I would
like to thank everyone who has helped Ron and I
in the last year.
Ron fought a brave fight, just like when he was
in Vietnam."
I normally don't publish obituaries, but this one
is an especially poignant reminder of the damage done by Agent Orange.
Our Brothers and Sisters who served in Vietnam,
the "Blue Water Navy" and surrounding countries where AO was used paid the
ultimate price on the field of battle...it just took a few decades to
catch up with them.
For more about Agent Orange, use the VA Watchdog
search engine...click here...
http://www.your
vabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=agent+orange&op=ph
Story here...
http://morningse
ntinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4542883.html
Story below:
-------------------------
Agent Orange claims life of veteran
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
VASSALBORO -- Longtime Waterville firefighter Ronald F. Currie Sr. died
Thursday night from cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his
service in Vietnam.
He was 57.
Currie's wife, Barbara, said Friday in a statement that her husband was a
brave man and a fighter to the very end.
"At this time I would like to thank everyone who has helped Ron and I in
the last year," she said.
"Ron fought a brave fight, just like when he was in Vietnam. He served the
city of Waterville with such grace for 30 years and never asked for
anything in return.
"He was the type of man that always did for others and never expected
anything. He was a great father, brother and comrade to all. He loved his
work and his family."
Article continues below:
"ASK
THE BUILDER" VIDEOS -- HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS
(use left/right arrows in screen to view more videos)
|
Barbara Currie said even at the end, her husband
asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Maine State
Credit Union in her name so that she could make donations to the charities
of his choice.
The couple said during an interview at their home in August that they
learned the cause of the cancer the previous year when he was diagnosed.
Currie had lung cancer, non-small cell lung carcinoma.
"I was in Vietnam late '69, '70 and part of '71," Ron Currie said during
the August interview. "I was on river patrol and they sprayed both sides
of the river banks extensively (with Agent Orange) while we were there."
He said the Department of Veterans Affairs authorized payment for all of
his medical expenses due to the apparent Agent Orange connection to the
cancer.
Currie joined the military right out of Waterville Senior High School.
After that, he was a Waterville firefighter for 30 years.
Currie said he started getting sick July 30, 2006.
Treatments started with radiation and chemotherapy for six weeks. Then, in
November 2006, doctors removed his left lung, where the cancer had
started.
Barbara Currie said tests showed the cancer was spreading.
He was being treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Over the past couple of years there have been Fire Department-sponsored
fundraising events to help the Curries pay for expenses of traveling to
and from Boston and to pay for lodging while Currie was being treated.
Capt. David LaFountain of the Waterville Fire Department said firefighters
plan to hold a "last alarm" ceremony at the fire house at 10 a.m. Dec. 15,
before Currie's funeral at 11 a.m. at the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church
on Silver Street, Waterville.
In the ceremony, Currie's firefighter's gear and helmet will be on display
while the final bell rings in his honor. Bagpipes also will play "Amazing
Grace," according to LaFountain.
He said the Fire Department will arrange for traffic control with the
Police Department at the fire station and along the route to the church.
The family will hold a private ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery in
Augusta following the funeral, he said.
Doug Harlow -- 861-9244
dharlow@centralmaine.com
-------------------------
Larry Scott --
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
email Larry
(go
back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page) |
VA Watchdog Stuff
cups, hats, shirts
click here to
support the site
|
