KERHONSKON – Ronald Zaccai of Kerhonskon developed laryngeal cancer requiring removal of his voice box in 2001.

The Vietnam veteran suffered from the effects of Agent Orange.  But, he can’t get the VA to pay for his medical care because of a loop hole, which required that military personnel had to have their boots on the ground in Nam.

In Ronald’s case, he was assigned to the USS Boston off the coast for a year-and-a-half during the war. He is frustrated that he can’t get anywhere with the VA.

“Every time you get an inch with them, they just back you up 100 miles; they’re waiting for us to die. They don’t want to give us anything,” he told MidHudsonNews.com.

That’s where US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand comes in. She will introduce legislation to cover 800,000 sailors and airmen, like Zaccai, who were not in Vietnam, but still suffer from the effects of the toxic defoliant.

Ronald’s wife, Barbara, is hopeful. “This bill would help so many people be able to have a little bit easier of a life with having the extra dollars coming in.”

Ronald had his throat surgery in 2001 and said because of his health, he had to shut down his successful machine shop business.