Blue Water Navy Veterans

Blue Water Navy veterans are U.S. military personnel who served on ships in the open seas off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Unlike "Brown Water" veterans, who served on boats in Vietnam's inland rivers and coastal areas, Blue Water veterans had limited exposure to Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used during the war. Due to changes in legislation, many Blue Water veterans have faced challenges in receiving benefits for health issues linked to Agent Orange exposure, as their service was often deemed not directly associated with land-based operations. Recent laws have aimed to address this disparity.