Added 8/1//2018
Question to a warhead tech at DM AFB February 1974 to June 1977: Did you guys wear a dosimeter badge on yourself? Did anyone ever check the RV with a Geiger counter?
We neither wore a dosimeter badge nor were we offered to wear one. In fact, they were not available to be worn. Geiger counter? No. Absolutely not. To my recollection, we did not have a Geiger counter anywhere in the weapons bay or in the building.
We never checked the RV with a Geiger counter. We did with the PVD. We de-mated at least 3 RV's (that I remember) whereby their was a fuel leak at the site. Remember, If there was a leak, the first step in correcting the leak was to download the fuel. AND before the fuel could be downloaded, the RV had to be de-mated from the missile. Therefore, the NW Crew walked into level one knowing there was a fuel leak on site. Of course, we always had a PVD with us during these operations.
This is a "hot button" with the military. There is no doubt in my mind that a conscious effort would be made to remove information that would implicate the government of negligence. It sounds reasonable that your inquiries and links would be removed.
Bob S.
Added 6-23-2016
Gary served at Vandenberg AFB from 1968-1972. He worked as a air conditioning specialist in the silos of the Titan 1 and 2. Gary passed away on July 27, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He contacted this disease in 2005. His type of cancer was called Atypical Lung Carcinoid Tumor. He never smoked but with all of the reports that I read written by the USAF states that a lot of veterans that worked on the Titan 1and 2s have had ailments from not being given proper protective gear while working on these missiles. His death certificate states the cause of death as respiratory arrest with underlying causes of cardiac arrest and malignant neoplasm bronchus and lung. I believe that Gary contracted this disease from his work on the missiles, even though years after his service. I have been turned down through the VA for all of his benefits.
Please add Gary’s name to the list of veterans that are deceased working on the Titan 1 and 2 missiles.
I thank you ever so much for reading this and any help that you can give.
I really appreciate all that you do
Donna
Added Dec 3, 2015. Another sad story of one of our first Titan II MFT's at DM AFB
Dear Terry,
Jack, after giving it a great fight, regrettably passed over on Sunday evening, August 23rd, 2015. He did pass at home with the kids and myself holding him. We feel blessed that we were able to get him back home for his last days. It has taken me some time to try to think straight again. Jack certainly is of a kind and such a wonderful Dad, I thank God for the time we did have.
I do feel that if he had been diagnosed correctly back in December, we would have been able to enjoy more time with him. He went through so much unnecessary passing out and going back and forth to the VA Hospital, that it drained a lot of energy from him each time it happened. Just the 2 hour drive alone was exhausting to him. Our first Grandchild will be born this month also, and he was so looking forward to being there.
When Senator Debbie Stabinows office got involved, Jack signed 10-5345 form (Request for and Authorization to Release Medical Records or Health Information) on June 23,2015. Jack was back in the hospital June 25th.
From that date on everything turned into another run around nightmare at Jack's expense. I can update you on that later, but right now I want to stay on point.
My hope is that Senator Debbie Stabinow can help obtain these records by making a request to Senator John McCain. We are working on another letter to update her as to what has been happening since June 25th.
I want to thank you for filling out and sending me the 21-4138 form. I am sending you a few attachments also. Your opinion and insight always welcome and appreciated. Jack regarded you as a friend and looked forward to hearing from you.
We all appreciate your fight for our Titan 2 Missile Men who have been ignored, dismissed and disrespected for far too long.
Sending Best Wishes from Our Family to Yours,
Sincerely, Marge & Jack
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Added long time ago: another Titan II Missile Veteran's spouse email:
I don't remember which Missile systems he worked on with each job until he was then moved to Personnel. But, I do remember another Chief telling me the reason he got the assignment to the Pentagon was because he had a vast knowledge of so many different nuclear weapon systems. So I know he had worked on many of them and believe he did, at one time, work on the Titian II. I would assume that all the Missile silos would basically have all the same type of chemicals in them?
I want to get this information together and research it. I believe the chemicals he worked around caused his lung cancer and eventually his death. The last few months of his life he was given a 100% disability rating. He couldn't walk anymore as the cancer moved from his lungs up to his brain and then into his spine. And because of the location of the cancer there were no treatment options left. He slowly became completely paralyzed.
We were convinced; as many of the Doctors were that his cancer was caused by his work environment. I remember him telling me of how now days the personnel going into the sites must now wear "chem. suits" while working. He many times worked in flooded silos while changing out battery drawers and the batteries were leaking.
I realize that there is nothing that can be done for my husband now. However, while he was here and sick we were many times saddened by news of another "Missile" Military person being diagnosed with lung cancer and a few we knew had died. I know during his time here we lost two Chiefs, a SMSgt and MSgt.to cancer. The last year he was alive we took many meals over to a Lt Colonel’s family my husband had worked with as he had been found with a tumor in his lung. He had most of the lung removed and is now a Colonel who is still active duty. He too worked in the Missile silos as a young Lt.
I would like to get this information out to others who worked with my husband. Like you, to get this info out to possible save the lives of others. I hope this gives you a better picture of my motives to get this information. I'm mostly looking for a list of chemicals located at silos and their impact on someone who has worked around them. Is that possible to obtain?
Thank you for your time and any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Tina
FOLLOW-ON EMAIL
Hello Sir-
My sincerest apologies for not getting that information to you. I am the care giver for two of my six Grandchildren. With school starting and then; Cheer practice, Ballet practice, Jazz practice and the list goes on with all of their activities. I just absolutely dropped the ball on this.
I also wanted to let you know that it may take another week to gather up all the information. I put away his stacks and stacks of medical records and will need to go through it all to get the information needed for your questionnaire. And I don't mind doing it. I think what your doing is very commendable and may save the lives of others. As for those who question my husband's death and others from their work environment, I know of others who have died. And others who are having symptoms of these toxic chemicals. (Boy, I really don't want to go down this road as I am still so angry about losing my husband to something I believe could have been prevented)
Sir, I also wanted to fill you in on some other information about my husband's diagnosis and death. When he first got sick I insisted on him going in to see what was wrong. He had developed a "hacking" cough in Malmstrom AFB where we were stationed. He went in and got the common AF treatment of Tylenol, cough medicine and an inhaler. The cough settled down but, a year later he got it again while being stationed at the Pentagon. He even began to have back spasms from all the coughing he was doing. And again, went and got the "Cold Pack" the AF hands out. At no time did any of the medical people take any Xrays.
Another 18 months went by and the cough started back up again. We were then stationed here in Texas and he was the BMT Chief at Lackland AFB. Because of this position he held he insisted on doing a lot of running with the Trainee's. Then he chose to go through the MTI training (Basic Training) and he pushed a Flight through their six week training course. That's when it started taking it's toll. Most MTI's are no older than probable about 30 years of age. Joe was pushing his flight through at age 48. He became sicker and sicker. I'm into natural health and did the best I could to keep him going. But, then on an "Airman's Run" he had to stop because he could barely breath. He went in and was given an inhaler and told he probable had allergies as we had just moved to Texas that year.
Then, one Saturday he was out mowing the lawn and came inside. He could barely breath. Later that day he could not even get up the stairs in our house. That's when I lost it and took him in. He and I both insisted that this time he get a chest Xray. Later that night he got a call from the female Doctor he had seen. She said she couldn't diagnose what they had found as he would need to come in for a Biopsy. But, they found a large mass in the upper part of his lung. And this is where it started.....
Thank God for this Doctor as when he went back in she asked him about any smoking he had done in his life. Well, he told her he smoked very little, but that he hadn't smoked in about 28 years. And it was done more out of boredom at the Missile Silos when they had to wait around for parts to fix something. So, approximately 2-3 years, only when he was out in the field and again over 28 years ago. He hadn't smoked since then. However, this Doctor then dove into what type of chemicals he worked around while working on the sites. She listed all of them in his medical records. And everyone of them, according to her, was a carcinogenic....cancer causing.
He hadn't had the biopsy, but we kind of figured it out from those comments. Later, after finding out it was cancer from the biopsy he was taken in to have 2.5 liters of liquid removed from his lung. The treatment would only be "Palliative" in nature as their was no known cure for this type of cancer. And so our journey began...
While the VA and the Military attempted to mention several times to him that even one cigarette could have caused this Lung Cancer, we also knew that the first Doctor he saw had already listed the chemicals he worked around for years. And so, with this information already in his medical records when they came back with his Disability rating they came back with a 60% "Service Connected" Disability rating. About six months later when the cancer came back they awarded him a 100% "Service Connected" Disability rating. I believe the first Doctor he saw made the difference. It wasn't an Oncologist who first diagnosed him with Adenocarcinoma with Plural Effusion. I think this is what made the difference.
So, on your website I noticed something about if the person was a smoker it's difficult to get "Service Connected" disability. However, in my husband's case and I'm sure others, it is possible. Getting that first and ALL of their Doctors to document the list of chemicals they have been exposed to can make a difference. (Just my opinion)
My apologies for this very long email. But, I wanted you to know my husbands background and results before posting his medical records on your website. And I will get this information filled out and sent to you as soon as possible. Again, thank you so very much for doing this for others. God Bless you!
Sincerely, Tina
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Dear Terry
I hope that this email finds you doing well!
My Dad, Charlie Z., served in USAF, stationed at various places including McConnell AFB in KS and Vandenberg AFB in CA working on the Titan II. He has Parkinson’s Disease and terrible back issues (non-tumor). While doing some research to try to find some evidence to convince the VA to cover his disabilities because he, his family and his doctors believe that they’re service related, I found your webpage. Thank you so much for posting all of the info that you posted! And for putting up the fight that you’re fighting! Keep it up! I look forward to reading the rest of your webpage and applaud your efforts to connect Titan II Veterans and get VA coverage for their disabilities and disease!
Sincerely,
Heidi