Articles by Frank Vera

No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Scott Fanus

July 10, 2018
My name is Scott Fanus.  I was stationed at George AFB and lived in the base family housing with my wife and children from 1986 to December 1992 when George AFB closed.  I was, assigned to the 831 Security Police Squadron and my Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 81150 and worked in the Security Police, Armory, LE Desk, Flight Line shop/building/areas. Health [Read More…]
No Picture
Letters

2018-06-27 NARA Archivist Ferriero – President Trump’s promise to honor the contract

July 3, 2018
I am writing to you to request help obtaining a complete copy of my military records and for a clarification of the NARA policy regarding the release of a Veteran’s military records under FOIA/PA.

I, like thousands of other Veterans, have been unable to resolve my Veterans Administration (VA) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims because the Department of Defense (DoD) is preventing the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) from releasing Veterans’ records, and the NPRC is not complying with FOIA/PA requirements.  I have been trying to get a complete copy of my military records for over 44 years.

[Read More…]

No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Mark Watson

June 20, 2018
I was stationed at George AFB from 1982-1986 was in the 39TFS, 39TFTS, 20TFTS, and assigned to the 1st GAF with the 2020TFTS.  My son was born on George in 1982.  I have three children my oldest was also at George with us.  We lived in Adelanto and on base.  My medical issues are diabetes, congestive heart failure (4 stints placed), amputation of [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Tresa Sticker

June 20, 2018
My name is Tresa Sticker.  I was stationed at George AFB from 1979 to 1984, assigned to the 561st TFS; 562nd TFS; and the 39th TFS Squadron’s.  My Air Force Specialty Code was 271X2 Squadron Operations Specialist. I worked in those squadron buildings along the flight line. I lived in the base housing from 1981 to 1986. I do not know if I [Read More…]
Logo Welcome to George AFB
Featured T

Why women were told ‘Don’t get pregnant at George Air Force Base’

June 20, 2018
The first time Kate Kelly heard the warnings about George Air Force Base, she was a 19-year-old airman just getting settled into the barracks. It was 1975.

Another female airman sat on a bed opposite. She gave Kelly the rundown of the base. At the time, George was a hub of F-4 Phantom fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes.

Kelly mentioned she’d been thinking about getting married. Her roommate’s response was quick: “Just don’t get pregnant,” the airman warned. “Don’t get pregnant at George Air Force Base.”

[Read More…]

No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Sandra Wells

June 19, 2018
I, Sandra Wells, was stationed on George AFB from 1981 to 1985. My husband then was Master Sgt. James William Glover. He was in the 562nd amu 37th TFW. I saw almost every day in the summer at the base pool and lived at 415 Cory Blvd. On the base. I suffer from severe arthritis, depression, joint pain, have had COPD for 10 [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Glenn Beck

June 18, 2018
My name is Glenn Beck. I was stationed at George Air Force Base from October 1987 through October 1990 assigned to the 35th AGS, 20th AMU. I lived in the dorms/barracks building 593 from ‘87 to ‘89 and then building 267 from ‘89 to ‘90. My AFSC was 32833-Electronic Counter Measures Specialist. I worked on the flight line and was exposed to jet [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Msgt James Glover Retired

June 18, 2018
Msgt James Glover Retired. Stationed at George AFB from 1981 to 1985. Crew Chief 562nd AMU 37th TFW. Numerous kidney stones while stationed at George. Today I have neuropathy. I will be 60 in August. I have suffered from stomach problems for years as well. Not as bad as it used to be. I lived at 415 Cory Blvd. I still have copies [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Ruth (Dean) Klonowski

June 16, 2018
My name is Ruth (Dean) Klonowski.  I was stationed at George AFB from 1987 to 1991, assigned to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 21st TFS.  I worked as a Communication and Navigation Systems Specialist on the flight line. I lived in the barracks and dorms, and in Adelanto.  I remember during base orientation (January 1988) we were told not to get pregnant, it [Read More…]
No Picture
FOIA Components

FOIA National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

May 24, 2018
NARA FOIA Regulations When an agency physically transfers its records to a NARA-operated Federal Records Center (or any other records center), the agency retains legal ownership of those records, including responding to FOIA and other access requests, until the records are either legally transferred into the National Archives as permanent records, or are destroyed as temporary records in accordance with a NARA-approved records [Read More…]
No Picture
Letters

2018-05-18 DoD Gen. Mattis – President Trump’s promise to honor the contract

May 18, 2018
Thousands of Veterans and their family members are being defrauded of their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits because the Veteran was exposed to classified radioactive waste, debris, or material while serving in the military.  We, the injured Veterans, have been fighting for recognition of our Service Connected (SC) injuries for 38 to 72 years, and many of us have spent decades severely ill, in pain, and homeless.  Unfortunately, many of us have died from diseases/conditions/illnesses which are the result of our radiation exposure (with the inhalation and ingestion of the radioactive particles) or committed suicide while waiting for justice.

[Read More…]

No Picture
Letters

2018-04-20 DOE Secretary Perry – The declassification of Nuclear Weapons-Related Information

May 7, 2018
Dear Secretary Perry: Thousands of Veterans are being defrauded of their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits because of their exposure to radioactive waste, debris, or material from the nuclear weapons program. Because the source of the radioactive contamination is classified (nuclear weapons program), the environmental records (site assessment and remediation) and our military records (administrative and [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Janell McNally

April 8, 2018
My name is Janell McNally. I was employed at George AFB elementary school from 2006 to 2010 by the Adelanto School District. I worked in the school building located directly on the George Air Force Base military site. I began experiencing a severe cough and some trouble breathing in October of 2016. I received multiple incorrect diagnoses with no relief of my symptoms [Read More…]
No Picture
Cushman v. Shinseki

Due process and the American Veteran: what the Constitution can tell us about the veterans‘ benefits system

March 26, 2018
… This Article concerns a recent and important development in the area of veterans‘ benefits determinations, one that has significant implications for both the practical workings of the process as well as for how we consider that system at a fundamental level. The CAVC‘s decisions may be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In 2009, the Federal Circuit held in Cushman v. Shinseki  that applicants [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Rose Vu

March 14, 2018
I, Rose (Brown), was stationed at George AFB from 1986 to 1991. I had multiple health issues while at the base and was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition many years later. The symptoms started while on active duty…but when I filed a claim, they claimed they couldn’t find my medical records and denied it. I have managed to get a few of my [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Daniel Bradshaw

December 6, 2017
I was stationed at George AFB from February 1984 to April 1986. I was an Air Cargo Specialist. AFC 60551. A few weeks after arriving at George AFB, my eyeballs swelled up. I’m not talking about around the eyes, my eyeballs themselves. My vision was similar to that of a spider. The doctors said it was a reaction to something in the area. [Read More…]
Firefighting Foam in the SEDA
Drinking Water Supply Wells

George AFB’s Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – PFAS

November 7, 2017
The Air Forced just released the test results for PFAS at private and municipal supply wells near the southeast corner of George AFB, where the production wells for George AFB were located.  ALL of the wells that were tested had detectable levels of PFAS, and one well exceeded the US EPA health advisory (HA) level of 70 ppt.  These results are significant because, [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Rosanna Kieru

October 17, 2017
My name is Rosanna Kieru.  My husband, Staff Sargent Vincent Kieru, and our two children lived on George Air Force Base from 1988 until it closed.  My husband was assigned to the 37th component repair squadron as a jet engine mechanic working on the Wild Weasels.  My husband used Tryke [TCE] on daily as a cleaner, had an asbestos exposure daily as it was [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Carol Zollett Borgeson

October 10, 2017
I was a F-105 Aircraft Mechanic from 1973 – 1977 and worked the flight line. I was always covered in fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid. I can see that a lot of my health problems have a reason now. Thank you for making me aware.
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Ronald Mead

September 29, 2017
I was stationed at George from 73-74 and then 75-78.  I was with MMS as a weapons loader. Our shop was the last hanger next to the old weapons storage area on the east end of the runway.  When I arrived in 73, we stayed in the WW II barracks until they were torn down and new ones were built.  Worked on F-105 [Read More…]
No Picture
Cushman v. Shinseki

CUSHMAN v. SHINSEKI – FindLaw

September 27, 2017
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit. Philip E. CUSHMAN, Claimant-Appellant, v. Eric K. SHINSEKI, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Respondent-Appellee. No. 2008-7129. Decided: August 12, 2009 Before SCHALL, PLAGER, and PROST, Circuit Judges.Kevin A. Calia, Morrison & Foerster LLP, of San Francisco, California, argued for claimant-appellant. Martin F. Hockey, Jr., Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, of [Read More…]
No Picture
Cushman v. Shinseki

Determined Cushman scores veterans benefits victory

September 27, 2017
THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL Marcia Coyle – September 1, 2009 Veterans, who often encounter lengthy delays and other obstacles in their pursuit of service-connected benefits, have a new constitutional right that may help them cut through some of the notorious, bureaucratic red tape inherent in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ claims process. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a little-noticed case [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Robert

September 24, 2017
I lived there twice during the early 80’s and late 80’s and was one of the last families to moved during the closure in late 1991. I remember towards the end of the closure we would get busses off base to a different school in the city. I’ve been telling people the story of when I lived at George AFB and took a [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

William L. Collins

September 4, 2017
I was stationed at George A.F.B. from 1973 to 1977. I was at the FMS Squadron. The last year I was transferred to the Wheel and Tire Shop. They brought in a large Trichlorethylene tank in order to clean wheel bearings that came off the wheels of the F-4. We would lower the bearings into this large. 5 x 4 x 7-foot long [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Deborah A. Lord

August 26, 2017
My father was stationed at George AFB from 1972 till we left in 1979.  We lived in Base Family Housing on Michigan Ave across from the flight line. I am a dependent, so I went to school on base, to the pool, exploring the wide-open range and pretty sure places where I should not have been! Played in the dirt. Dug holes, tried [Read More…]
News21 George AFB Operations
Featured T

Military bases’ contamination will affect water for generations

August 22, 2017
VICTORVILLE, CA – Once a fighter jet training base critical to the Cold War, little remains of the former George Air Force Base but rows of dilapidated houses, a dismantled military hospital and dangerous chemicals from pesticides, jet fuels and other hazardous wastes that have poisoned the water for decades.

“Now when I see the base today, areas of it look like a war zone,” said Frank Vera, an Air Force veteran stationed on the base in the early 1970s. “I don’t think people know what to do with some of these areas because they are so contaminated.”

[Read More…]

No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Stacy Moreland

August 10, 2017
My brother in 1981 something went wrong one minute everthing is okay whit how everthing went because of what they are hiding back then and how the death went down and the man that brought the body back strange he said all of stuff hiding
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Pamela McKay

August 10, 2017
My husband was stationed at GAFB from 1978-81. He died from complications of MS 10 years ago. He started showing symptoms in 1984..
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

David E.

August 10, 2017
I arrived at George AFB in April 1981.  Armament Systems, “Bomb Loader,” for about two years, then Airfield Management.  Stayed until June 1985. I married a local girl, military brat; she lived in Base Housing on Utah street as a child.  We married April 1983, moved into Base Housing on Utah street near her old place. We had four miscarriages in two years.  [Read More…]
No Picture
George AFB Health Registry

Kelly (Nabors) Beck

August 5, 2017
My father, Victor Nabors, was stationed at George AFB in the early 80’s.  We lived in the George AFB Family Housing for approximately 3 years on Alabama Court. I attended the elementary school on base.  While we were stationed there, I become violently ill every year was hospitalized several times with pneumonia.  I was diagnosed with asthma while there and placed on numerous [Read More…]