2018 - George Air Force Base, CA

2018-09-26 GAO – Status of DOD Efforts to Address Drinking Water Contaminants Used in Firefighting Foam

November 29, 2018

The GAO report “Status of DOD Efforts to Address Drinking Water Contaminants Used in Firefighting Foam” fails to address the known PFOA and PFOS contamination of the soil and groundwater at the DoD Superfund site George Air Force Base, CA “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.” Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs or what is now called PFOA and PFOS) were detected as high as 5,396 parts per [Read More…]

George Gibson

November 11, 2018

My name is George Gibson. I am a dependent of Paul Gibson. My dad and family lived at 153 Oregon Street From 1969-72. My Dad was a career Airman from 1955-75. He achieved the rank of Ssgt and his mos was communications/cryptography. I remember George AFB as one of the best times of my life. Not knowing what was ahead of my life [Read More…]

Neil Rosen

November 10, 2018

I was stationed at George AFB, CA from December 1976 to July 1981 (4 1/2 years). I have had numerous health issues since being stationed there. During my time there, I swam in the base pool, drank the water, showered in the water on base, and ate food prepared with that water in the base cow halls. I lived in the old WWII [Read More…]

3 Request Rule – FOIA Request

November 6, 2018

If 3+ people request the same records from an agency, the agency has to make those records proactively & electronically public. This was formalized in the FOIA Improvement Act, from what used to be standard policy for “frequently requested records”. 5 USC 552(a)(2)(D)(ii)(II) “(2) Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection in an electronic format— … D) [Read More…]

JoAnn Long

October 1, 2018

My name is JoAnn Long. I lived in Adelanto from 1977-1978 then I was stationed at George AFB from mid-1978 to June 1981, assigned to the 35th Aero Squadron. My Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 60350. I worked in Transportation. I lived in the base housing and Adelanto from March 1977 to June 1981. I was never told by the Air Force [Read More…]

Jessica R. Barnes

September 29, 2018

My name is Jessica R. Barnes my Grand Father was Stationed at George AFB Francis S. Zoldak Jr was stationed at George AFB from 1972 to 1979. My mom as a dependent lived in the base housing, on Michigan Ave, from 1972 to 1979. My grandfather was exposed to gas, grease, mechanic chemicals, fire chemicals, any chemicals that had to do with the [Read More…]

Military Base Has Legacy of Pesticide and Other Toxic Chemical Exposure and Harm

September 20, 2018

Don’t get pregnant at George Air Force Base’” was the advice imparted from one female Air Force member to another in 1975 at that base, located 100+ miles north of San Diego and used as an active military site from 1941–1992. From the start of their service at George AFB, both parties to this conversation came to be familiar with the shared horror stories of repeated infections, vaginal bleeding, ovarian cysts, uterine tumors, birth defects, and miscarriages among female Air Force members at the site. [Read More…]

Joyce B

August 23, 2018

My name is Joyce B and I lived at 542 Utah & worked (AFB Commissary) on George AFB from 1985 to 1987 with my enlisted husband & two boys. I divorced my husband & remarried. Became pregnant in Sept 1988 and was employed on base as a Civil Servant working for Civil Engineering until April 1989. I also lived in base housing while I was [Read More…]

Victorville prison where immigrant detainees held built atop toxic Superfund site

August 16, 2018

It was early July 1988 when Rennie Auiler, the 28-year-old wife of an airman, sat in a hospital examination room at George Air Force Base waiting for a routine checkup.

Having given birth six weeks earlier to a premature 6-pound girl following a difficult pregnancy marked by acute morning sickness, she sought assurance from her physician that her next baby would come easier.

Instead, the prognosis stunned her. [Read More…]

George AFB’s West Winds Golf Course

July 30, 2018

If you played (as a child), lived next to, played golf, or worked at the West Winds Golf Course from 1965 to 1981, you were most likely exposed to unsafe levels of partially treated sewage and industrial waste containing known carcinogens. Before 1965, George AFB discharged its industrial waste into the Mojave River. On November 17, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive [Read More…]

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Maps

July 28, 2018

Geological Survey (USGS) Adelanto Quadrangle California San Bernardino County 7.5 Minute Series USGS Topographic Map 1993 Victorville Quadrangle California San Bernardino County 7.5 Minute Series USGS Topographic Map 1993 Search for “George AFB” USGS Map Locator

United States Penitentiary, Victorville, CA (USP Victorville)

How Prisons Are Poisoning Their Inmates

July 23, 2018

Last month, ICE transferred 1,000 undocumented immigrants to the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex in Southern California. FCI Victorville is built on a Superfund site [George Air Force Base], and according to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board, industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, pesticides like dieldrin and aldrin, and chemicals from jet fuel have contaminated the region’s water supply. [Read More…]

April Mandeville

July 20, 2018

My name in April Mandeville and I was born at George Air Force Base in 1984 while my parents were stationed there from 1983-1989. My dad worked as SP flight chief next to the flight line then cross-trained to training management. I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism at the age of 16 and had to have one of my para-thyroids removed along with the kidney [Read More…]

Daniel Lee Howell

July 14, 2018

My name is Daniel Lee Howell. I was stationed at George AFB from 1976 to 1978, worked at the golf course, burn pits, dump, and base housing. I was put in the hospital while there for almost two months for an unknown illness, with weakness, heart racing and breathing issues could never say what was causing it. I have been suffering from problems since [Read More…]

2018-07-10 AF – Air Force denial for additional testing for OCPs at GAFB

July 10, 2018

I request a complete and unredacted copy, printout, or export of:

Any records about the EPA request for additional soil and water testing for chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) testing at the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.”
And any records about the Air Force denial of the US EPA request for the additional soil and water testing for chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) at the former George AFB.” [Read More…]

2018-07-09 US EPA – request for additional testing for OCPs at George AFB

July 10, 2018

I request a complete and unredacted copy, printout, or export of any records pertaining to the EPA request that the Air Force conduct soil/water testing for chlordane and other organochlorine pesticides (“OCPs”) at the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.” [Read More…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]