Fellow Missileers
Missile Cancer Study and Fighting the VA:
Danny Sebeck posted the following on Linked In: "On 2 Jan 2025 the US Department of Veterans Affairs reversed their many denials of compensation to the Holmes family, and determined that Major Mark Holmes' illness and death are service related. It took nearly five years to achieve this result. While the family would surely trade this recognition to have Mark back in their lives, the VA's recognition is welcome and a turning point in the conversation about ICBM related cancers. Mark served his country as a Minuteman III ICBM Combat Crew Commander in the 10th Missile Squadron, was exposed to environmental hazards, and died as a member of a significant lymphoma cancer cluster. All eight members of the 2003-2008 Malmstrom cancer cluster now have a service connection through the VA or DoD. This is a significant, yet somber victory, for the Holmes family, the Torchlight Initiative, and for the ICBM Cancer Community. I'd like to thank this community, supporters of the Torchlight Initiative, the AFGSC team and others that invested their time, energy and effort into making this right. We take care of Airmen that die for this country, and we take care of their families... eventually. Most of all, thank you to the Holmes family for your sacrifice and for having the will power to reopen this tough part of your life after so many defeats. We have more work to do, and we are up for it. There are many ICBM Cancer Community families, like the Holmes family, who are fighting for their government to recognize their family member's service and death in support of this country. We will keep fighting from this foxhole."
44th MW “BANDIT” Selected as Acting Secretary of the Air Force.
Gary A. Ashworth, a career Department of Defense civil servant and former MM II missile crew member, has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be Acting Secretary of the Air Force. According to those who served with him, he was a great crew member, well liked and super smart. Gary was assigned to the 66 SMS, served as an evaluator and competed in Missile Comp in 1990. According to one source, he was one hell of a racquetball player! He left missile crew to attend the attend the Education with Industry program and went on to a career in acquisition.
2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
Below are NDAA “Golden Nuggets” impacting the ICBM force as signed on Jan 2, 2025
• Directs a report on Air Force security forces personnel assignments so as to not isolate such personnel to specific duty locations, particularly intercontinental ballistic missile bases, in a manner that negatively impacts morale, career advancement, retention, or mission effectiveness
• Requires no fewer than 400 responsive, on-alert U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) to be deployed, except for activities related to maintenance, sustainment, and replacement, or activities to ensure safety, security, or reliability.
• Requires a plan for acquiring and deploying up to 450 Sentinel ICBMs.
• Authorizes increased funding for U.S. nuclear stockpile research, technology, and engineering.
• Establishes an Assistant Secretary of Defense of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs to coordinate and oversee nuclear deterrence policies and programs.
• Establishes limits on Air Force reorganization efforts relating to Air Force Global Strike Command.
• Limitation on availability of funds pending submission of a plan for decreasing the time to upload additional warheads to the ICBM fleet
Want to know more? See NDAA Pages 1981 thru 1013
After 37 years, 91st Missile Wing ushers in a new era of MMIII transporters:
Due to maintenance requirements becoming harder to meet with the older model, these units will be replaced with newer TE. The 91st Missile Wing is the last unit using the old TE systems, as the Roughriders are regularly relied upon to sunset programs being modernized. The images below show the last old TE going out for one its’ final trips.
November Missile Alert Facility “RECORD FM LOG” from 1989:
There used to be cartoon show where Mr. Peabody, and his mischievous boy, Sherman, would voyage back in the time-traveling “Wayback machine” and explore history. Well a time machine in the form of a “RECORD FM LOG” showed up on my doorstep from a retired Facility Manager. The FM Log spans the time between June 7, 1989, to Jan 2, 1991. The log is from N01 in the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron, 44th Strategic Missile Wing, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. So...lets jump into our “Wayback LOG” and see what the FM was doing on New Years Eve and day on Jan 1, 1990. Names were deleted to protect the innocent...
New Years Eve 1989:
1. Weather reported to M01.
2. Daily duties completed.
3. FEL exercised.
4. N01’s servo plate sent with Sgt XXXX, ART Leader to M01.
5. Forms order complete.
6. TSgt XXXX cleaning office.
7. Monthly Radiological checks complete.
8. Bulb out in shaft way- replaced.
9. Chlorine level -2, but I want more! Pre chlorine on hand for a while to bring it up further.
10. Plowed snow.
11. FSC didn’t ground himself before touching the Satellite box– now it is broke. Oh well, but I fixed it!
12. Chlorine residual still good -- this is a pain!
13. December soda fund completed.
14. Made snacks for all, (I brought out) plus gave out 10 site sodas-Happy New Year.
15. Fire safety and security check complete 2200
New Years Day 1990:
1. Weather reported to M01
2. Fire team departed
3. TCC informed of leak in front end loader radiator again. Mobile Joe will come out. Also SSgt XXXX’s coat is in the linen closet and fuel card is in lower pocket.
4. Cleaning for changeover.
5. Fuels complete.
6. Daily duties complete.
7. Mopped equipment rooms.
8. SSgt XXXX relieved TSgt XXXX. Checklist followed and high theft items inventoried. Site looks really good.
9. Finished monthly inspection on Bio Pack 45. All is well.
10. Mobile Joe on site to fix heater fan on front end loader and checked radiator leak. Said if fluid does not exceed 3 drops per minute it’s not excessive! In other words...wait till it gets bigger.
11. Also Mobile Joe to RON in room 117.
12. Fire safety and security light check complete at 2200 hours.
Impressions and contributions:
I hope you are enjoying these updates on current and past ICBM events. If you want to make contributions to the monthly Dispatch or the larger AAFM newsletter, please send you inputs or comments to Director@AFMissileers.org
Sincerely,
Jim
James F. Warner
Executive Director
