The Torchlight Initiative
Examining cancers and OTHER DISEASES, ILLNESSES, AND disorders within the
AIR FORCE Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Community
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Latest News
About The Torchlight Initiative
Torchlight is a non-government organization composed of current and former Air Force ICBM community members and their families.
Our mission is to address health issues of vital interest to the ICBM community, specifically, to address the higher rates of cancer and other diseases, illnesses, and disorders amongst those that operated, maintained, supported, or protected ICBM delivery systems.
We will advocate for this community and strive to ensure former and current community members receive education, health monitoring and care, and when appropriate, VA claim service connection.
IN THE NEWS
PCBs At Missile Wings Signed Memorandum | MAY 06, 2024
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) sampling results at the three active missile wings (Malmstrom AFB, MT; Francis E. Warren AFB, WY; and Minot AFB, ND) as well as Vandenberg SFB, CA.
Cancer rate among Air Force missileers prompts questions, concerns. | MAR 26, 2024
Service members who worked at nuclear weapons facilities seek answers.
They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer. | MAR 7, 2024
For years, it was an open secret among missileers that the Cold War-era missile alert facilities and launch control centers where they’d spend days sleeping, eating and staying on alert in case of nuclear armageddon were filled with things that might get them sick — carcinogens such as PCBs, lead paint, asbestos and tainted water. And every missileer veteran had at least one close friend who was battling a form of cancer.
The Air Force said its nuclear missile capsules were safe. But toxic dangers lurked, documents show. | DEC 29, 2023
A large pool of dark liquid festering on the floor. No fresh air. Computer displays that would overheat and ooze out a fishy-smelling gel that nauseated the crew. Asbestos readings 50 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety standards.
These are just some of the past toxic risks that were in the underground capsules and silos where Air Force nuclear missile crews have worked since the 1960s. Now many of those service members have cancer.
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Our Vision
Education/Awareness/Monitoring
Torchlight strives to educate and build awareness on the health issues impacting our community, and encourages the DoD to proactively monitor and screen the community.
Registry AND STUDIES
Torchlight maintains a self-reported registry of Air Force ICBM missile community diagnoses of cancer and other diseases, illnesses and disorders, to support and inform any data gathered by a formal study. Torchlight is willing and available to inform current and future study designs and would encourage participation of third-party medical and environmental experts.
Documentation
The Air Force ICBM missile community’s permanent medical records should consistently and thoroughly document all toxic exposures related to service. We will advocate for our former/current/future missile community members and their families to ensure they receive proper medical care and earned compensation.
THE REGISTRY
This is a DATABASE managed by a NGO
We are collecting this information to support or supplement studies commissioned by proper authorities. Please feel free to voluntarily register if you or a military family member are/were part of the Air Force ICBM missile community and have a diagnosed cancer or other disease, illness and/or disorder.
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Real Heroes. Real Stories.
On the battlefield, concealment is a survival skill | Off that battlefield,
transparency enables survival | Through the telling of each story, we are united as one | In the telling of the collective, we find our own.
These are our stories. This is our story. | A. Dietz
CAPTAIN JEFF KUBALA 01/10/1968 - 04/16/2024
Diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Tumor
2021, at the age of 53.
DEAN SHOCKLEY
Diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme
2022, at the age of 57.
JACKIE
Diagnosed with NHL/B-Cell/Follicular
2018, at the age of 42.
JASON BOSWELL
Diagnosed with Cutaneous T-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
2015, at the age of 42.
DR. ROB CALDERON
Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
2000, at the age of 28.
MONTE WATTS
Diagnosed with NHL/Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
January 2022
Ryan Luecke
Diagnosed with NHL/Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
May 2020, at the age of 45.
DAVID HOLLIS
Diagnosed with Seborrheic Dermatitis & Pruritus.
Captain Jason Leo Jenness 04/06/1970-07/22/2001
Diagnosed with NHL/Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.
DANIEL C. SEBECK
Diagnosed with NHL/Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
30 Sep 2022 at age of 42.
MAJOR MARK HOLMES 12/21/1982-05/12/2020
Diagnosed with NHL/Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma