Bad news for the former Almaden AFS radar tower (FPS-24) on Mt Umunhum, CA.

The recent Dec 17 vote of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) to grant the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band a cultural conservation easement on Mount Umunhum is a decision that will have negative and lasting effects for generations to come. It prevents a unique opportunity for access to and use of the FPS-24 radar tower. This historic landmark was expected to serve as a means to enrich the public knowledge about local and national military history and event associated with the air defenses of the United States during the Cold War.

An excellent editorial by Basim Jabar (Historian for the Almaden Air Force Station / 682nd Radar Squadron) about the radar tower’s future is available at: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/22/opinion-mount-umunhum-partnership-with-amah-mutsun-tribe-should-not-have-exclude-the-military/

Basim has made the following observations about the Midpen decision.

a) No decision should have been made about the Radar Tower in the context of the tribal conservation easement. The two have nothing to do with one another. The inclusion (in the conservation easement to the tribe) of the decision to lock out any future use of the Radar Tower was not a fair move.

b) Both the tribe and Midpen need to agree to amend this quitclaim deed to remove the clause limiting the future use and access to the radar tower.

c) Military history on Mt. Umunhum should not be squelched... it should have the same opportunity that the tribe has been given to tell their history. This isn’t about “military veterans vs the tribe” (which is what Midpen will make it out to be). This is about equality and fairness.


We need to show our concern over a bad decision for Mt Umunhum/Almaden AFS. Suggest your feedback and comments for consideration by Midpen be sent to:

Jordan McDaniel
Public Affairs Administrative Assistant
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
P: (650) 691-1200 F: (650) 691-0485
www.openspace.org
twitter: @mrosd

Please include an info copy for Basim Jabar (bjaber@jaber.net), the Guestbook page on Radomes.org/museum, and/or Radar Station Veterans. usafradarstationveteransworldwide@yahoogroups.com
Steve Weatherly
689th Radar Squadron , Mt Hebo AFS 65-67
Site of a former FPS-24 Radar Tower (60-84)

Question for all the ADC Gap-Filler radar veterans:

Was Bunnell GFA, FL (Z-114A) the only site that had a squadron sign mounted on top of the radar building?

Sorry to learn that the VA has problems with the Veteran ID effort. Apparently the volume of users has overloaded their system. They indicate that if you leave your email address with them you will be contacted when they are up and running again. How long will this go on?

Finally the VA is issuing the Federal Veteran ID Card which was authorized in 2015. Here is the information that my House of Representative's member (Vern B) forwarded about these free ID cards.

Veterans can now document their service without carrying around official military records (such as their DD-Form 214).

The new IDs will not, however, qualify as official government-issued identification for air travel or other uses. The ID card program is voluntary. This card also does not replace the Retiree ID Card (DD-Form 2 Retired).

To request an ID, veterans must visit Vets.Gov, click on “Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card” on the bottom left of the page and sign in or create an account.