James Montgomery

Mr. Montgomery, on the right.

James Montgomery served in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1963. He was an 18-year-old kid from Cincinnati, Ohio.

He worked as an aircraft spray painter with the 13th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at the Glasgow AFB in Montana, the 5th Fighter Interceptor at Minot AFB in North Dakota, and the 328th Fighter Interceptor at Richards Gebaur AFB in Grandview, Missouri. He settled down in the Kansas City, Mo., area after that, raising a family and working as an over-the-road truck driver.

In 1993 he developed prostrate cancer. He was only 50-years-old.  Mr. Montgomery is still fighting the disease today.

Unfortunately, he is also fighting the VA for compensation for the disease.  Mr. Montgomery filed for disability compensation for his cancer condition, arguing that he likely developed cancer as a result of being exposed to chemicals, solvents and radioactive paints that he breathed in spray-painting aircraft for four years.  His VA doctor has taken a look at some of the chemicals that he was exposed to and has suggested that there is a link.

Mr. Montgomery recalls applying florescent paints to aircraft, which he believed contained radioluminous materials. He also recalls using acetone, butyle acetate, tetrachloride, cyclohexane, dipropryl ketone, ethoxyenthanol, methylene chloride, and a variety of enamels and epoxies.If there is anyone out there who recalls serving in the Air Force in a similar capacity, or who may have actually worked directly with Mr. Montgomery, please contact me. Your information could be the key to Mr. Montgomery winning his case.