The story of Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base located just outside Jacksonville, North Carolina. It was a known dumping ground for toxic chemicals such as the industrial degreasers perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) which polluted the groundwater.
Anyone who ingested or used the local drinking water was exposed to these chemicals from 1953 to 1987. This exposure led to multiple injuries including cancers, miscarriages, and childhood Leukemia. It is estimated there are at least one million victims who resided at Camp Lejeune during the 30 year period now spread across the country. At the same time, the government knew about the contamination but covered it up until the ATSDR reported on the chemicals found in the water supply in 1997.
Servicemembers exposed to the toxic chemicals banded together and sought justice for the injuries they sustained and the family members they lost. They gathered stories, documented the numerous deaths, and compiled timelines throughout the decades exposing the truth of Camp Lejeune to the greater population. Their efforts led to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act being signed into law on August 10 2022.
Known Injuries
There are numerous injuries associated with the Camp Lejeune water contamination with more possibly on the way.
CANCERS
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Leukemia
OTHER INJURIES
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Aplastic Anemia
- Other Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Cardiac Birth Defects
- Hepatic Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
- Miscarriage
- Parkinson’s disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
THOSE AT RISK
Anyone in or around Camp Lejeune is likely to have been exposed to toxic chemicals. This includes:
- Veterans
- Guardsmen
- Military Families
Victims are eligible for legal compensation if they can prove they spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between January 1 1953 and December 31 1987.
Legal Efforts
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022. Victims can now file for damages against the US government 35 years after the contamination ended.
Many pending defective 3M earplug lawsuits filed by U.S. Military veterans have been moved to a multi-district litigation (MDL) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, despite some cases originally requesting to be moved to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the home state of 3M Company’s headquarters. The transferred lawsuits involve 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs that were used by U.S. troops from 2003-2015. These qualified cases will be seen by the Honorable Federal Judge Casey Rodgers, who is a U.S. veteran and well qualified to preside over a large products liability multi-district litigation. On July 27, 2020, Judge Rodgers denied 3M’s claim for using government contractors’ defense, in which protects companies from liability for defective products designed and produced for the federal government.
JANUARY 1953
The industrial degreasers PCE and TCE are dumped at Camp Lejeune by a local dry cleaning business. They slowly seep into the ground and contaminate the drinking water.
1953-1987
A cemetery is established for the rising number of infant and child deaths. The plot of land is nicknamed “Baby Heaven.”
1985
Two wells known for containing PCE and TCE are shut down, beginning cleanup efforts.
1994
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) drafts an assessment recommending more research on preterm births and fetal deaths at Camp Lejeune. Navy officials push back and attempt to stall their efforts.
AUGUST 1997
The ATSDR reports on the toxic chemicals they found at Camp Lejeune and the injuries exposure could cause. The story is reported nationwide.
JUNE 2007
Marines testify on Capitol Hill about the contamination talking about their families, their injuries, and their betrayal by the US Marine Corps.
AUGUST 10 2022
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act 2022 is signed into law under the Honoring Our PACT Act allowing veterans and their families to file for damages against the US government.