History
Camp Lejeune today is mostly known for its tainted water epidemic. Between 1953 and 1987, the water was contaminated with chemicals, and over one million people were exposed to it. Before the contamination, the base was mainly known for excellent military training. First, to get the full picture, let us walk back to where it all started. The history of the military base Camp Lejeune begins in 1941, during World War 2.
World War Two
World War Two had already been going on for a while abroad, and the US was getting its soldiers ready to enter the field. Around that time, the Department of the Navy bought over 100,000 acres of land in Jacksonville, North Carolina, to build a training facility there. Eventually, people started coming in from everywhere to train at Camp Lejeune.
It was especially instrumental for amphibious training. This is because Camp Lejeune has long stretches of beach. The beaches were one of the main reasons that it was chosen as a strategic location for a base. Camp Lejeune gained international recognition for its efforts in World War II.
Other Wars
Other major wars and events that Camp Lejeune trained for include:
- Korea
- Kuwait
- Vietnam
- Afghanistan
- Pacific Islands
- Iraq
They also trained soldiers for some of the most important peacekeeping missions, such as the one in Lebanon.
Base Camp Lejeune Legacy
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune has contributed a lot to the country and the world. In fact, the legacy of Camp Lejeune’s military base is still felt today. With countless awards to show for it, their contribution to warfare has been massive over the years.
Other than military training sites, Camp Lejeune also has gyms, theaters, shops, libraries, banks, and more. In addition, they also have their famous beach. Camp Lejeune also provides many services on base, such as:
- Childcare
- Shopping
- Education
- Swimming
- Family support
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Dining
- Boating
Interestingly enough, Camp Lejeune actually brings in around three billion dollars each year in commerce. This money comes from contracts, payrolls, and more for equipment and training. What’s more, all of this was accomplished by the hard workers at Camp Lejeune. This includes sailors, guardsmen, and, without a doubt, Marines.
Base Camp Lejeune Today
Naturally, Camp Lejeune’s history leads and builds up to the Camp Lejeune of today. Since the media is covering the topic of Camp Lejeune nonstop, the only thing that comes to mind when hearing “Camp Lejeune” is the lawsuit and the Justice Act of 2022.
Scientific research and tests proved that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused various health problems. The substances that were found in the water supply (vinyl chloride, benzene, TCE, and PCE) are all very dangerous compounds for humans to be exposed to.
Lastly, anyone who was exposed is entitled to financial compensation. Thus, we recommend that anyone who was at Camp Lejeune during the years of water contamination file a claim as soon as possible. Furthermore, the window to file a claim is exactly two years from the date that the Justice Act was signed and passed. This means that the deadline to file a lawsuit is August 2024.