The U.S. Army relied on asbestos-containing products to build bases and barracks between the 1930s and early 1980s. Army personnel didn't realize asbestos exposure could cause aggressive cancers like mesothelioma until thousands had already been put at risk. We can help Army veterans with mesothelioma secure VA benefits and seek financial compensation.
How Was Asbestos Used in Army Barracks & Bases?
The U.S. Army used asbestos, a cancer-causing material, to build and maintain United States Army barracks and bases across the world for decades.
Asbestos was cheap, durable, fireproof, and kept Army barracks well-insulated. Yet anyone exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma or other serious diseases later in life.
Army barracks and bases often used asbestos in:
- Asphalt cement and shingles
- Boilers
- Construction materials
- Drywall
- Electrical wiring
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Joint compound
- Piping
- Tile
Until the early 1980s, the U.S. military believed asbestos was safe since manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks. This corporate negligence put thousands of U.S. Army veterans at risk of mesothelioma later in life.
Video Summary: VA-accredited attorney Eric Hall explains how U.S. veterans risked asbestos exposure while they served. Veterans with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma may qualify for VA benefits. Call (877) 450-8973 to get started. View Transcript
Military members who served between the 1930s and 1980s were very likely exposed to asbestos, particularly in the Navy because asbestos was used throughout the ships to insulate pipes and insulate their boiler systems.
And of course, the Marines were also on ships for extended periods of time when they were going from one place to another.
Also, the Air Force used asbestos extensively, particularly in parts for airplanes. The army and the Marine Corps also use asbestos throughout their buildings on base to help insulate various pipes.
If the veteran believes they were exposed to asbestos while serving in, the number one thing they can do is put the VA notice that they intend to file for VA benefits.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help with that process and we encourage veterans to call and find out how we can help them.
U.S. veterans account for 33% of all mesothelioma cases due to the widespread use of asbestos in the military. Anyone who lived on an Army base may be in danger if they came in contact with asbestos.
Thankfully, veterans facing mesothelioma can get benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and seek additional financial compensation. Learn about the benefits available to you with our Free Veterans Packet.
List of U.S. Army Barracks & Bases Built With Asbestos
Over 100 Army barracks, bases, camps, and forts across the United States were built with asbestos-containing products. See if a U.S. Army base you served on put you and other military veterans at risk of mesothelioma.
- Alabama
- Anniston Army Depot Base
- Fort McClellan Army Base
- Fort Rucker
- Redstone Arsenal Army Base
- Alaska
- Fort Greely
- Fort Richardson Army Base
- Fort Wainwright
- Arizona
- Camp Navajo
- Fort Huachuca
- Yuma Proving Ground
- Arkansas
- Camp Joseph Robinson
- Fort Chaffee
- Pine Bluff Arsenal
- California
- Camp Haan
- Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA)
- Camp Roberts
- Camp San Luis Obispo
- Fort Hunter Liggett
- Fort Irwin
- Presidio of Monterey
- Sierra Army Depot
- Colorado
- Fort Carson
- Pueblo Chemical Depot
- Georgia
- Camp Frank D. Merrill
- Fort Benning
- Fort Gillem
- Fort Gordon
- Fort McPherson
- Fort Stewart
- Hunter Army Airfield
- Hawaii
- Fort Derussy
- Fort Shafter
- Pohakuloa Training Area
- Schofield Barracks
- Tripler Medical Center
- Wheeler Army Airfield Base
- Illinois
- Camp Price Support Center
- Rock Island Arsenal
- Iowa
- Camp Dodge
- Fort Des Moines
- Iowa Army Plant
- Kansas
- Fort Leavenworth
- Fort Riley
- U.S. Disciplinary Barracks
- Kentucky
- Blue Grass Army Depot
- Fort Campbell
- Fort Knox
- Maryland
- Aberdeen Proving Ground
- Fort Detrick
- Fort Meade
- Massachusetts
- Fort Devens
- Soldier Systems Center
- Michigan
- Detroit Arsenal
- Missouri
- Fort Leonard Wood
- Nevada
- Hawthorne Army Depot
- New Jersey
- Fort Dix
- Fort Monmouth
- Picatinny Arsenal
- New Mexico
- Los Alamos Demolition
- White Sands Missile Range
- New York
- Fort Drum
- Fort Hamilton
- U.S. Military Academy
- Watervliet Arsenal
- North Carolina
- Camp Mackall
- Fort Bragg
- Simmons Army Airfield
- Oklahoma
- Fort Sill
- McAlester Army Ammunition
- Oregon
- Umatilla Chemical Depot
- Pennsylvania
- Carlisle Barracks
- Letterkenny Army Depot
- New Cumberland Army Depot
- Tobyhanna Army Depot
- South Carolina
- Fort Jackson
- Tennessee
- Holston Army Plant
- Milan Army Ammunition
- Texas
- Biggs Army Airfield
- Camp Bowie
- Camp Bullis
- Camp Mabry
- Camp Stanley Storage Activity
- Camp Swift
- Corpus Christi Army Depot
- Fort Bliss
- Fort Hood
- Fort Sam Houston
- Martindale Army Airfield
- Red River Army Depot
- Virginia
- Fort AP Hill
- Fort Belvoir
- Fort Eustis
- Fort Lee
- Fort Monroe
- Fort Myer
- Fort Pickett
- Radford Army Ammunition
- Warrenton Training Center
- Washington
- Camp Murray
- Fort Lewis
- Yakima Training Center
- Wisconsin
- Fort McCoy
VA benefits may be available if you developed mesothelioma after serving on a U.S. Army base. File for mesothelioma VA benefits right now with our help.
Asbestos on International U.S. Army Bases
Many U.S. Army barracks and bases around the world may have been built using asbestos prior to the 1980s, putting soldiers at risk of mesothelioma.
Other countries that are home to U.S. Army bases include:
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- South Korea
The military publication Stars & Stripes reported in 2024 about the ongoing demolition of asbestos-containing buildings in the Crestview Housing Area, which were built as family housing for those stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden in Germany.
Notable Military Bases With Asbestos
While major renovation efforts in the late 1980s removed many asbestos products from Army bases, thousands of veterans had already been exposed and there’s no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma after exposure.
Additionally, it wasn’t possible to remove all of the asbestos from Army bases, so some may still contain this dangerous substance today. Learn about some of the highest-risk bases below.
Fort Bragg
Built in 1918, Fort Bragg is one of the largest U.S. Army bases still in operation. Asbestos was used in dozens of structures on Fort Bragg, including barracks, family housing, and even fire stations.
More than 200,000 people received basic training at the fort between 1966 and 1970 alone. These veterans and many others could now be at risk of mesothelioma if they were exposed to asbestos at Fort Bragg.
In addition, asbestos may still pose a threat at Fort Bragg, with the substance being found in its Smoke Bomb Hill barracks as recently as 2022.
Fort Campbell
This Army installation opened in 1942, around the time the military increased its use of asbestos during World War II.
Fort Campbell was built to accommodate 23,000 people, many of whom were at risk of mesothelioma if they came in contact with asbestos on this base.
Fort Campbell used asbestos in:
- Ceiling and floor tile
- Cement pipes
- Felt pipe
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Many other building materials
The Army finally started to demolish several World War II-era buildings at Fort Campbell that contained asbestos in 2021 to keep service members safe.
Call (877) 450-8973 now if you developed mesothelioma after serving in the Army. You may qualify for VA benefits and financial compensation.
Fort Hood
The Army’s largest active-duty installation, Fort Hood used asbestos in base structures like barracks and secret tunnels that led to a storage unit for atomic weapons.
Fort Hood was built to train up to 100,000 people at a time during World War II, meaning it’s likely that thousands of Army veterans were put at risk of asbestos exposure. Many Fort Hood buildings still contain asbestos today despite removal efforts.
A U.S. veteran who completed his basic training at Fort Hood also filed a lawsuit after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma decades later.
Fort Benning
Georgia’s Fort Benning, established in 1918, was home to nearly 100,000 soldiers — and dozens of buildings laced with asbestos — during World War II and beyond. This means veterans who served at the fort are at risk of mesothelioma today.
In one case, a U.S. Army veteran who served at Fort Benning was diagnosed with lung cancer and received money from the manufacturers of asbestos products through a lawsuit.
Some World War II-era buildings on Fort Benning still contained asbestos as recently as 2016, but the Army ordered them to be safely demolished.
Get our Free Veterans Packet for help if you were diagnosed with mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos in Army barracks.
Fort Lewis (Joint Base Lewis-McChord)
Located in Washington, Fort Lewis dates back to 1917. Over 302,000 soldiers received basic training at Fort Lewis between 1966 and 1972 alone.
Everything from Army barracks, chapels, and even libraries at Fort Lewis used asbestos products. Anyone who served at Fort Lewis could be at risk of mesothelioma decades after the fact.
Fort Lewis merged with McChord Field (controlled by the U.S. Air Force) in 2010. Over 100 structures still had asbestos on the base as of 2019, when demolition began to make room for newer and safer buildings.
Fort Knox
Over 1 million service members trained at Fort Knox between 1940 and 1968, and many of them were put in danger of developing asbestos-related diseases later in life. Many structures at Fort Knox used asbestos-containing materials like insulation.
The family of a U.S. Army mechanic who served at Fort Knox and later died of pleural mesothelioma received financial compensation by working with a mesothelioma law firm.
Who Was Most at Risk of Asbestos in Army Barracks & Bases?
While anyone who lived or worked on U.S. Army barracks or bases in the mid-20th century may have been exposed to asbestos, some Army personnel were at very high risk.
Those who worked around asbestos-based products on a regular basis could easily breathe in or swallow stray asbestos fibers without realizing it.
People most at risk of asbestos in Army barracks include:
- Artillery personnel
- Boilermakers and furnace tenders
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Demolition/renovation workers
- Drywallers
- Electricians
- Firefighters
- Heavy/light equipment mechanics
- Insulators
- Maintenance crew members
- Mechanics
- Millwrights
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Tank and armored vehicle personnel
- Weapons technicians
- Welders and metal workers
Service members had no idea they were endangering their health by working on asbestos-laced military bases.
“No safe level of asbestos exposure has been determined, and it is generally assumed that ‘zero’ exposure is the level most protective of human health.”
– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Get a Free Veterans Packet for help seeking VA benefits and compensation if you developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos in Army barracks.
Secondhand Exposure to Asbestos on Army Barracks
Many families lived together on U.S. Army barracks and bases. Family members may have suffered from secondhand asbestos exposure if a service member they loved worked with or around this deadly substance.
For example, an Army mechanic covered in brake dust containing asbestos could have exposed family members when they came home.
Help for Veterans Harmed by Asbestos in Army Bases
You or a veteran you love never deserved to get sick from serving on U.S. Army barracks and bases.
Yet, because of the negligence of companies that made asbestos-based products, veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to assist U.S. Army veterans in any way we can.
If eligible, you can work with our team to access:
- VA benefits: This includes payouts worth $3,946.25 a month and free or inexpensive mesothelioma treatments from top doctors. Work with our team to file a VA benefits claim or maximize your benefits after a diagnosis.
- Asbestos trust funds: These trusts contain over $30 billion as of 2024. We can help you pursue asbestos trust fund compensation without going to court.
- Lawsuit compensation: U.S. veterans can file mesothelioma lawsuits to pursue compensation worth $1 million or more on average. Our legal partners can file a lawsuit for you with minimal stress and without suing the military or government.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to connect with our veterans advocates and explore all of the ways we can help you.
Asbestos in Army Barracks & Bases FAQs
Was asbestos used in military bases?
Yes, U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force bases built between the 1930s and early 1980s likely used hundreds of asbestos-containing products.
Those who were exposed to asbestos on these bases could develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related illnesses later in life.
Commonly used asbestos-based products included:
- Drywall
- Electrical wires and cables
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Piping
- Shingles
Army veterans at the greatest risk worked with asbestos-based products on an everyday basis as part of their military jobs.
How do you prove asbestos exposure in the military?
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you prove military asbestos exposure if you are suffering from mesothelioma and previously served on an Army base.
Our team can:
- Pinpoint the asbestos-containing products you were exposed to
- See which companies manufactured them
- Help you file for VA benefits and/or legal compensation
Call (877) 450-8973 now to get started. Our team makes the process much easier for you and your family.
Why did the U.S. Army use asbestos on bases if it was dangerous?
The U.S. Army and other military branches didn’t know asbestos causes mesothelioma and other diseases until the 1980s.
Manufacturers of asbestos-based products knew the risks back in the 1930s but tried to hide the facts to keep profits high.
When the Army did learn that asbestos led to mesothelioma, steps were taken to remove asbestos from as many of its bases and barracks as possible.
Can asbestos still be found in U.S. Army barracks & bases?
Yes, in some cases. Even though the Army took major efforts to remove asbestos from its bases and barracks, some structures still contain this dangerous material.
Fort Hood, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and Fort Lewis had asbestos-containing structures like barracks and family housing intact as recently as the early 2020s.
Can I take legal action after being exposed to asbestos in Army barracks?
Yes. You may qualify to file lawsuits or trust fund claims if you got sick from exposure to asbestos on Army bases. Mesothelioma lawsuits award $1 million on average.
Legal action won’t be taken against the U.S. Army. Legal claims are typically filed against the makers of asbestos-based products that hid the health concerns.
Our partner law firm can help you explore your legal options right now. Get started with a free case review.
How else did the U.S. Army use asbestos?
From the 1930s to the early 1980s, the U.S. Army used asbestos in barracks, vehicles, and weapons systems. It was cheap, fire-resistant, and a natural insulator.
The general public didn’t know asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases because companies hid the risks.
The U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps also used asbestos in shipbuilding and the construction of bases for decades.
