The Marines, Asbestos Exposure, and Mesothelioma Cancer
The U.S. Marine Corps is the combined arms ground-and-air force responsible for power projection from the sea. The smallest branch of the U.S, armed forces, it is a separate component of the U.S. Department of the Navy. Since its primary mission is to carry out amphibious operations from ship to shore, the Marine Corps coordinates most of its operations with Navy forces. As such, the Marines depend on naval vessels for much of their expeditionary assignments overseas.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other illness related to asbestos, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, set up for those who are victims to asbestos-related diseases. Use our free Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool today to find a leading mesothelioma attorney in your area.
The Marines and the Mesothelioma Connection
The modern Marine Corps’ problems with mesothelioma and other related diseases stems from the U.S. government’s use of asbestos in insulation and fireproofing materials in both land installations and naval vessels. Asbestos is abundant and naturally occurring, and many companies mined and refined it for various uses.
Because the Marine Corps was formed originally as naval light infantry to serve aboard U.S. Navy ships, its personnel often share the same dangers as sailors. The Corps’ Fleet Marine Force (FMF) not only operates as a seaborne expeditionary force, it also provides Marine Security Detachments (MARDETS) to act as a security force aboard major surface warships. In both roles, Marines that serve afloat sleep, eat, and train in vessels that are often cramped and poorly ventilated.
Throughout much of the 20th Century, the Navy and Marines carried out their missions on ships which contained tons of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Federal regulations and the Bureau of Ships required the use of ACMs as insulation and fireproofing. Navy warships and transports had thousands of parts coated with asbestos, particularly in steam pipes, gaskets, and ships’ boiler rooms.Unlike passenger ships, many of these ships were tightly enclosed and poorly ventilated. As a result, asbestos fibers were present in the air the Marines breathed while not up on deck. In peacetime maneuvers or during various conflicts, Marines were exposed to asbestos for weeks or even months at a time.
Though asbestos was used by the Navy and other armed services as early as the mid-1800’s, the largest exposure took place in the 40 years between the start of World War II and the midpoint of the Cold War. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps saw rapid expansion after U.S. entry into the war. In 1939, the Marine Corps consisted of 19,432 members. By 1944, at the peak of its expansion, the Corps fielded six divisions with a total of 475,604 men and women. Not all of these Marines served in the FMF. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of Marines participated in amphibious landings or served as ships’ security details during World War II and various postwar crises.
Postwar Exposure
Most Navy ships are designed to have long service lives, so even when the armed forces downsized after 1945 many of the warships and transports remained in service for many years. Some of the smaller aircraft carriers were converted into amphibious warfare vessels to carry Marines and their helicopters to global hot spots. These older vessels were modernized during refits but still contained tons of asbestos. As a result, many Marines inhaled asbestos fibers during their deployments, even as late as the Vietnam War of the 1960’s and early 1970’s..
Marines were also exposed to asbestos in shore installations, especially those built during the Corps’ wartime expansion. Once again, government regulations required the use of asbestos as fireproofing and insulation materials. Barracks, administration buildings, on-base housing, schools, sick bays, and mess halls all had floor paneling, ceilings, roofing material, and even cement full of asbestos.
Though asbestos is no longer authorized for use as fireproofing or insulation at U.S. government facilities, many Marine bases still have buildings and vehicle repair shops which contain ACMs. Keep in mind that not every state has active Marine Corps facilities. However, there may be Marine Corps Reserve Bases in your area. Marine Corps detachments and air stations are also found overseas.
Some of the bases known to have asbestos issues
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Twentynine Palms, California
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, San Diego, California
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Beaufort, South Carolina
Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Virginia
Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California
Marine Corps Detachment, Guantanamo Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Iwakuni, Japan
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma, Arizona
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Miramar, California
Camp H.M. Smith, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aiea, Hawaii
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia
Asbestos Safety Program
Every Marine Corps base commander is tasked with what the Marines call “force protection.” The term is usually understood to mean base security and various states of readiness, but it is also applied to the safety of military and civilian personnel assigned to Marine bases.
An important element of force protection is the implementation of a OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program. The Marine Corps is aware of the dangers from asbestos exposure, especially in older bases and satellite camps. Military and civilian employees must undergo asbestos-screening physicals administered by the Industrial Hygiene Office. The Occupational Health office determines the frequency of follow-up examinations.
The U.S. Marine Corps is the combined arms ground-and-air force responsible for power projection from the sea. The smallest branch of the U.S, armed forces, it is a separate component of the U.S. Department of the Navy. Since its primary mission is to carry out amphibious operations from ship to shore, the Marine Corps coordinates most of its operations with Navy forces. As such, the Marines depend on naval vessels for much of their expeditionary assignments overseas.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other illness related to asbestos, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, set up for those who are victims to asbestos-related diseases. Use our free Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool today to find a leading mesothelioma attorney in your area.
The Marines and the Mesothelioma Connection
The modern Marine Corps’ problems with mesothelioma and other related diseases stems from the U.S. government’s use of asbestos in insulation and fireproofing materials in both land installations and naval vessels. Asbestos is abundant and naturally occurring, and many companies mined and refined it for various uses.
Because the Marine Corps was formed originally as naval light infantry to serve aboard U.S. Navy ships, its personnel often share the same dangers as sailors. The Corps’ Fleet Marine Force (FMF) not only operates as a seaborne expeditionary force, it also provides Marine Security Detachments (MARDETS) to act as a security force aboard major surface warships. In both roles, Marines that serve afloat sleep, eat, and train in vessels that are often cramped and poorly ventilated.
Throughout much of the 20th Century, the Navy and Marines carried out their missions on ships which contained tons of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Federal regulations and the Bureau of Ships required the use of ACMs as insulation and fireproofing. Navy warships and transports had thousands of parts coated with asbestos, particularly in steam pipes, gaskets, and ships’ boiler rooms.Unlike passenger ships, many of these ships were tightly enclosed and poorly ventilated. As a result, asbestos fibers were present in the air the Marines breathed while not up on deck. In peacetime maneuvers or during various conflicts, Marines were exposed to asbestos for weeks or even months at a time.
Though asbestos was used by the Navy and other armed services as early as the mid-1800’s, the largest exposure took place in the 40 years between the start of World War II and the midpoint of the Cold War. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps saw rapid expansion after U.S. entry into the war. In 1939, the Marine Corps consisted of 19,432 members. By 1944, at the peak of its expansion, the Corps fielded six divisions with a total of 475,604 men and women. Not all of these Marines served in the FMF. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of Marines participated in amphibious landings or served as ships’ security details during World War II and various postwar crises.
Postwar Exposure
Most Navy ships are designed to have long service lives, so even when the armed forces downsized after 1945 many of the warships and transports remained in service for many years. Some of the smaller aircraft carriers were converted into amphibious warfare vessels to carry Marines and their helicopters to global hot spots. These older vessels were modernized during refits but still contained tons of asbestos. As a result, many Marines inhaled asbestos fibers during their deployments, even as late as the Vietnam War of the 1960’s and early 1970’s..
Marines were also exposed to asbestos in shore installations, especially those built during the Corps’ wartime expansion. Once again, government regulations required the use of asbestos as fireproofing and insulation materials. Barracks, administration buildings, on-base housing, schools, sick bays, and mess halls all had floor paneling, ceilings, roofing material, and even cement full of asbestos.
Though asbestos is no longer authorized for use as fireproofing or insulation at U.S. government facilities, many Marine bases still have buildings and vehicle repair shops which contain ACMs. Keep in mind that not every state has active Marine Corps facilities. However, there may be Marine Corps Reserve Bases in your area. Marine Corps detachments and air stations are also found overseas.
Some of the bases known to have asbestos issues
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Twentynine Palms, California
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, San Diego, California
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Beaufort, South Carolina
Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Virginia
Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California
Marine Corps Detachment, Guantanamo Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Iwakuni, Japan
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma, Arizona
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Miramar, California
Camp H.M. Smith, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aiea, Hawaii
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia
Asbestos Safety Program
Every Marine Corps base commander is tasked with what the Marines call “force protection.” The term is usually understood to mean base security and various states of readiness, but it is also applied to the safety of military and civilian personnel assigned to Marine bases.
An important element of force protection is the implementation of a OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program. The Marine Corps is aware of the dangers from asbestos exposure, especially in older bases and satellite camps. Military and civilian employees must undergo asbestos-screening physicals administered by the Industrial Hygiene Office. The Occupational Health office determines the frequency of follow-up examinations.
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