Fort Hood is a U.S. Army post located in Killeen, Texas. Recently renamed Fort Cavazos as part of The Naming Commission’s assignment to rename military installations originally named for Confederate soldiers, the base has been part of U.S. military history since 1942, when the War Department set the land aside to test and train World War II tank destroyers. Fort Hood was and remains the most populous U.S. military installation in the world. Consistently home to tens of thousands of soldiers and their families at a time, it exposed countless soldiers, civilian employees, and others to the risk of serious and deadly diseases, including malignant mesothelioma, from the significant use of asbestos in its barracks and other buildings, infrastructure, and equipment.
The History of Fort Hood/Fort Cavazos
Fort Cavazos was designated on May 9, 2023 in honor of General Richard Cavazos, but the installation has been a fixture in central Texas for almost a century. The Army has owned the site since January of 1942 when it sought a large tract of land during the run-up to World War II. It was purchased as a tank destroyer tactical and firing center and started fulfilling that role in April 1942 when the first major unit, the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived. Officially opened under the name Camp Hood in September 1942 in honor of Confederate General John Bell Hood, the Army base’s original mission was expanded to include a replacement and basic training center and frequently housed 100,000 soldiers at a time for training. During World War II, the base also housed more than 4,000 German prisoners of war.[1]
As World War neared its end, the base’s population dropped to about 11,000 troops, and after the war the camp’s level of activity was further diminished and its population dropped to about 1,700 soldiers. In 1950, the temporary camp was made permanent, and at the same time that it was renamed Fort Hood, its buildings, basic facilities, and infrastructure were rebuilt to represent a permanent installation. When the Korean War began, the site added almost 50,000 more acres and became home to army units including the First, Second, and Fourth Armored Divisions.[1]
In 1967, Fort Hood became a two-division post that trained and tested new equipment and tactics including the AH-64 Apache helicopter, the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle, the Humvee, and the Multiple Launch Rocket System. Many units stationed at Fort Hood were deployed during Operation Desert Shield, and units stationed at Fort Hood continued supporting Persian Gulf operations. They also took part in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and were the first U.S. divisions to work within the Multinational Division in Bosnia-Herzogovina.[2]
By the 1990s, Fort Hood was targeted for modernization of both its infrastructure and its equipment. The installation saw new technology including the M1A2 Abrams tank, the M109A6 Paladin Howitzer, and the AH064D Apache Longbow helicopter, but at the same time many of the buildings that were renovated or demolished to make room for newer facilities exposed those working at the site to asbestos. Some of the divisions stationed at Fort Hood were deployed to Iraq and took part in the capture of Saddam Hussein.[2]
Known today as Fort Cavazos in honor of General Richard Cavazos, a Texas native who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars and the first Mexican American to earn the rank of four-star general, the site remains one of the largest active duty posts in the U.S. Armed Services and the world. Its current mission is the maintenance of a state of readiness for combat missions, with most of its activity dedicated to training both air and ground forces.[1]
How Was Asbestos Used at Fort Hood/Fort Cavazos?
Throughout the 20th century, the mineral asbestos was highly prized for its strength and ability to insulate against heat and flame. Its use can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, and though many asbestos companies denied having known of its dangers, suspicions about its dangers arose long before modern times. Still, the inexpensive, accessible material was constantly used in industrial settings and construction, and when the military was preparing for World War II, the administration ordered its use in multiple applications with the idea of providing extra protection for military personnel. This represents one of the great tragedies of the war and the years to follow, as the very material that the War Department ordered used for the protection of its service members ended up leading to many being diagnosed with deadly asbestos-related diseases decades later.
Barracks construction was one of the many uses of asbestos ordered by the military: From the 1930s to the 1980s, it was used in base infrastructure including roads, pipes, insulation of heating systems, and the brake lining of military vehicles, as well as in every aspect of construction of barracks, mess halls, hospitals, recreation centers, schools, and other administrative buildings. Years later, those who participated in the construction, maintenance, and demolition of these buildings, as well as those who lived there, were and continue to be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases caused by inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers that became airborne when the material was disturbed.
Asbestos-containing materials and parts used at Fort Hood included:
- Adhesives
- Automobile and truck brakes
- Caulking
- Ceiling tiles
- Cement foundations
- Drywall
- Electrical wiring
- Epoxies
- Fireproofing materials
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- HVAC systems
- Insulation materials
- Paint
- Pipes
- Plumbing
- Roofing
- Sealants
- Siding
- Soundproofing
- Valves
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Wallboard
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure at Fort Hood?
Fort Hood was and continues to be one of the largest military installations in the United States and the world. Because there were so many service members, civilian employees, and family members who worked and lived in buildings contaminated with asbestos, many have already been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, and many more may be diagnosed in the future. The most serious of these illnesses is the asbestos-related disease malignant mesothelioma, which has an extremely long latency period: Victims often go fifty or sixty years afte being exposed to asbestos before symptoms of mesothelioima begin to appear.
Those most at risk of asbestos exposure at Fort Hood are military members who worked in the construction, maintenance, or demolition of structures where asbestos-contaminated materials were used, as well as those who maintained or repaired HVAC systems, plumbing, and military vehicles.
Workers at risk of asbestos exposure at Fort Hood include:
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Welders
- Electricians
- Contractors
- Auto Mechanics
- Construction Workers
- Roofers
- Carpenters
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
In addition to military veterans and civilian employees who worked at Fort Hood, the risk of asbestos exposure extended to family members of anybody who worked with or near asbestos. This is because the same asbestos fibers that these individuals were exposed to often adhered to their hair, skin, or clothing, exposing their spouses, children, and other family members to the particles. Spouses laundering asbestos-covered clothing were at particular risk, but so too were children who greeted their parents after their service day. This secondary type of asbestos exposure has sickened and killed thousands.
Help for Fort Hood Asbestos Victims
Fort Hood has a long and distinguished history and reputation for military excellence that will continue and expand under its new name, Fort Cavazos. Unfortunately, many of the veterans who served there, civilian employees who worked there, and others have been sickened by asbestos used on the base over the years.
If you spent time at Fort Hood, whether as a service member, a family member of a veteran, or a civilian employee or contractor, you may have been exposed to asbestos and at risk of malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases. Notifying your physician of your history of exposure is essential to ensuring that you are being properly screened for these dangerous diseases, as early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment.
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after having been stationed or working at Fort Hood can be devastating, but you do have options. An experienced asbestos attorney can help you navigate the challenges ahead and guide you to the options that work best for you and your family. If you are a veteran, the military offers disability compensation as well as access to state-of-the-art treatment for those with asbestos-related diseases, and you may be eligible to file suit against the companies that supplied asbestos-contaminated materials to the military. You may also be eligible for filing claims against any of the asbestos trusts that have been set up by companies whose asbestos liabilities have driven them to seek bankruptcy protection.
If you or someone you love spent time at Fort Bragg and has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, or any other asbestos-related disease, an experienced asbestos attorney can provide you with the advice and guidance you need.
Army veterans may be eligible for special disability compensation, benefits, and care at any of the veterans’ medical centers located around the country, including those that specialize in mesothelioma care. You may also be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation from the companies that negligently provided the military with the asbestos-contaminated equipment and materials responsible for your illness, or to file a claim with an asbestos bankruptcy trust.
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