Today, Camp Roberts is operated by the California Army National Guard, which uses it to host annual training for both its own units and the British Army. The expansive 42,000-acre site first opened in the years immediately before the United States entered World War II. Because asbestos and other toxins were used in the construction of its buildings, the site was largely demolished in 2012, but that doesn’t erase the exposure suffered by thousands of service members and Army veterans who spent time on its grounds, or the mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses they were diagnosed with.
About Camp Roberts
Camp Roberts was built on a site originally called Navimiento Ranch that spans both sides of the Salinas River in California, in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. The land once belonged to Native American Indians, and later was farmland tended by Franciscan missionaries. In 1940, the Army purchased the land, changed the name to Camp Roberts in honor of Corporal Harold W. Roberts, a tank driver in World War I, and began construction.[1]
The new base was designated as a training facility for new soldiers in anticipation of World War II. It was built by 8,000 workers and built to accommodate 30,000 trainees at a time. When it opened in 1941 it was the world’s largest military training facility, with a parade area the length of 14 football fields. In the years surrounding World War III, 436,000 field and infantry artillery troops moved through the camp on their way to combat zones in Europe and the Pacific. The camp was so busy that at one point in 1945, so many troops were housed there that it exceeded its bunking capacity, leading to thousands of men sleeping in tent cities.[1]
In addition to training facilities and barracks, Camp Roberts’ facilities also included a hospital and a prisoner-of-war area to hold prisoners from Germany and Italy. In 1946 the camp began processing soldiers returning from war, and was later deserted and converted to “caretaker status.” It remained largely inactive until the Korean War in 1950 when it was briefly reactivated. Later it was used for weapons testing by both the Army and the Navy. It was closed in 1970 and the California National Guard was given control of the site in 1971 for the establishment of a Reserve Component Training Center.
In 2003, Camp Roberts was damaged during the San Simeon Earthquake, and it was estimated that the site needed $17 million in repairs that were never performed, and by 2011 the camp was in a state of significant disrepair.[2] In 2012, 658 barracks and other structures were torn down as part of a three-year, $20 million project to clear the camp of structures that were contaminated with lead paint and asbestos. The process included building a hazardous waste landfill on the site.[3]
How Was Asbestos Used at Camp Roberts?
As was true with many Army barracks and bases built before World War II, the U.S. Army made extensive use of asbestos, a mineral highly regarded for its strength and characteristic heat and flame resistance and insulating properties. These highly prized benefits combined with the material’s accessibility and low cost made it invaluable to the Armed Forces. Unaware that it was carcinogenic and would later be linked to malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, it was used in multiple applications, including:
- Cement
- Shingles
- Electrical wiring
- Drywall
- Insulation
- Pipe Coverings
- Construction Materials
- Flooring
- Joint Compound
- Gaskets
- Roofing
- Vehicle Brake Linings
How Were Service Members Harmed by Asbestos at Camp Roberts?
At Camp Roberts and many other military bases, U.S. Army personnel were exposed to asbestos from barracks and mess halls, as well as from military vehicle brake linings and other sources. Though asbestos is relatively safe when it is undisturbed, workers involved in the construction of the site and who were exposed to any type of maintenance done on the premises were at risk for exposure to microscopic fibers released when the material is cut, sanded, or in any other way damaged. Many Army veterans have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases decades after they passed through Camp Roberts, whether during World War II, the Korean War, or during National Guard training in more recent years.
How Can Camp Roberts Asbestos Victims Seek Compensation?
If you or a loved one trained at Camp Roberts and now have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, an asbestos attorney can advise you of your rights.
Terri Heimann Oppenheimer
WriterTerri Oppenheimer has been writing about mesothelioma and asbestos topics for over ten years. She has a degree in English from the College of William and Mary. Terri’s experience as the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog gives her a wealth of knowledge which she brings to all Mesothelioma.net articles she authors.
Dave Foster
Page EditorDave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.
References
- Military Bases (N.D.). Camp Roberts Army Base in Monterey, CA
Retrieved from: https://militarybases.com/california/camp-roberts/ - The Tribune. (March 28, 2011.). Camp Roberts in a state of disrepair
Retrieved from: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article39147672.html - The Tribune. (January 14, 2012.). Tour of duty ends for Camp Roberts’ aging barracks.
Retrieved from: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article39193140.html