Located in Prince George County, Virginia, the U.S. Army post that has been called Fort Gregg-Adams since 2023 was previously known as Fort Lee. Established during World War I and active through both World Wars and the Korean War, the majority of the permanent structures at Fort Lee were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, when asbestos was most commonly used. Because asbestos was so constantly used by the U.S. military, veterans represent the largest group of people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma; those who served or worked at Fort Lee are at significant risk for the rare, asbestos-related disease and other serious illnesses.
The History of Fort Lee (Fort Gregg-Adams)
The area where Fort Lee (Fort Gregg-Adams) currently stands was originally populated by American Indians who greeted the first European settlers who arrived in 1607. By the 18th century, it was home to plantations and farms, and during the Civil War, it was a major road and rail center that became pivotal to the Civil War.[1]
When the U.S. declared war on Germany in 1917, the War Department acquired the land and named it Camp Lee. Construction of more than 1,500 buildings, a camp hospital, and over 15 miles of roads was quickly completed to accommodate the 80th Blue Ridge Division of troops for training. The base trained more than 60,000 soldiers, swelling in population to become one of Virginia’s largest cities. After the war’s end, it functioned as an out-processing center for a while but then was closed. Its original buildings were torn down, and the property was used as a game preserve for years. The only structure that remained was a two-story wood-framed building that had served as the division headquarters and home to its Commander. That structure, known originally as the White House, was later named the Davis House.[1]
Camp Lee was rebuilt in 1940 in response to the war in Europe. Thousands of civilian workers were hired to build barracks as recruits arrived, and by 1941, the Quartermaster School moved from Philadelphia to Camp Lee to begin training officers in military supply and service. More than 50,000 officers attended the school, and over 300,000 soldiers trained there during World War II. The base had a regional hospital capable of caring for over 2,000 patients at a time. It was also home to the Army Services Forces Training Center, the Quartermaster Board, a Women’s Army Corps training center, and a POW camp. After the war, Camp Lee continued to serve as an out-processing center and Quartermaster field installation.[1]
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Camp Lee continued operating as the location of the Adjutant General’s School and the Women’s Army Corps training center. Its first permanent brick building was constructed in 1948, and in 1950, the War Department decided to make it a permanent facility and renamed it Fort Lee. In 1950, when the Korean War began, it became home to tens of thousands of soldiers sent there for logistics training. The temporary structures that had remained from World War II were torn down and permanent brick and cinderblock structures were erected, including barracks, new administrative buildings, and a hospital. After that war, and in relation to the Vietnam War, building on the base continued, including a mock Vietnamese village for guerilla tactic training and buildings that housed automated data processing equipment.[1]
During Vietnam, the Quartermaster School continued to expand, and new training sites were built. The hospital expanded, and more barracks were built, as well as on-post childcare and physical fitness centers. The base later went through several transitions in responsibility and mission, becoming the site of tailored logistics training, immediate processing, and rapid deployment of specialized logistics units and personnel; the Sustainment Center of Excellence; and the training base for the U.S. Army Quartermaster, Ordnance, and Transportation branches. Significant construction using asbestos accompanied these changes.[1]
As part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, all bases whose names commemorated the Confederacy or any person who served the Confederate Army voluntarily were renamed. Fort Lee was officially redesignated Fort Gregg-Adams in April 2023. Its new name honors Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, two African American officers. The base’s new name represents the first time since 1900 that a fort has been named after a still-living service member. It was also the first base named for African Americans.[1]
How Was Asbestos Used at Fort Lee (Fort Gregg-Adams)?
Like other military bases around the country, Fort Lee’s construction included asbestos in numerous applications. Though we know today that asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, between the 1930s and 1980 the carcinogenic material was considered a miracle mineral that added strength, durability, fire resistance, and electrical insulation to anything it was added to. Because of these characteristics, as well as its low cost and easy accessibility, the U.S. military used asbestos constantly: it was included in everything from the construction materials that barracks, mess halls, and administrative buildings were built from to the brake linings of vehicles, insulation around boilers and other infrastructure, and fireproofing materials.
Asbestos-containing materials and parts used at Fort Lee 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 Lee?
Fort Lee served as a training ground and school for hundreds of thousands of soldiers and officers. They lived in buildings contaminated with asbestos and worked with equipment, vehicles, and aircraft that contained the mineral in brakes, gaskets, and insulation. Fort Lee was also a place of employment for thousands of civilian laborers over the years. Between 1930 and 1980 and in the years after, all of those people were exposed to materials that contained asbestos that could easily break down into microscopic fibers; these particles are easily inhaled and ingested, and once inside the body can cause deadly harm.
Whether through exposure from materials they installed, worked with, or lived around, service members and workmen alike were at risk of exposure; the same is true of their family members, who were at risk of secondary exposure from asbestos carried into their homes on their loved one’s hair, skin or clothing.
Those who were most at risk of asbestos exposure at Fort Lee included:
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Welders
- Electricians
- Contractors
- Construction Workers
- Roofers
- Carpenters
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
Beyond the risk posed to those who worked and served at Fort Lee when asbestos was commonly used, others who frequented, worked, and lived on the base in more recent years were also at risk. Though asbestos use was discontinued once its dangers were confirmed, the base and its equipment contained legacy asbestos that continues to pose a risk. Demolition projects that took down existing asbestos-contaminated materials risked exposure to anyone working on the project or in its proximity, and asbestos hidden in construction materials of buildings constructed before the 1980s is a continuing source of danger until it is removed. Recently, a local demolition and asbestos abatement firm was hired to manage the complete abatement of asbestos-containing insulation and floor tile in 36 military housing units at Fort Lee, and many more buildings may have the carcinogenic material hidden behind their walls.[2]
What to Do If You Were Exposed to Asbestos at Fort Lee
Soldiers, officers, and workers who spent time at Fort Lee all have the potential to be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease. Like all environments where asbestos was in constant use, there is a real risk that you inhaled asbestos fibers while there. Though you may feel fine today, it’s a good idea to let your physician know about your history of exposure so that they can include it in your medical records and pay close attention to any suspicious symptoms that may arise in the future.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease after spending time at Fort Lee, you need information about your options. The best person to guide you through the resources and possibilities available to you is an experienced asbestos attorney. They will guide you through identifying your exact sources of exposure based on when you were at Fort Lee and what your responsibilities were. They’ll review the types of equipment or materials you used or worked near and where you lived. This process, combined with your personal goals and condition, will help determine your best path forward.
Options may include filing for special military disability compensation available to Army veterans, seeking care at a VA medical center, or filing a claim for compensation with one of the asbestos trust funds created by asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy after paying millions in asbestos liabilities. You may also be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against asbestos companies that remain solvent. Many victims who have accused these companies of negligence and failure to warn have received significant settlements or jury verdicts that have paid for their medical expenses and provided economic security for their families.
