Located on the Puget Sound in Washington State, what was once Fort Lewis officially became Joint Base Lewis-McChord after 2010, when it was made one of twelve joint bases across the Department of Defense. Created in support of training and deployment for World War I, the base has a long history of leveraging airlift capability, proximity to seaports, and rail and road networks in support of U.S. military efforts. It is one of America’s most strategically vital bases, and today supports more than 40,000 service members.[1]
The long history that distinguishes Fort Lewis begins in 1917 and encompasses the decades when asbestos was used to build Army bases. Unaware that the mineral was toxic, the War Department specified its use for the construction of barracks, mess halls, administrative buildings, and infrastructure, as well as in brake linings for vehicles and aircraft, in fireproofing materials, and even in uniforms. Though asbestos provided additional strength, durability, and insulation against heat and flame for all those applications, it also exposed countless service members and civilians to the risk of serious illnesses including asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, and the rare and fatal form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.
The History of Fort Lewis
Originally known as Camp Lewis, the Army base that would become Fort Lewis and later Joint Base Lewis-McChord was established during the U.S. preparation for entry into World War I, when the Pierce County Electorate in Washington state voted to bond themselves for $2,000 to buy 70,000 acres and donate it to the federal government. The base that was built on the land was the first military installation in U.S. history to result from a gift given by citizens. Ninety days after the land was donated, a force of 10,000 men had built nearly 1,800 buildings and hundreds of other structures complete with lighting, plumbing, and heating. The installation had roads and railroad spurs, as well as a main gate that the workers paid for themselves to complete the project.[2]
The site was used to train recruits before they left for France, but after the war’s end, the site was neglected and the residents demanded that the land they’d donated be returned. Instead, Congress revitalized Camp Lewis and several other bases that had fallen into disrepair. The camp was redesignated as Fort Lewis in 1927, and in 1938 an Army Air Corps field named for Colonel William McChord was added to the site. McChord Field was renamed McChord Air Force Base in 1947 when the U.S. Air Force was established.[2]
When Fort Lewis was made a permanent base, it was notable for its elegant brick buildings, and new compounds were erected to provide facilities for training up to and throughout World War II. These included barracks, hospitals, officer and non-commissioned officer housing, and shops and warehouses. Other structures included an officers’ club, a Knights of Columbus Hall, a library, and a convalescent house. In all, there were over 400 buildings constructed between 1927 and 1939. Most were constructed making extensive use of asbestos for insulation, floors and ceiling material, electrical wiring, and within its heating and plumbing systems.[3]
Fort Lewis trained soldiers for World War II, including the 3rd Infantry Division troops of the 15th Infantry Regiment. As the war grew closer, the post housed 14,000 troops, with many housed in tents and temporary wood-frame buildings. By 1941 there were 37,000 soldiers on base, requiring the construction of another 800 buildings that continued being used through future deployments including the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on terrorism.
Fort Lewis served as a separation center to discharge returning soldiers after the war, and then as a training center when the United States entered the Korean conflict. More barracks were built to accommodate the soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Division, which later deployed to Vietnam. Fort Lewis also played a role in mobile infantry movement for Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991.[3]
By the 1980s, the installation underwent significant renovation and building, including the construction of a new hospital and barracks. Fort Lewis played a significant role in the Global War on Terrorism after September 11, 2001, serving as the home and deployment site for the Special Forces, Ranger units, Special Operations, and National Guard and Reserve units. In 2005, the Base Realignment Commission ordered the merger of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, creating Joint Base Lewis-McChord.[3]
How Was Asbestos Used at Fort Lewis?
When Camp Lewis became Fort Lewis, construction on the base began in earnest. In that era, industry insiders had begun hearing whispers about asbestos’ dangers, but the toxic nature of the material was not known by the general public. It was used in countless applications because of its strength and ability to withstand heat and flame, and the U.S. military ordered it to be used extensively in the belief that it would provide extra protection for the troops.
Not realizing that asbestos was putting soldiers at risk for asbestos-related diseases, the Army used asbestos in nearly every aspect of life on its bases. Asbestos-containing insulation and drywall were used to construct barracks and mess halls as well as in boiler rooms and boiler parts, electrical wiring, piping, shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and cement. Asbestos could be found in safety equipment meant to protect against fire and in brake linings of Army vehicles. Even shotgun shells and the cloth mitts used to handle machine guns contained the carcinogenic material, creating a nearly inescapable risk of inhaling the mineral’s fibers and being sickened decades later.
Asbestos-containing materials and parts used at Fort Lewis 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 Lewis?
Those at greatest risk of exposure to asbestos at Fort Lewis were the service members and civilians who worked directly with the material. These included personnel tasked with building barracks and maintaining vehicles or base infrastructure. But because nearly every structure on the base was built using asbestos and nearly every piece of equipment made use of materials that contained the carcinogen, there was a risk of illness to anybody on the base through the mid-1970s when the material was still in heavy use. The risk extended to their family members, who might have suffered secondary exposure to asbestos that they innocently carried into their homes on their skin, hair, or clothing.
Even after asbestos stopped being actively used in construction, it remained hidden in walls, electrical wiring, insulation, and equipment parts that had been installed decades earlier. Some of those buildings remain today, putting those who live in those buildings, those who repair or renovate them, and those who are involved in demolition at risk.
Those who were most endangered at Fort Lewis included:
- Electricians
- Contractors
- Construction Workers
- Roofers
- Plumbers
- Carpenters
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
- Vehicle mechanics
- Artillery mechanics
- HVAC workers
- Firefighters
As recently as 2019, a major demolition project at Joint Base Lewis-McChord required asbestos abatement as 193 buildings were knocked down to make room to support new base needs.[4] The D block that was targeted for the project housed over 200,000 soldiers in World War II and continued to operate during the Korean War and after. Its barracks, mess halls, post exchanges, chapels, libraries, and theaters were used during the Vietnam War, and later as training facilities for the Reserve and National Guard. With many of the structures found to have contained asbestos, the number of personnel who were exposed is significant, putting many at risk of being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in years to come.
Help for Fort Lewis Asbestos Victims
Asbestos exposure has caused misery and grief for hundreds of thousands of people, but military veterans represent the largest demographic diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. If you are an Army veteran who served at Fort Lewis, a civilian employee or contractor who worked there, or a family member of a veteran or civilian employee, you may have been exposed to asbestos on the base. It’s a good idea to alert your physician to your exposure history so that they can monitor your health appropriately.
If you are a veteran and you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to special disability compensation from the VA and high-quality medical care from a VA Medical Center or any other specialized treatment center.
You may also be able to file a claim against one of the many asbestos trust funds set up by the asbestos companies driven into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities, or to file a personal injury claim directly against a company that’s still operating. To learn more about the options available to you, contact an experienced asbestos attorney. They have the information and resources you need to help you make the best decision for you and your family.
