Fort Shafter is the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific and, at over 100 years old, is the oldest military base on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark and noted for its distinctive Palm Circle, the majority of the site was constructed in the 1940s when the military made extensive use of asbestos in hundreds of applications, including barracks, infrastructure, and equipment. As a result of its use, thousands of veterans and others who lived and worked on the base are at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
The History of Fort Shafter
Fort Shafter is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. The land where it is located was formerly Hawaiian crown lands that were ceded to the United States government after annexation. Named after Major General William Rufus Shafter, who led the United States expedition to Cuba in the late 19th century, construction of the base began in 1905 and took two years to complete.[1]
From its earliest days, Fort Shafter had a distinctive layout, with barracks and officers’ quarters arranged around a parade field ringed by royal palms. After building those structures, the rest of the base followed, with a regimental-sized cantonment area built in 1914, an ordnance depot built in 1917 as a separate post, and Tripler General Hospital built there a year later (though it was relocated in 1948).[1]
Though located in Honolulu, Fort Shafter was largely spared during the attack on Pearl Harbor, losing just one soldier to a Navy shell that was located on the post. The base provided anti-aircraft artillery abilities during World War II, though its primary role during that battle was as senior Army command post for the Asia-Pacific theater.[1]
In 1944, the Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with building what came to be known as the “Pineapple Pentagon.” Construction was completed in just 49 days, and barracks housing was converted into headquarters administrative buildings. In 1967, the base was split into two parts by the construction of the Moanalua Freeway that ran through it. While other bases were downsized after the end of the Vietnam War, Fort Shafter continued to be valued for its strategic location, and in 1974, it became home to the Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division. The Army later returned much of the post’s undeveloped land back to the state.[1]
Fort Shafter continues to serve as the headquarters of the U.S. Army Pacific and today is home and workplace to over 5,000 military, civilian, contractor, and family members.
How Was Asbestos Used at Fort Shafter?
Fort Shafter’s original buildings went up between 1905 and 1907, but much of the base’s construction took place in the 1940s in the run-up to World War II. Asbestos was used constantly by the military in almost every application that required strength, durability, and resistance to flame and heat, and as a result, most of the barracks, mess halls, administrative buildings, and base infrastructure were made using the carcinogenic material. According to an environmental compliance newsletter focused on Hawaii’s military bases, most older U.S. Army facilities on the island of Hawaii were built using asbestos-containing materials, and even military members serving in modern times are at risk of exposure from legacy asbestos found in vinyl floor tiles, roofing sealants, and wall plaster.[2]
Asbestos was a component of cement pipes, building insulation, and uniforms, and the vehicles used on the base were also a source of asbestos exposure, as their brake pads, brake linings, gaskets, and electrical wiring all contained asbestos.
Asbestos-containing materials and parts used at Fort Shafter included:
- Adhesives
- Automobile, truck, and tank brakes, clutch plates, gaskets, and insulation
- 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 Shafter?
As a working Army base with a constantly shifting mission and growing population, Fort Shafter was constantly undergoing renovations and expansion. Construction work put anybody involved in the building process at risk, as well as anybody who was in close proximity to the work being done. The risk continued over the years, as even when asbestos is not being directly manipulated, time and exposure can lead to it breaking down into friable particles that can be inhaled or ingested once airborne.
As was true of other military bases where asbestos was used in construction, anybody who served, lived, or worked at Fort Shafter was at risk for asbestos exposure. This includes:
- Electricians
- Contractors
- Construction Workers
- Roofers
- Plumbers
- Painters
- Carpenters
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
- Vehicle mechanics
- Artillery mechanics
- HVAC workers
- Firefighters
While the soldiers and civilian employees who lived, worked, and trained at Fort Shafter were at greatest risk of exposure, their family members were also at risk of secondary exposure to asbestos from asbestos carried into their homes on their hair, skin, or clothing. An unfortunate number of spouses and children of military service members and civilian contractors who worked on America’s Army bases were sickened when their loved ones unknowingly carried these deadly fibers into their homes.
Though people tend to think of asbestos as an issue of the past, any place where the carcinogenic material remains hidden in buildings continues to pose a risk. Fort Shafter is still a working military base, and asbestos continues to put personnel at risk.
In the year 2000, it was discovered at one of the base’s historic living quarters where the 25th Infantry Division was stationed and scheduled to deploy to mainland training facilities. The carcinogenic material was found at Schofield Barracks, and 600 soldiers living there were forced to vacate quickly, leaving their personal belongings and equipment behind. All of these materials required decontamination and, in some cases, needed to be replaced because the deadly material could not be removed. The asbestos was found in couplers located in the joints of air conditioners, which are used to keep the system from vibrating.[3]
In the same year, Fort Shafter came under fire from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which filed a complaint against the base and its subcontractor, Precision Demolition, for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s standards for hazardous air pollutants for asbestos during the demolition of a building near Honolulu. The complaint cites failure to keep asbestos-containing material adequately wet during stripping operations and until it was collected for disposal, and visible emissions of asbestos-containing material were allegedly discharged to the outside air during collection. This improper management of an asbestos abatement project put nearby residents at risk of exposure, as well as anybody on the base who might have breathed in the airborne asbestos.[4]
Help for Fort Shafter Asbestos Victims
Army veterans who served at Fort Shafter, as well as civilian contractors and the family members of both, live with the very real possibility of being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis. With all of these diseases having long latency periods of as much as five or six decades, feeling well today is no guarantee against the appearance of symptoms in the future. That’s why it’s important to let your healthcare professional know that you have a history of asbestos exposure. With this knowledge, they will take extra steps to monitor your health appropriately and can take quick diagnostic action should any suspicious, relevant symptoms appear. The earlier an asbestos-related disease is diagnosed, the better your treatment outcome.
If you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you do have options. While your first step should always be to attend to your medical needs, once you’ve connected with a mesothelioma specialist, it’s a good idea to meet with an asbestos attorney who can advise you of the many sources of compensation available to you.
As a veteran, you may be entitled to receive care through the VA’s specialized mesothelioma treatment centers as well as special disability compensation. Whether a veteran or civilian, you may also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure or claims against asbestos trust funds set up by asbestos companies whose liabilities forced them into bankruptcy.
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease is overwhelming, and it’s normal to want to take time to get used to your new reality before investigating legal action. Unfortunately, there are limits to the amount of time you have in which to act. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations, and once the time they allow has expired, you will no longer be eligible for compensation. To make sure that you’re keeping all of your options open, set up a time to meet with a mesothelioma lawyer to learn about the resources available to you.
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