Camp Lejeune's new wastewater treatment plant.
Toxic chemicals seeped into Camp Lejeune‘s water supply for three decades. The contaminated wells weren’t shut down until 1987, years after tests first indicated the water was polluted.
Additionally, Camp Lejeune officials didn’t immediately contact effected families. Here’s a Stars and Stripes timeline of events.
The Camp Lejeune water quality reports are available online.
The Navy mailed letters in May 2010 to veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune informing them of the water contamination between 1957 and 1987. You can download a VA Health Care fact sheet on Camp Lejeune Water Contamination.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has set up a web site with details and also conducted several health studies with Camp Lejeune families.
Marine families once based at Lejeune who have questions about health problems plan to gather today for an informational meeting. Mike Partainat (strashni2002@yahoo.com) is organizing the gathering planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 N. Westshore Blvd.
Former residents and employees of Camp Lejeune can register on the Marine Corps’ official water study website at https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/. There’s also a toll free line with the Department of Navy 877-261-9782 staffed Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email at clwater@usmc.mil.
Filed under: Health - Physical and Mental, Marines, Military families, Veterans | Tagged: Camp Lejeune, drinking water quality, g, Government, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Military, North Carolina, postaday2011, toxic chemicals, United States, Water, water contamination |
Off The Base 
I was stationed At Lejeune from March 52 to Oct 53, about 18 months. In 1995 I had a cancerous kidney removed. Was the water contaminated during my stay?
yes
My husband was in the Marine Corp 1971-1973 and was at Camp Lejeune some of the time. He died of adrenal corticol cancer at age 46 in 1999. Have there been other marines with this rare cancer that may have been there or exposed?
Kim, have I responded to you before? My son in law died of Adrenal Cortical in 2002 – he was born on lejune in 73 and lived there for a while. Have you heard from any others?
Carol Hll
My husband died of adrenal cortical carcinoma in 1994. He lived at Camp Lejeune during Marine Corps training before being deployed to Vietnam.
My son in law was conceived and lived on Camp Lejeune as a child – born there in 1973. He died of Adrenal Cortical Cancer in 2002 at age 29.
My husband and I lived in a town outside of Camp Lejeune call Verona in 1990 until 1991. However, he was living on Lejeune from 1988 until 1990. Was the water comtanimated then?
My sisters, one married to a Marine, and the other living there with her, were there for three years, 1970-1973. One has had major
cancer chemo-therapy over the past year, for breast cancer, and,
her only source of contamination that anyone can detect, was the
waters of Camp LeJeune.
She is a teacher, of music, in public school, and the expenses wiped her out, but, the toll on her stamina and strength, on her health, are
the most cruel result. She is just starting to grow her hair back.
As a retired veteran, I am aghast at the treatment our military have received over contaminants on military bases, posts, outposts, and forward bases in Thailand, Korea, Guam, Laos, Cambodia, Alaska,
and in the CONUS, for which none of us has received any acknowledgement from the government.
The DOD CHECO report is horribly flawed, for only mentioning that Canine and Security Police could have been exposed, while the truth is that all US military on Royal Thai Air Bases were stationed on the perimeter, with communications facilities, flight facilities, bomb revetments, barracks, and dining facilities all contaminated with AO and/or herbicides, proven to cause some 15 diseases.
The truth seems to fall upon the deaf ears of an impotent Congress, a deceitful DOD, and an ignorant Veterans Administration.
My father, Major James D Manley 32 year USMC veteran died in 2007 at age 76 from squamous cell carcinoma. My mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had kidney and surrounding area removed at age 77. We spent the majority of my growing up life at Camp Lejeune living in Tarawa Terrace. There is no cancer on either side of the family which leads one to the obvious conclusion of the connection here… This is a horrible situation.
First, I am sorry for the loss of your father and hope your mother is in full recovery. If your parents’ cancers have not been reported, may I suggest you go on the website for The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It has details about several health studies with Camp Lejeune families. It may be helpful for the registry to know about your father’s and mother’s conditions. Thank you for your comment. Keep us updated.
East Coast Seabees trained at Camp LeJune during Vietnam War, I was ther in 1966-67. Was the water bad then?
I was born at Camp Lejeune July 1955. Fortunately, we left when I was six months old. I probably didn’t drink the water, drinking milk at the time, but I’m sure my mother bathed me in water.
Both my parents had lung cancer. Neither one ever smoked a single cigarette in their life. My mother got lung cancer at the age of 40. She had one lung removed and survived, living the rest of her life on one lung until she died at age 70 (most of the women in her family lived into their 90s). My father got lung cancer at age 53 and died.
Is there anything I can do? A year or so ago, I heard about some class action lawsuits but they told me I didn’t qualify because my parents were there before 1957.But the odds of two spouses who never smoked getting lung cancer are tiny.
Were you a msgt with the usmc back in the 80’s?
[…] From Off the Base: Did Your Family Drink Camp Lejeune’s Water? […]
I have no family history of cancer at all, but I was recently diagnosed with Bladder Cancer and wonder if the water may be a contributing factor.
I lived in Jackonville from the age of 6 months (end of 1975) till about 2 (mid 1977) while my father was in the Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune. I know that this falls in the date of the known water contamination. However we didn’t live on base. We lived just outside the front gate on Piney Green Rd.
Then I was also station there myself for a month in early 1994 and then again from July 1995 till Oct 1997. Was the water issues rectified by the time I was stationed there myself?
Since We didn’t live “on base” when I was a kid and wasn’t stationed there myself till after the dates listed in VA fact sheet could this be a contributor to my cancer?
I was stationed at Lejeune from 81 to 85. I just found out about this on friday. Does this affect me, and what can i do about it?
mom & daddy moved us to camp lejeune in 1954 sept. mom fed me canned condensed milk mixed with tap water. i have suffered all my life with uti’s. then 2 different strains of bladder cancer, with it returning in my lymph nodes. both my younger sisters became Marines and both have had cancer. my baby sister dying 2009 oct. from lung cancer. my daddy and sisters were all “good” Marines and served their country, now is this great country going to stand up for their best or their families?
Thank you all (especially those suffering with cancer) for sharing your stories, pain and endeavoring to hold the U.S. government to account. I’m researching and writing a book on causes and natural cures for cancer. I wholeheartedly believe water is one of the most vital factors and drink purified, alkaline water myself. Contact me if you would like for a link to the company from whom I purchased my water system.
Paul F Davis – author of United States of Arrogance (raised by an Army Retired Lt. Colonel and cousin to a retired Army Ranger and Marine), I also worked at ground zero in NYC the first week of 9/11.
We lived at TT 2 for 2 years. My father passed of cancer. And my mother is a cancer survivor. what web site do you go on the get our just do medical benefits. Really scared.
My father was stationed at Camp Lejeune in the 1970s. I was born in 1975. I have health issues as well. How can I register or talk with someone about this? Brandy R. Wynn
Please send me any information you have I was a healthy Marine and have been sick for many years thanks
My husband was stationed at camp lejuene 1976-1980.he was Diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 2009. They could only partially remove it at upmc. He’s had neurological issues since. He also had months of radiation. We go back to Pittsburgh tomorrow,he now has fluid in his brain that needs removed and they are going to do gammaknife to try and get the rest of the tumor. We’ve filled out 2questionnaires from atsdr and never heard anything back. I’ve been researching myself ,but always a dead end. My prayers go out to all of you.
My father was a Marine Sgt. stationed at Camp Lejeune from 1960-64. My sister and I were born during that time. He died when I was 14 from cancer of the esophagus. He was 37 years old. I just realized a few days ago that his death was probably the result of being poisoned during his service, and the Navy has been covering it up. To say I am raging with anger over this knowledge would be an understatement.
I was born in 1952 camp lejeune naval hospital lived there in midway park and TT til I was in the 4th grade, and the moved back in 1970, I have lost my brother to brain and lung cancer, my mother to liver cancer and my sister to pancreatic cancer, my god I just found out about this drinking water mess, I will find out more about this
I also have health problems and my son was born 1975 at camp Lejeune he was premature
Now you have got me worried, I was born there in 1966 and have tried to live a healthy life. Hope Camp Lejeune water doesn’t jeopardize my health.
My dad John Earl Bentley was in Camp Lejeune in 1954. He had skin cancer on his chest then was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2006 after having previous problems concerning his mouth. He passed away January 14, 2007.
Laurence wayne Johnston sr I was at camp lejune in 1971 to 1975 and 1976 to 1978 with mental promblems. I think its from the water . looking for help
My father was stationed here and I was born on base. We lived in Tarawa Terrace housing and I was born in 1969. My mother suffered cervical cancer in 85, beat it, found out in 2004 she had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, went through chemo for about 2 years, then in September 2010 was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. She passed away in April on 2011 after suffering daily with radiation, chemo and blood transfusions during those months. She was 62. I don’t see how all of this couldn’t be related to Camp Lejeune. As a child I suffered from an rare illness that would make my small veins tangle around my arteries. Was told to my mother it had only been seen a few times in adults but never in a baby. Going to base hospitals, we were not told much, and I had surgery to remove at least one that I know of. I also could not speak until I was 5/6.
My father was stationed here from 1970 to 79. I was not born until 1984 but my mother suffered losing two. children who were born on base. My brother lived 2 weeks and sister lived a few hours. In 2009 my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer that had spread to her liver. In 2013 my dad got prostate cancer and survived. Is there anything I can do to find out if their illness is connected to this?