Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Overview

Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It is the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast and the second-largest in the world. The base covers over 246,000 acres and is home to over 40,000 Marines, sailors, and their families.

History

Camp Lejeune was established in 1941 in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was named after Major General John A. Lejeune, the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. The base played a vital role in World War II, training Marines for combat in the Pacific theater. After the war, Camp Lejeune continued to be an important training ground for Marines during the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf War.

Mission

The mission of Camp Lejeune is to train and equip Marines for combat and to provide support to the operating forces. The base is home to a variety of training facilities, including:

• Infantry Training Battalion
• School of Infantry
• Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools
• Marine Corps Engineer School
• Marine Corps Air Station New River

Environmental Concerns

Camp Lejeune has been the site of significant environmental contamination. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the base used several toxic chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), in its water supply. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has established a Camp Lejeune Legacy Registry to track the health of individuals who may have been exposed to contaminated water at the base. The registry is open to anyone who lived, worked, or served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.

Additional Information

• Camp Lejeune is located in Onslow County, North Carolina.
• The base is home to the Marine Corps Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts and exhibits related to the history of the Marine Corps.
• Camp Lejeune is also home to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, which features a variety of marine life exhibits.