Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure & Compensation

Fort Dix Army base, previously referred to as Camp Dix, is located in Wrightstown, New Jersey. It served as a U.S. Army mobilization, installation, and training site since World War I. Veterans, military personnel, and their families residing on the base frequently encountered asbestos exposure at Fort Dix.

Army veterans and their families are at an increased risk of developing asbestos illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. The mesothelioma lawyers at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) have decades of experience representing clients who were trained, resided, or employed at Fort Dix.

Fort Dix at a Glance

• Fort Dix once consisted of 1,665 structures, making it the largest military base in the region, with some buildings constructed and maintained during a period when asbestos was commonly used in building materials.
• Veterans who were stationed at Fort Dix may qualify for VA Benefits. As of 2025, the VA’s Veterans Disability Compensation Rates for a married veteran with a 100% disability rating can receive more than $4,000 per month.
• At least 3 asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, established to compensate mesothelioma victims, recognize buildings at Fort Dix Army base as known asbestos exposure jobsites.
• Working with an experienced asbestos law firm can help determine whether you may be eligible for compensation due to asbestos exposure at Fort Dix.

Asbestos Exposure at Fort Dix Army Base

Asbestos-containing materials were used during the construction of military installations like Fort Dix as early as the 1930s. Asbestos was widely utilized at military bases throughout the 1970s because of its heat resistance, insulating properties, durability, and resistance to corrosion. Asbestos products were used in many of the Fort Dix buildings, including floor tiles, roofing, insulation, and caulking.

Examples of buildings at Fort Dix that contained asbestos include:

• Barracks building 5502 was built in the 1950s and underwent renovation in 2023. It housed residential units, bathrooms, laundry facilities, a cafeteria, a recreation room, and a kitchen. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles, along with caulk for windows and doors, were identified throughout the barracks during a Hazardous Material Survey conducted in July 2020.
• The cooling and heating plants associated with Walson Hospital on the Fort Dix base included numerous asbestos-containing materials. This included window caulk, window glazing, wire, pipe fittings, roofing, gaskets, door caulk, and fire doors.
• The Federal Correctional Institute at Fort Dix has similarly posed a risk of asbestos exposure to numerous correctional staff. Besides the wall and curb flashings, the roof insulation had asbestos in it. According to a 2024 asbestos removal notice, housing units 5851 and 5703 had asbestos floor tiles and ceilings coated with silica.

Once a 5,000-acre camp, Fort Dix is now incorporated into the 42,000-acre Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Department of Defense’s only tri-service base.

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High-Risk Occupations at Fort Dix

Due to the extensive use of asbestos in barracks, buildings, machinery, vehicles, and protective gear at Fort Dix, veterans and military personnel in various roles faced the danger of asbestos exposure.

High-risk occupations at Fort Dix include:

Secondary Exposure at Fort Dix

Families of active-duty service members and Army veterans who regularly handled asbestos materials at Fort Dix are also at risk for developing mesothelioma. Active-duty service members and Army veterans often returned to their family housing units at Fort Dix with asbestos dust on their clothing, shoes, and hair. When asbestos dust is inhaled, it can cause asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis due to indirect exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

We lived in the old World War II barracks at Fort Dix. The piping in the building was all covered in asbestos. U.S. Army veteran
Recalling basic training at Ft. Dix, 1959

Asbestos Products Used at Fort Dix

Asbestos products were used throughout Fort Dix in the construction of administrative buildings, barracks, training facilities, and medical buildings, as well as in machinery, vehicles, and protective apparel.

Common asbestos-containing products found at Fort Dix include:

• Asbestos mittens: Contained woven asbestos fibers that protected hands when working with artillery and other high-temperature items.
• Caulk: Contained asbestos fibers to improve the compound’s adhesion and durability when sealing gaps around windows, doors, and wall joints.
• Ceiling panels and floor tiles: Incorporated asbestos to strengthen the panels and stabilize the material under heat and pressure.
• Drywall and Joint Compounds: Used asbestos fibers to bind the material, improve workability during application, and maintain stability as it dried.
• Electrical cables: Featured asbestos wraps and insulation to shield wiring from heat produced during electrical operation.
• Gaskets: Contained compressed asbestos fibers that allowed the gasket to maintain a tight seal in machinery, even under high heat or pressure.
• Insulation: Used loose-fill or wrapped asbestos materials to line pipes, boilers, and building spaces to control heat and reduce energy loss.
• Roofing: Mixed asbestos into shingles and felts to reinforce the material and help it withstand outdoor exposure over extended periods.

Compensation for Fort Dix Army Veterans With Mesothelioma

If you are a military veteran or provide care for a veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure at Fort Dix, you may be eligible for compensation. ELSM’s asbestos lawyers have represented approximately 55 clients in their Fort Dix mesothelioma lawsuits or for other asbestos-related diseases due, at least in part, to exposure to asbestos at Fort Dix Army base.

There are several types of compensation options available for Army veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma:

• Asbestos Trust Funds
• Asbestos Lawsuits
• VA benefits

Compensation can help cover medical expenses, replace lost wages, and offer financial aid to mesothelioma patients and their families.

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Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

Before filing for bankruptcy, many asbestos product manufacturers and suppliers faced thousands of lawsuits. When a company declares bankruptcy, a mesothelioma trust fund may be established to set aside money to compensate individuals exposed to asbestos who’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. These bankruptcy trust funds ensure that victims can still receive financial assistance, even after the company has closed.

Military veterans who have been impacted by mesothelioma may be eligible to file claims through asbestos trust funds.

There is no designated asbestos trust fund for Fort Dix. However, several companies that produced asbestos-containing products for military base construction, vehicle components, and mechanical parts at Fort Dix have established trust funds.

The following list of bankrupt companies with established asbestos trust funds recognize at least one building at the Fort Dix Army base as an approved jobsite.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Army veterans may be eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit. Military service members who were exposed to asbestos at Fort Dix and subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma should contact a reputable asbestos law firm for legal assistance.

Legal actions cannot be brought against the military or the United States Government. Legal action is directed against the manufacturers of asbestos products instead. If your loved one died from mesothelioma, you might be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the companies that manufactured or distributed asbestos.

Veteran Benefits

United States veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may qualify for VA benefits, which can include disability compensation, healthcare, and financial support to help cover treatment-related expenses.

These benefits may also include:

• Caregiver allowances
• Assistance with daily activities
• Reimbursement for funeral and burial costs
• VA pensions
• Dependency or indemnity compensation

ELSM’s VA-accredited mesothelioma attorneys help veterans access their benefits and complete all VA forms accurately.