Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
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| Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | |
|---|---|
 Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Location | Onslow County, North Carolina |
| Type | United States Marine Corps base |
| Controlledby | United States Marine Corps |
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps installation on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina near Wilmington, North Carolina, Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Morehead City, North Carolina. The installation supports expeditionary operations for units associated with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, and United States Fleet Forces Command. Established during the interwar period and expanded through World War II, the installation has been central to Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments involving campaigns such as the Battle of the Atlantic, the Italian Campaign, and later operations including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
History
Camp Lejeune was founded during the era of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt policies, with initial construction influenced by planners who responded to threats observed in the Spanish Civil War and naval developments after the Washington Naval Treaty. Early expansion coincided with mobilization for World War II and cooperation with nearby Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Fort Bragg, and Naval Station Norfolk. During the Cold War, the installation supported deployments to theaters including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and engagements tied to NATO posture in the Cold War; units staged from the base participated in operations commanded by figures such as General Alexander Haig and Admiral Thomas Moorer. In the post-Cold War era, the base contributed forces to Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and humanitarian missions alongside partners like the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy.
Geography and Facilities
Located on the coastal plain of Onslow County, North Carolina, the installation borders the Atlantic Ocean, the New River (North Carolina), and the Bogue Sound estuary near Cape Lookout National Seashore. Major facilities include the Hadnot Point, Stone Bay, Holcomb Boulevard complexes, ranges and training areas adjacent to Marine Corps Air Station New River, and port facilities compatible with amphibious warfare ships such as USS Essex (LHD-2) and Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Support infrastructure comprises hospitals modeled after Walter Reed National Military Medical Center standards, airfields supporting MV-22 Osprey operations, logistics nodes interoperable with Military Sealift Command, and cantonment areas with links to institutions like Camp Lejeune Schools and branch exchanges compatible with Army and Air Force Exchange Service operations.
Mission and Units
The installation’s mission aligns with rapid deployment and amphibious projection practiced by formations including II Marine Expeditionary Force, elements of 1st Marine Division, 2nd Marine Division, and logistics groups such as 2nd Marine Logistics Group. Tenant units have included Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, School of Infantry East, and aviation detachments operating CH-53E Super Stallion and AH-1Z Viper aircraft coordinated with Marine Aircraft Group 26. The base also hosts Marine Corps recruiting and reserve components, collaborates with United States Southern Command for regional exercises, and provides training support to international partners like forces from United Kingdom, Canada, and NATO members during multinational exercises.
Environmental Contamination and Legal Actions
Beginning in the late 20th century, contamination issues at the installation involved sites linked to trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and other volatile organic compounds, prompting scrutiny similar to contamination cases at Hanford Site and Love Canal. Investigations were conducted by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and litigation paralleled high-profile federal actions under statutes like the Federal Tort Claims Act and provisions modeled after the Agent Orange exposure claims. Responses included medical screening initiatives comparable to programs at Walter Reed and compensation frameworks debated in the United States Congress leading to legislative proposals and settlements influenced by precedents set in suits against entities like Dow Chemical Company and Union Carbide.
Training and Exercises
Training activities on the installation encompass live-fire drills on ranges analogous to those at Marine Corps Base Quantico, amphibious assault rehearsals with Marine Expeditionary Unit ships, urban operations training similar to curricula at the National Training Center (Fort Irwin), and combined-arms maneuvers practiced during rotations that mirror Fleet Marine Force doctrines. Unit rotations have integrated air-ground task force exercises with assets from United States Navy carriers, Carrier Strike Group elements, and joint training involving United States Army brigades and United States Air Force squadrons. The base regularly hosts multinational exercises such as iterations comparable to Exercise Trident Juncture and bilateral events with partners like the Royal Marines and Canadian Forces.
Demographics and Economy
The population and economic activity associated with the installation influence the regional labor market of Onslow County, North Carolina and nearby municipalities like Jacksonville, North Carolina and Richlands, North Carolina. Employment includes military personnel assigned under orders from commands such as Marine Corps Installations Command and civilian employees often represented by unions commonly found in the region, while contractors from firms comparable to KBR and Balfour Beatty have provided construction and support services. Economic linkages extend to transportation hubs including Wilmington International Airport and seaports that serve ships of the Military Sealift Command, with community partnerships involving institutions like Camp Lejeune High School and regional medical centers modeled after Duke University Hospital and UNC Medical Center.