The devastating impact of the Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis has left a lasting mark on the lives of countless military service members, their families, and civilian workers. For decades, the water supply at this North Carolina Marine base was polluted with a host of toxic chemicals, exposing an estimated one million people to serious and potentially life-threatening health risks. One such individual, Julie Prommasit, a South Carolina Marine widow, is now seeking compensation for the loss of her husband, who succumbed to a rare and aggressive cancer years after serving at Camp Lejeune.
The Toxic Legacy of Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune, established in 1942 as a U.S. Marine Corps base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in American history. From the early 1950s until the late 1980s, the water supplied to the base was found to be contaminated with a lethal mix of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, vinyl chloride (VC), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). These toxic chemicals were present at levels up to 3,400 times higher than what is considered safe by federal regulators.
The contamination was traced back to multiple sources, including industrial spills, leaking underground storage tanks, and improper waste disposal practices. The Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace water treatment plants, which supplied water to the majority of the base’s housing units, were the primary culprits, delivering tainted water to unsuspecting service members, their families, and civilian workers.
Devastating Health Consequences of Exposure to Camp Lejeune Water
Exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been linked to a wide range of serious health conditions, including various types of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, and other life-threatening illnesses. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has found evidence of a causal association between exposure to these VOCs and a host of debilitating diseases, such as:
- Kidney cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Kidney diseases
- Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma
- Cardiac defects
The impact of this toxic exposure has been devastating, not only for the service members themselves but also for their spouses, children, and other family members who lived or worked on the base. Julie Prommasit’s late husband, for instance, succumbed to a rare and aggressive form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma, which she believes was directly linked to the contaminated water.
The Fight for Compensation and Accountability
For decades, the U.S. government has avoided taking responsibility for the harm caused by the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune, using a legal loophole that shielded it from liability for claims brought by injured and ill veterans and their families. This has left countless victims, like Julie Prommasit, struggling to obtain the justice and compensation they deserve.
However, the recent passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, has opened a new chapter in the fight for accountability. This landmark legislation has granted affected individuals a two-year window to sue the government for damages related to their exposure to the toxic water at the base.
Julie Prommasit’s Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim
Julie Prommasit’s personal experience exemplifies the heartbreak and resilience of those affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. After serving and living on the base with her husband for years, Prommasit watched helplessly as her husband’s health declined, ultimately succumbing to a rare and aggressive cancer in 2013.
Unaware of the serious health consequences of the toxic water, Prommasit was devastated by her husband’s passing. It wasn’t until she connected with the Lejeune Empowered Advocacy for Widows (LEAW) organization that she learned about the possibility of seeking compensation and vindication for the negligence that allegedly claimed her husband’s life.
The Road to Compensation and Acknowledgment
With the support of LEAW, Prommasit was able to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. After several attempts, she was finally awarded compensation, which she now receives on a monthly basis. However, Prommasit’s primary motivation is not the financial aspect. “The main thing I’m going after is acknowledgment and vindication that that wrong was done, that they stole my husband away from me and the same thing everyone else in this town in our area,” she stated. Her pursuit of justice is a testament to the resilience and determination of those who have been wronged by the government’s alleged negligence.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Information
