Army Asbestos Exposure

Army Asbestos Exposure
Key facts for U.S. Army veterans
Branch-Wide SMR	~0.45 (lowest branch — see Low SMR Paradox)
Primary Exposure	Vehicles, buildings, installations
WWII Peak Personnel	~8 million (1945)
High-Risk MOSs	12+ documented
Installations w/ ACMs	30+ named facilities
Pentagon ACM	58,000 tons (pre-renovation)
VA MOS Matrix	None (case-by-case evaluation)
VA Disability Rating	100% for mesothelioma
Monthly Compensation	$3,938.57 (single, 2026)
Quonset Huts (WWII)	150,000–170,000 manufactured
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Army Asbestos Exposure documents the extensive use of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) throughout United States Army vehicles, installations, buildings, aircraft, and watercraft across more than seven decades of military operations. The Army's relationship with asbestos represents a paradox in military occupational health: while the branch-wide mesothelioma standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of approximately 0.45 is the lowest among all military branches, this figure conceals concentrated risk within specific Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) where individual soldiers faced exposure intensity comparable to shipyard workers. Unlike the Navy, which has established exposure probability classifications for dozens of ratings, the VA has not created an official MOS-specific exposure classification system for Army veterans — placing additional burdens on Army veteran claimants.

With over 8 million personnel at its World War II peak, hundreds of installations built with asbestos materials, and the largest military vehicle fleet in the world, the Army's total asbestos exposure footprint — measured by personnel, vehicles, and facilities — may rival or exceed any other branch. The Pentagon itself contained approximately 58,000 tons of asbestos-containing material before a 17-year renovation removed approximately 70,000 cubic yards. Army veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma qualify for VA disability benefits of $3,938.57 per month (2026 rate), asbestos trust fund claims, and civil lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers.

Army asbestos exposure at a glance:

• SMR ~0.45 — lowest branch-wide rate, but the "Low SMR Paradox" masks concentrated risk in vehicle mechanics, combat engineers, plumbers, and other high-exposure MOSs
• 12+ high-risk MOSs documented with direct asbestos contact, led by 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic performing brake and clutch work on asbestos-containing vehicles
• 30+ named installations with documented asbestos contamination, including Superfund sites at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Lewis
• No VA MOS exposure matrix — Army veterans must prove exposure on a case-by-case basis, unlike Navy veterans with classified ratings
• Pentagon: 58,000 tons of ACM removed during a 17-year renovation program
• 150,000–170,000 Quonset huts manufactured during WWII with asbestos insulation
• $3,938.57/month VA disability compensation at 100% rating for mesothelioma (2026)
• PACT Act (2022) — mesothelioma recognized as a presumptive condition for veterans with documented asbestos exposure

Key Facts

Metric	Finding
Branch-Wide Mesothelioma SMR	~0.45 — lowest of all five military branches, but masks concentrated MOS-level risk
MOS-Specific Risk Concentration	91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic documented as highest-exposure Army MOS due to daily brake and clutch work on asbestos-containing components
Installations with Documented ACMs	30+ named Army facilities with confirmed asbestos contamination, including 2 EPA Superfund sites
Pentagon Asbestos Removal	58,000 tons of ACM removed over a 17-year renovation program; approximately 70,000 cubic yards of material
WWII Peak Army Personnel	~8 million soldiers serving in 1945, making it the largest single-branch personnel pool exposed to wartime asbestos use
Quonset Huts Manufactured	150,000–170,000 units built during WWII using asbestos-containing insulation panels, deployed worldwide
High-Risk MOSs Documented	12+ Army specialties with direct asbestos contact including mechanics, combat engineers, plumbers, and electricians
VA Disability Compensation (2026)	$3,938.57/month at 100% disability rating for service-connected mesothelioma
DIC Survivor Benefit (2026)	$1,699.36/month base rate for surviving spouses under Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Army MOS Exposure Matrix	None exists — VA evaluates Army veteran asbestos claims case-by-case, unlike Navy ratings with formal classifications
Mesothelioma Latency Period	20–50 years median, with cases diagnosed 60+ years after initial military exposure
PACT Act Presumptive Coverage	Mesothelioma added as presumptive condition under the PACT Act of 2022, reducing burden of proof for Army veterans

Epidemiological Data and the Low SMR Paradox

Branch-Level Mesothelioma SMR Comparison

The Army's reported overall mesothelioma SMR of approximately 0.45 derives primarily from the Million Person Study (MPS), a multi-cohort epidemiological investigation led by John D. Boice Jr. and colleagues that tracked radiation-monitored occupational cohorts over periods exceeding 60 years.

Branch	Approximate Mesothelioma SMR	Primary Exposure Vector
Coast Guard	~5.07 (facility-level)	Cutters, small vessel maintenance
Navy	~2.15	Ships, shipyards, submarine yards
Air Force	~0.85	Aircraft, ICBM silos, base facilities
Marines	~0.75	Ships (shared with Navy) + ground operations
Army	~0.45	Vehicles, buildings, installations

What Is the Low SMR Paradox?

The Army's 0.45 SMR does not mean Army service was safe from asbestos. The figure reflects a statistical dilution effect: the Army's enormous personnel base included millions of soldiers in infantry, administrative, and field roles with minimal direct asbestos contact, which drives the overall branch-wide ratio below 1.0. A combat arms infantryman in a field unit had fundamentally different exposure than a 91B wheeled vehicle mechanic performing brake work daily in a motor pool.

For certain Army MOSs — particularly vehicle mechanics, combat engineers, plumbers, and utilities repairers — exposure intensity may have approached or exceeded levels seen in construction and maintenance workers who show elevated mesothelioma rates in civilian epidemiological studies. The EPA has documented that brake and clutch repair releases asbestos fibers, and Army mechanics performed this work for decades without adequate protective measures.

Data Gap: No published study has reported MOS-specific mesothelioma SMRs within the Army. This remains one of the most significant gaps in the literature.

National Mesothelioma Burden Among Veterans

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma annually. An estimated one-third of all mesothelioma patients are U.S. veterans, translating to roughly 1,000 veteran diagnoses per year. The Army's contribution remains poorly quantified, but given that the Army was the largest branch by total personnel served across WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, even a low per-capita rate applied to a massive population base could produce substantial absolute case numbers.

Latency Period Data

Mesothelioma latency ranges from 10 to 50+ years, with a median of approximately 34 years. A study of British asbestos-exposed workers published in the British Journal of Cancer found that 96% of mesothelioma cases had a latency period of at least 20 years.

Age at First Exposure	Median Latency Period
Under 20 years	40.6 years
20–29 years	34.5 years
30–39 years	30.2 years
40–49 years	18.2 years
50+ years	10.7 years

Soldiers who entered service at 18–20 years old during the Vietnam era (1965–1975) are now 69–81 years old, squarely within the peak diagnostic window for mesothelioma. Cold War-era Army veterans (1975–1991) are entering the rising limb of their risk curve.

Army Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and Exposure Risk

Why Is There No Army MOS Exposure Matrix?

Unlike the Navy, which has established exposure probability classifications for dozens of ratings (with 18 rated "Highly Probable" and 32 rated "Probable" for asbestos exposure), the VA has not created an official MOS-specific exposure classification system for Army veterans. The VA's Adjudication Procedure Manual (M21-1, Part VIII.iii.7) acknowledges that asbestos exposure can be demonstrated on a basis other than MOS, and "any evidence that is probative of asbestos exposure may be used," but the absence of a formal Army matrix places additional evidentiary burdens on Army veteran claimants compared to their Navy counterparts.

Which Army MOSs Had the Highest Asbestos Exposure Risk?

MOS Code	Title	Risk Level	Primary Exposure Pathway
91B / 63B	Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic	Highest	Brake drum removal, brake lining replacement, clutch facing replacement, gasket work on M35, M809/M939, M151
91A / 63A	M1 Abrams / M48-M60 Tank Mechanic	Highest	Engine compartment asbestos coverings, asbestos blankets, asbestos gloves at ranges
91C / 63C	Track Vehicle Mechanic	Highest	M113 APC, M109 howitzer, Bradley IFV predecessor maintenance
12B	Combat Engineer	High	Building demolition, construction, earthmoving near ACM-contaminated soil
51K / 12K	Plumber	High	Asbestos pipe insulation, joint compound, boiler room work
52C / 91C	Utilities Equipment Repairer	High	Boiler, HVAC, and heating plant equipment repair
51R / 12R	Interior Electrician	High	ACM-insulated walls, electrical panels with asbestos arc shields
51M / 12M	Firefighter	High	Asbestos fire gear, building fire response releasing ACM fibers
12H / 51H	Construction Engineering Supervisor	High	Overseeing renovation of ACM-containing buildings
67-Series	Aircraft Mechanics	High	Brake linings, heat shields, exhaust gaskets (UH-1 Huey confirmed)
88M	Motor Transport Operator	Moderate	Brake dust accumulation in motor pool environments
88K	Watercraft Operator	Moderate	Engine compartment insulation, pipe lagging on Army vessels
68G / 91G	Hospital Workers	Moderate	Environmental exposure from deteriorating ACMs in Army hospitals

A VA Board of Veterans' Appeals decision documented that Army tanks contained "asbestos covering the engine compartment" and that soldiers used "asbestos blankets over the engine" and "asbestos gloves at ranges." A separate BVA decision confirmed that the UH-1 Huey engine "produced a lot of heat, so it would make logical sense that it probably used asbestos materials as a heat shield," and a Lycoming maintenance manual confirmed asbestos was present in exhaust gaskets during the Vietnam era. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Safety Office found that "even if the aircraft came from the original manufacturer asbestos free, routine maintenance may have inserted asbestos-containing parts."

How Does the VA Evaluate Army Veteran Asbestos Claims Without a Matrix?

Without a formal Army MOS exposure matrix, the VA evaluates Army veteran asbestos claims on a case-by-case basis. The M21-1 manual states that claims require military personnel records, specific exposure information from the claimant, and medical evidence of the specific diagnosis. Evidence considered includes:

• DD-214 showing MOS, duty stations, and service dates
• DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) detailing assignments
• Buddy statements from fellow service members describing exposure conditions
• Unit histories and maintenance logs
• Response to the VA's asbestos development letter
• Medical records including a nexus statement from a physician
• iPERMS (Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System) electronic records

Army veteran service records are maintained at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. Records can be requested using SF-180.

Army Vehicles and Equipment with Asbestos

Which Army Tanks and Armored Vehicles Contained Asbestos?

The Army's armored fleet contained asbestos in brakes, gaskets, engine insulation, and crew compartment thermal barriers. Every armored vehicle manufactured before the early 1980s used asbestos components.

Vehicle	Type	Production Era	Asbestos Components	Approx. Produced
M48 Patton	Main battle tank	1952–1959	Brakes, gaskets, engine insulation, crew compartment insulation	~12,000
M60 Patton	Main battle tank	1960–1987	Brakes, gaskets, engine insulation	~15,000
M1 Abrams (early)	Main battle tank	1980–1985	Transitional — some asbestos components in early production runs	Ongoing
M113 APC	Armored personnel carrier	1960–present	Brakes, gaskets, engine compartment	80,000+
M109 Paladin	Self-propelled howitzer	1963–present	Brakes, gaskets, engine insulation	~5,000+
M551 Sheridan	Light tank	1966–1996	Brakes, gaskets, insulation	~1,662
M2/M3 Bradley	Infantry fighting vehicle	1981–present	Transitional — early models may have contained asbestos	Ongoing

Which Army Trucks Had Asbestos Brake and Clutch Systems?

Vehicle	Type	Production Era	Asbestos Components	Notes
M35 "Deuce and a Half"	2.5-ton cargo truck	1950–1999	Brakes, clutch, gaskets	Workhorse of the Army for five decades
M54 5-ton	Cargo truck	1955–1970s	Brakes, clutch, gaskets	Heavy-duty transport
M151 MUTT	Utility vehicle (jeep)	1959–1988	Brake linings, gaskets	Replaced M38 jeep series
M809/M939 5-ton series	Cargo truck	1970–present	Brake and clutch systems	Still in service in some units
M38/M38A1	Military jeep	1950–1971	Asbestos brake linings	Korean and Vietnam era
HMMWV (Humvee)	Utility vehicle	1985–present	Early models transitional	Asbestos largely phased out by mid-1980s

Data Gap: The precise date when the Army fully transitioned to non-asbestos brake linings, clutch facings, and gaskets has not been identified in a single directive. The transition was gradual, extending from the late 1970s through the 1990s, with asbestos-containing parts remaining in the supply system into the 2000s. A BVA decision confirmed that "brake and clutch parts still in vehicles in the US Army fleet and parts still in the supply system may contain asbestos," and a specific unit (411th BSB) maintained Standing Operating Procedures for reducing asbestos dust during brake servicing as late as July 2002.

Did Army Aircraft Contain Asbestos?

Asbestos was incorporated into military aircraft brake systems, engine heat shields, gaskets, electrical wire insulation, cargo bay insulation, and firewalls.

Aircraft	Type	Era	Asbestos Components
UH-1 Huey	Utility helicopter	1959–present	Exhaust gaskets (Lycoming manual confirmed), heat shields, brakes
AH-1 Cobra	Attack helicopter	1967–1999	Engine insulation, gaskets, brakes
CH-47 Chinook	Heavy-lift helicopter	1962–present	Engine insulation, gaskets, brake systems
OH-58 Kiowa	Scout helicopter	1969–2017	Gaskets, brakes
UH-60 Black Hawk	Utility helicopter	1979–present	Early models transitional
AH-64 Apache	Attack helicopter	1986–present	Largely post-asbestos era

Every Army unit also deployed generator sets (gensets) with asbestos insulation around exhaust systems and electrical components. Self-propelled artillery systems, portable heating units, field kitchen equipment, and communication equipment all incorporated asbestos insulation.

Army Installations with Documented Asbestos

Which Army Bases Have Documented Asbestos Contamination?

The Army maintains hundreds of installations, virtually all constructed during or before the peak asbestos era (1930s–1980s). The following installations have documented asbestos contamination:

Installation	Location	Key Asbestos Facts	EPA/Superfund Status
Fort Bragg / Fort Liberty	NC	1,200 soldiers relocated (2022) from VOLAR barracks; mid-1970s construction; mold + ACMs in ventilation; 200 soldiers relocated in 2020	—
Fort Lewis / JBLM	WA	Logistics Center on NPL since 1989; 100+ structures with ACMs; asbestos cement water mains contaminating drinking water	Superfund NPL
Fort Hood / Fort Cavazos	TX	Largest Army installation; asbestos since 1942 founding; ~75 WWII-era buildings (1M sq ft) slated for demolition Jan 2026	—
Aberdeen Proving Ground	MD	Michaelsville Landfill NPL site (1989); 2024 whistleblower re: failed asbestos mitigation by IMCOM/USACE	Superfund NPL
Fort Benning / Fort Moore	GA	Asbestos in WWII mobilization-era training facilities and barracks	—
Fort Sill	OK	Asbestos in artillery training buildings, barracks, older structures	—
Fort Knox	KY	Asbestos in armor school facilities and WWII-era buildings	—
Fort Campbell	KY/TN	Opened 1942 for 23,000 personnel; 2024 environmental guidance confirmed asbestos in flooring	—
Fort Riley	KS	Older infrastructure with ACMs from WWII through Cold War	—
Redstone Arsenal	AL	Chemical and asbestos contamination in research/manufacturing buildings	—
Fort Detrick	MD	Biological research facility with ACMs in WWII/Cold War-era laboratories	—
Presidio of San Francisco	CA	Closed under BRAC; documented asbestos requiring remediation	—
Rock Island Arsenal	IL	Manufacturing facility with industrial asbestos in production buildings	—
Watervliet Arsenal	NY	Manufacturing facility with asbestos in foundries and machine shops	—

Additional installations with documented ACMs include Fort Carson (CO), Fort Stewart (GA), Fort Drum (NY), Fort Bliss (TX), Fort Polk/Fort Johnson (LA), Pine Bluff Arsenal (AR), and Picatinny Arsenal (NJ).

The Pentagon

The Pentagon — the Army's headquarters and the world's largest low-rise office building — contained approximately 58,000 tons of asbestos-containing material by the 1970s. A 17-year renovation beginning in the 1990s removed approximately 70,000 cubic yards of asbestos. Every military and civilian worker who occupied the Pentagon during its pre-renovation decades faced environmental asbestos exposure.

Army Medical Facilities

Army hospitals constructed with ACMs — including Walter Reed Army Medical Center (closed), Tripler Army Medical Center (HI), Brooke Army Medical Center (TX), and Madigan Army Medical Center (WA) — exposed medical personnel and patients to environmental asbestos from fireproofing spray, pipe insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and laboratory bench tops.

Overseas Installations

Asbestos in Army Barracks in Germany (USAREUR)

United States Army Europe (USAREUR) maintained a continuous presence in West Germany from 1945 through the Cold War, with peak strength exceeding 200,000 soldiers during the 1980s. The Army constructed and occupied thousands of buildings across dozens of German installations — barracks, motor pools, mess halls, and family housing — during the same decades when asbestos use in construction was at its peak.

Major USAREUR installations with documented or high-probability asbestos exposure:

Installation	Location	Notes
Grafenwöhr Training Area	Bavaria	Major training and garrison facility; Cold War-era barracks and support buildings constructed to U.S. military specifications using standard ACMs
Hohenfels Training Area	Bavaria	Combat Maneuver Training Center; garrison buildings and temporary structures from 1950s–1980s construction era
Vilseck (Rose Barracks)	Bavaria	Long-term permanent garrison; barracks and motor pool facilities from the peak asbestos construction era
Baumholder	Rhineland-Palatinate	Major forward garrison; WWII-era and Cold War-era barracks with asbestos pipe insulation and floor tiles
Heidelberg (USAREUR HQ)	Baden-Württemberg	Headquarters complex; Patrick Henry Village and adjacent housing areas with ACMs; closed 2013 under BRAC
Mannheim (Rhein-Neckar area)	Baden-Württemberg	Benjamin Franklin Village and Spinelli Barracks; multiple compounds with pre-1980s construction
Schweinfurt	Bavaria	Ledward and Conn Barracks; garrison facilities with ACMs; closed 2014 under BRAC
Frankfurt area (V Corps)	Hessen	Corps headquarters buildings; multiple Kasernen (German-built barracks leased by U.S. Army) with asbestos

A critical factor at USAREUR installations was the mix of building stock. The Army both constructed its own facilities to American military specifications (which incorporated asbestos throughout) and occupied German-built Kasernen — Wehrmacht and Bundeswehr-era barracks that were themselves frequently constructed with asbestos in pipe insulation, floor tiles, roofing, and fireproofing materials. Soldiers who lived and worked in these buildings faced exposure through deteriorating ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, floor tile adhesive, and boiler room equipment.

Vehicle mechanics stationed at USAREUR facilities performed brake and clutch work on M35 trucks, M48/M60 tanks, and M113 APCs in motor pool buildings with asbestos-insulated walls and overhead piping — the same exposure conditions as stateside garrisons, but often in older European structures with additional ACMs from pre-existing German construction.

VA benefits for veterans who served in Germany: Army veterans who served at USAREUR installations and later developed mesothelioma are eligible for VA disability compensation under the same criteria as stateside veterans. The PACT Act of 2022 presumes mesothelioma is service-connected when asbestos exposure can be documented, regardless of whether that exposure occurred in Germany, South Korea, or the continental United States. Buddy statements from fellow service members who served at the same installation can satisfy the VA's exposure documentation requirement in the absence of formal installation surveys.

South Korea

Camp Humphreys (Pyeongtaek) — now the largest U.S. overseas military installation — has undergone substantial modern construction, but earlier garrison facilities occupied by 8th Army and 2nd Infantry Division soldiers were built during the Korean War era and Cold War using standard military ACMs. Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, which served as Eighth Army headquarters until its return to Korea in 2017, contained multiple Cold War-era administrative and residential buildings with asbestos insulation, floor tiles, and pipe lagging.

Panama Canal Zone

Army installations in the former Panama Canal Zone — including Fort Clayton, Fort Davis, Fort Gulick, and Fort Espinar — were constructed during the early-to-mid 20th century using asbestos extensively in tropical building designs. High humidity in the Canal Zone climate accelerated ACM deterioration, and ventilation systems designed for tropical conditions featured asbestos-insulated ductwork. Soldiers stationed there from WWII through the 1999 handover may have experienced chronic low-level exposure from degrading building materials in the intense tropical heat.

Army Building Materials and Construction

How Was Asbestos Used in Army Buildings?

Unlike the Navy (ships) or Air Force (aircraft hangars), the Army's primary asbestos exposure vector was buildings and infrastructure. The Army constructed thousands of facilities during WWII, Korea, and the Cold War using ACMs in virtually every building component:

• Barracks: WWII-era "temporary" barracks that remained in use for decades contained vinyl-asbestos floor tiles (9×9 and 12×12 inch), acoustic ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boiler room insulation, and steam line wrapping
• Motor pools and maintenance facilities: Brake dust accumulated in buildings that also featured insulated walls, ceilings, and overhead piping
• Central heating plants: Every Army post had centralized heating with heavy asbestos insulation around boilers, steam pipes, valves, and fittings
• Post/base housing: Family housing built with asbestos siding, insulation, floor tiles, pipe wrap, duct insulation, and textured ceiling coatings
• Mess halls: ACM floor tiles, kitchen hoods, and pipe insulation
• Hospitals: Fireproofing spray, pipe insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and laboratory bench tops
• Ammunition storage: Igloo-style magazines and bunkers
• Quonset huts: Between 150,000 and 170,000 Quonset huts were manufactured during WWII, with interiors frequently outfitted with asbestos insulation and building materials

What Specific Products Were Used?

Product Type	Key Manufacturers	Application
Vinyl-asbestos floor tiles (VAT)	Armstrong, Congoleum, GAF	Ubiquitous 9×9 inch tiles in virtually every Army building
Pipe insulation	Johns-Manville, Owens-Corning, Kaylo	Steam distribution systems throughout all installations
Transite (asbestos-cement) products	Johns-Manville	Water pipes, sewer pipes, ductwork, siding panels
Fireproofing spray	W.R. Grace (Monokote)	Structural steel in Army buildings
Boiler/steam insulation	Babcock & Wilcox, Foster Wheeler	Central heating plants at every post
Roofing	Various	Asbestos shingles and built-up roofing materials

Army Watercraft and Maritime Exposure

Did the Army Operate Vessels with Asbestos?

The Army operates its own fleet of watercraft — a fact often overlooked in discussions of military asbestos exposure. The Army Transportation Corps has operated landing craft utility vessels (LCU), logistics support vessels (LSV), small tugs, and barges since World War II. Watercraft operations are based primarily at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA (formerly Fort Eustis), the Army's transportation center.

Army watercraft, like Navy and Coast Guard vessels, contained asbestos in engine compartment insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, boiler insulation, and deck materials. The 88K (Watercraft Operator) MOS involves exposure comparable to shipboard naval exposure patterns.

During WWII and the Korean War, the Army Transportation Corps operated troop transports, cargo ships, and hospital ships before the establishment of the Military Sea Transportation Service. These vessels were constructed with the same ACMs as Navy ships, exposing Army crew members to shipboard asbestos. The Army Corps of Engineers also operates dredges and waterway maintenance vessels with asbestos in machinery spaces.

Wartime and Conflict-Era Exposure

World War II (1941–1945)

The U.S. Army grew from approximately 190,000 active-duty personnel in 1940 to over 8 million by 1945. This massive expansion triggered a construction boom of hundreds of new installations built with asbestos materials. The "temporary" buildings constructed during the WWII mobilization — barracks, mess halls, hospitals, warehouses — remained in use for decades at installations like Fort Hood (opened 1942), Fort Campbell (opened 1942), and Fort Bragg.

WWII-era asbestos production averaged approximately 783 million pounds per year to meet wartime demand. Combat engineers built and demolished structures containing asbestos in European and Pacific theaters. Field mechanics performed vehicle maintenance on asbestos-containing vehicles in combat conditions without personal protective equipment or ventilation.

Before the Air Force separated from the Army in 1947, the Army Air Forces produced over 60,000 aircraft, and their maintenance crews — still Army personnel — faced asbestos exposure from aircraft brake linings, gaskets, and insulation.

Korean War (1950–1953)

Army vehicle maintenance in extreme Korean winter conditions was particularly hazardous. Brake and clutch systems on M38 jeeps, M4 Sherman tanks, and M26 Pershing tanks all contained asbestos. The heating systems critical for survival during Korean winters — field stoves, heating units, barracks furnaces — were all insulated with asbestos. Base construction in Korea used Quonset huts and prefabricated buildings with asbestos insulation.

Vietnam War (1955–1975)

The Vietnam era represents a critical exposure period for Army mechanics. UH-1 Huey helicopter mechanics performed engine, brake, and gasket work on aircraft confirmed to contain asbestos exhaust gaskets. Vehicle mechanics maintained the massive fleet of M35 trucks, M113 APCs, and M48/M60 tanks in tropical conditions. Major installations at Long Binh, Cam Ranh Bay, and other bases were constructed with standard ACMs.

Agent Orange receives significant attention for Vietnam-era toxic exposure, but the parallel asbestos exposure during Vietnam service is frequently overlooked — soldiers faced dual toxic exposures that are only now producing mesothelioma diagnoses due to the disease's long latency period.

Cold War Era (1947–1991)

The Cold War drove a massive Army construction program. Nike missile sites — approximately 265 batteries deployed across the United States — contained asbestos in radar buildings, missile handling areas, and barracks. European basing under USAREUR involved extensive construction and renovation at dozens of installations across Germany, Belgium, and Italy.

Post-Cold War and Global War on Terror (1991–Present)

BRAC rounds required demolition and renovation of older buildings, exposing workers to disturbed ACMs. During operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers demolished structures that may have contained asbestos, and construction of forward operating bases (FOBs) involved working near older structures. Post-9/11 Army veterans face the added challenge of dual toxic exposure from both burn pits and asbestos, now addressed in part by the PACT Act.

Asbestos Product Manufacturers and Trust Funds

Which Manufacturers Supplied Asbestos Products to the Army?

Dozens of manufacturers supplied ACMs to the Army through federal procurement channels. Many have since filed bankruptcy and established asbestos trust funds. As of 2026, approximately $30 billion remains available in asbestos trust funds.

Manufacturer	Products Supplied to Army	Bankruptcy Trust	Estimated Trust Assets
Johns-Manville	Pipe insulation, transite, building materials	Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust (1988)	~$600M remaining
Owens-Corning	Insulation, building materials	Owens Corning/Fibreboard Trust (2006)	~$1.6B
W.R. Grace	Monokote fireproofing, construction materials	W.R. Grace Trust	~$2.978B
Armstrong World Industries	Floor tiles, ceiling tiles	Armstrong Trust	~$2.0B
Babcock & Wilcox	Boilers, steam equipment	B&W Trust	~$1.8B
United States Gypsum (USG)	Wallboard, joint compound	USG Trust	~$3.9B
Pittsburgh Corning	Building insulation	Pittsburgh Corning Trust	~$3.4B
Dana Corporation	Vehicle brakes, clutches, gaskets	Dana Trust	Active
Raybestos-Manhattan	Vehicle brake linings, clutch facings	Raymark Trust	Active
Bendix Corp. (now Honeywell)	Vehicle brakes, friction products	Active litigation (not bankrupt)	N/A

Johns-Manville filed for bankruptcy in 1982 as the largest U.S. company to seek Chapter 11 protection over asbestos, becoming the model for all subsequent asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Dana Corporation manufactured brake components, clutch facings, gaskets, and engine parts containing asbestos that were incorporated into Army vehicles. Raybestos-Manhattan produced asbestos brake linings and friction materials used in military vehicles from the 1920s through the 1980s.

For detailed information on filing trust fund claims, see Asbestos Trust Funds.

Regulations and Policy History

When Did the Army Recognize Asbestos as a Hazard?

Year	Regulatory Action
1970	Occupational Safety and Health Act created OSHA; first federal asbestos PEL set at 12 f/cc (8-hour TWA)
1972	OSHA reduced PEL to 5 f/cc
1976	OSHA reduced PEL to 2 f/cc
1986	OSHA reduced PEL to 0.2 f/cc; EPA issued Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
1994	OSHA established current PEL of 0.1 f/cc (8-hour TWA) with 1.0 f/cc excursion limit (30-minute)

Army-Specific Regulations

• AR 200-1 (Environmental Protection and Enhancement) — establishes the Army's environmental compliance program, including hazardous materials management
• AR 420-70 (Buildings and Structures) — addresses facility maintenance including ACM management
• PWTB 420-70-8 (March 1998) — Public Works Technical Bulletin providing detailed guidance on asbestos survey, management, and abatement at Army installations
• Army Technical Manuals (TMs) — vehicle maintenance TMs from the pre-1980s era did not consistently identify asbestos components or specify asbestos handling precautions

What Did Inspector General Reports Find?

A 2020 DoD Inspector General report evaluated health and safety hazard management at eight military installations and found systematic failures:

• 5 of 8 installations did not maintain accurate records of ACM locations
• 6 of 8 did not notify residents of asbestos in their housing
• Only 3 of 8 had asbestos mitigation programs

A 2019 Army Inspector General assessment of the Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) found that at 48 of 49 installations surveyed, residents in privatized housing cited concerns with environmental issues including mold, lead-based paint, asbestos, and water quality. Approximately two-thirds of surveyed residents expressed dissatisfaction with their housing experience.

A 2024 GAO report found that nearly 30% of Defense Department buildings had exceeded their expected lifespans.

In 2024, a whistleblower at Aberdeen Proving Ground reported that Army Installation Management Command and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to complete required asbestos mitigation procedures during multiple demolition projects.

Legal Cases and Compensation

How Does the Feres Doctrine Affect Army Veterans?

The Feres Doctrine (established by Feres v. United States, 1950) bars military service members from suing the federal government for injuries sustained incident to military service. This means Army veterans cannot directly sue the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense for asbestos exposure during service.

However, Army veterans can file product liability lawsuits against the third-party manufacturers that supplied asbestos-containing products to the Army. This is the primary litigation pathway for Army mesothelioma veterans.

In March 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Air & Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries that manufacturers of bare-metal equipment have a duty to warn when the product requires incorporation of a part containing asbestos, the manufacturer knows or has reason to know the integrated product is likely to be dangerous, and the manufacturer has no reason to believe users will realize that danger. While this case arose in the maritime law context, the ruling's principles have implications for Army vehicle manufacturers whose equipment was designed to be used with asbestos-containing parts.

What Are Notable Army Veteran Mesothelioma Verdicts?

Case Description	Amount	Details
U.S. Army veteran and farmer, North Dakota	$5,000,000	Mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during Army service
U.S. Army heavy weapons infantryman	$3,480,000	Mesothelioma from service-connected asbestos exposure
Brake mechanic (Bendix/Honeywell liable for 45.75%)	$53,000,000	New York verdict; brake mechanic exposed to asbestos during brake work

The average military asbestos lawsuit settlement for mesothelioma ranges from $1 million to $1.4 million. Trust fund payouts for mesothelioma claims typically range from $300,000 to $400,000 total across multiple trusts.

Army veteran lawsuits most frequently target vehicle component manufacturers (Bendix/Honeywell, Raybestos-Manhattan, Dana Corporation) for brake and clutch exposure, and building material manufacturers (Johns-Manville, Owens-Corning, W.R. Grace, Armstrong) for installation-based exposure.

VA Benefits for Army Veterans

What VA Benefits Do Army Veterans with Mesothelioma Receive?

The VA assigns mesothelioma a 100% disability rating, the maximum possible rating, qualifying veterans for the highest level of monthly disability compensation.

2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates (100% Rating)

Dependent Status	Monthly Rate (2026)
Veteran alone (no dependents)	$3,938.57
Veteran with spouse only	$4,158.16
Veteran with spouse and one child	$4,318.98
Veteran with spouse, child, and one parent	$4,495.22
Veteran with spouse, child, and two parents	$4,671.46
Each additional child under 18	+$109.11
Each additional schoolchild over 18	+$352.45
Aid and Attendance (spouse)	+$201.40

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — 2026

For surviving spouses of veterans who died on or after January 1, 1993:

• Base DIC rate: $1,699.36/month
• 8-year provision (veteran 100% disabled for 8+ years before death): +$360.85
• Each eligible child under 18: +$421.00
• Aid and Attendance: +$421.00
• Transitional benefit (first 2 years after death): +$359.00

How Does the PACT Act Help Army Veterans?

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, signed August 10, 2022, is the largest expansion of VA benefits in history. Key provisions for Army veterans:

• Mesothelioma is a presumptive condition — the VA presumes mesothelioma is service-connected for veterans who can demonstrate asbestos exposure during service, removing the burden of proving causation
• Expanded VA healthcare eligibility for all veterans exposed to toxic substances including asbestos
• Post-9/11 Army veterans exposed to both burn pits and asbestos qualify for expanded toxic exposure benefits
• The VA is required to examine evidence for future potential conditions and recommend additional presumptive conditions

Presumptive asbestos-related conditions under the PACT Act include mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural diseases (plaques, effusions, thickening).

Secondary and Family Exposure

Were Army Families Exposed to Asbestos?

Army service members who worked with ACMs carried fibers home on their uniforms, boots, and skin. Vehicle mechanics in motor pools accumulated brake dust on work clothing. Children and spouses who handled contaminated uniforms or greeted service members upon return were exposed to secondary asbestos contact.

The DoD Inspector General's 2020 report documented that military family housing at multiple installations contained ACMs that were poorly managed. At 5 of 8 installations inspected, officials did not maintain accurate records of ACM locations. At 6 of 8, residents were not notified of asbestos in their homes.

The Army's housing privatization through the RCI program revealed additional asbestos issues during renovation of older housing units. At 48 of 49 Army installations surveyed by the Inspector General in 2019, residents cited environmental concerns including asbestos in privatized housing.

Military families stationed at installations like Fort Lewis (JBLM) face ongoing environmental exposure through asbestos cement water mains that contaminate drinking water.

Environmental Legacy and Remediation

How Many Army Sites Require Asbestos Cleanup?

Superfund and NPL Sites

Multiple Army installations are on the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List with asbestos as a contaminant of concern:

• Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: Michaelsville Landfill designated NPL site in 1989; received domestic and industrial waste including asbestos
• Fort Lewis Logistics Center, WA: Designated NPL site in 1989; over 110,000 pounds of solvents dumped 1948–1960; asbestos in water mains and 100+ structures

FUDS Cleanup Program

The Defense Environmental Restoration Program — Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP-FUDS), executed by the Army Corps of Engineers, has evaluated over 10,000 properties formerly used by the Department of Defense. Approximately 5,400 sites have been identified for investigation or cleanup under CERCLA authority. Many contain asbestos in deteriorating buildings.

What Are the Remediation Costs?

Between 1996 and 2001, an estimated $1 billion was budgeted for cleanup of 32 U.S. Army bases with asbestos and other environmental hazards. The overall DoD estimate for cleanup of contaminated military sites ranges from $8 billion to $35 billion.

Current Status and Ongoing Risk

A significant but undisclosed number of active Army buildings still contain ACMs. The GAO found that nearly 30% of all DoD buildings have exceeded their expected lifespans. Fort Hood alone still contains approximately 75 WWII-era wooden buildings totaling 1 million square feet slated for demolition.

The Army's current vehicle fleet — M1A2 Abrams, M2A3/M3A3 Bradley, HMMWV, JLTV, and Stryker — is generally considered asbestos-free in new production. However, a BVA decision confirmed that "brake and clutch parts still in vehicles in the US Army fleet and parts still in the supply system may contain asbestos."

The 20–50 year latency period means that Vietnam-era (1960s–1970s) and Cold War-era (1970s–1991) Army veterans are currently in their peak diagnostic window for mesothelioma.

Army vs. Other Branches

How Does Army Asbestos Exposure Compare to Other Branches?

Factor	Army	Navy	Air Force	Coast Guard	Marines
SMR	~0.45	~2.15	~0.85	~5.07 (facility)	~0.75
Primary exposure	Vehicles, buildings	Ships, shipyards	Aircraft, ICBM silos	Cutters, shipyards	Ships + ground ops
VA MOS/Rating matrix?	No	Yes (~50 ratings)	No	No	No
WWII peak personnel	~8 million	~3.4 million	(Army Air Forces)	~171,000	~475,000
Unique risk factors	Largest vehicle fleet, most installations, building-based exposure	Enclosed shipboard environments	Aircraft maintenance, ICBM silos	Smallest branch, concentrated exposure	Dual ship + ground exposure

Why Is Army Asbestos Exposure Overlooked?

1. Statistical dilution: The Army's enormous personnel base includes millions of soldiers in infantry, field artillery, and administrative roles with minimal direct asbestos contact, pulling the branch-wide SMR below 1.0
2. No MOS exposure matrix: Without a formal VA-published exposure classification, Army veterans face greater difficulty proving service connection compared to Navy veterans with classified ratings
3. Navy-centric narrative: Military asbestos discourse is dominated by Navy/shipyard exposure — a justified focus given extreme shipboard conditions, but one that marginalizes the Army's different but significant exposure pattern
4. Diffuse exposure vectors: Navy exposure is concentrated in clearly identifiable settings (ships and shipyards); Army exposure is dispersed across hundreds of installations, thousands of vehicle types, and dozens of building categories, making it harder to characterize as a single cohesive narrative

Critical Data Gaps

The following significant gaps exist in the current literature on Army asbestos exposure:

1. No Army-specific MOS mesothelioma SMR data — no published study stratifies Army mesothelioma mortality by occupational specialty
2. No Army-specific mesothelioma incidence data — the Army's share of the ~1,000 annual veteran mesothelioma diagnoses is not quantified in public data
3. No formal Army MOS exposure matrix — the VA has not published an exposure probability classification comparable to its Navy rating classifications
4. Vehicle transition dates — the precise dates when each Army vehicle type fully transitioned from asbestos to non-asbestos components are not documented in a single public reference
5. Overseas installation asbestos data — comprehensive asbestos surveys of USAREUR and other overseas installations have not been published
6. Industrial hygiene measurements — airborne asbestos fiber concentrations during Army vehicle brake/clutch work in motor pool settings have not been widely published
7. Annual Army remediation costs — disaggregated Army-specific environmental remediation spending is not publicly reported separately from overall DoD budgets
8. Army veteran mesothelioma registry — no public Army-specific registry tracks mesothelioma diagnoses among former soldiers

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Army veterans prove asbestos exposure without a formal MOS exposure matrix?

Because the VA has not published an Army-specific MOS exposure classification comparable to the Navy's Duty-MOS Exposure Matrix, Army veterans must build their cases using service records, unit histories, installation records, and expert declarations documenting the presence of asbestos-containing materials in their duty assignments. A veteran who served as a 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic can cite EPA documentation confirming asbestos in military vehicle brake and clutch components, along with Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions recognizing this specific MOS as a high-exposure specialty.

Which Army MOSs carry the highest risk of asbestos-related disease?

The highest-risk Army MOSs include 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, 91A M1 Abrams Tank System Mechanic, 12B Combat Engineer, 51K Plumber, 51R Electrician, and 68J Aircraft Maintenance. Vehicle mechanics faced particularly intense exposure from brake and clutch repair on the Army's fleet of trucks, APCs, and tanks, while combat engineers encountered asbestos during building demolition and construction.

Can Army veterans file claims for asbestos exposure at contaminated installations?

Yes. Army veterans who served at any of the 30+ installations with documented asbestos contamination — including Aberdeen Proving Ground (EPA Superfund), Fort Lewis (USGS-documented groundwater contamination), Fort Bragg/Liberty, and the Pentagon — can use installation environmental records as supporting evidence for VA disability claims and civil lawsuits.

Are Army vehicle mechanics at higher risk than the branch-wide SMR suggests?

Yes. The Army's branch-wide SMR of approximately 0.45 reflects a statistical dilution effect created by millions of soldiers in infantry, administrative, and field roles with minimal asbestos contact. Individual MOSs involving daily brake, clutch, and gasket work on asbestos-containing vehicles faced exposure intensity comparable to industrial settings. No published study has calculated MOS-specific SMRs for Army specialties, which represents a critical data gap.

How does the PACT Act of 2022 help Army veterans with mesothelioma?

The PACT Act established mesothelioma as a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans with documented toxic exposure, significantly reducing the evidentiary burden for Army veterans. Before the PACT Act, Army veterans had to independently prove a direct connection between their military service and asbestos exposure. The presumptive designation streamlines VA claims processing and expands eligibility for healthcare and disability compensation.

Can Army veterans pursue asbestos trust fund claims in addition to VA benefits?

Yes. VA disability benefits and asbestos trust fund claims are separate legal avenues that can be pursued simultaneously. More than 60 asbestos trust funds hold over $30 billion in remaining assets, and Army veterans exposed to products from manufacturers such as Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, and Dana Corporation can file claims against the relevant trusts while also receiving VA compensation.

What compensation is available for family members of Army veterans exposed to asbestos?

Surviving spouses of Army veterans who died from mesothelioma may receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) at a base rate of $1,699.36 per month (2026). Family members who developed mesothelioma through secondary (take-home) exposure — from asbestos fibers carried home on uniforms, equipment, and vehicles — may also pursue civil lawsuits and trust fund claims independently of the veteran's VA benefits.

Were Army families living on base at risk of asbestos exposure?

Yes. DoD Inspector General reports documented asbestos hazards in military family housing at multiple Army installations. Barracks and family housing built before 1980 frequently contained asbestos in floor tiles, pipe insulation, roofing materials, and wall compounds. Fort Bragg/Liberty relocated 1,200 soldiers from barracks with hazardous conditions including asbestos contamination.

Quick Statistics

• ~1,000 veteran mesothelioma diagnoses occur annually in the United States across all military branches, though the Army's specific share has never been quantified in published data
• $30+ billion remains available in asbestos trust funds nationally, accessible to Army veterans who can document exposure to specific manufacturers' products
• Feres Doctrine bars Army veterans from suing the federal government for in-service injuries, but the 2019 Air and Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries decision expanded manufacturer liability for foreseeable asbestos uses aboard military equipment
• M113 APC — over 80,000 units produced since 1960 with asbestos brake linings, making it one of the most widely deployed Army vehicles with known ACM components
• 17-year Pentagon renovation (1994–2011) represented the largest single-building asbestos abatement project in U.S. military history
• FUDS program (Formerly Used Defense Sites) manages environmental cleanup at hundreds of former Army properties with potential asbestos contamination
• Aberdeen Proving Ground remediation has been ongoing since the 1990s under EPA Superfund oversight, addressing both chemical weapons and asbestos contamination across multiple operable units
• Army Aviation Command safety records confirm asbestos in UH-1 Huey helicopter engine compartments, with Lycoming maintenance manuals specifying asbestos-containing gaskets
• Army watercraft fleet — the Transportation Corps operated LSTs, LCUs, and tugboats containing asbestos insulation, boiler lagging, and gasket materials identical to Navy vessel components
• Fort Hood/Cavazos — one of the largest active Army installations with documented asbestos management programs across hundreds of aging buildings

Get Help

Army veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases have multiple compensation pathways available. The experienced attorneys at Danziger & De Llano provide free case evaluations for Army veterans and can help navigate VA claims, trust fund filings, and product liability lawsuits simultaneously — call (855) 699-5441 for a confidential consultation.

For Army veterans who need help finding qualified mesothelioma attorneys in their area, Mesothelioma Lawyers Near Me offers a free attorney-matching service and interactive case evaluation quiz.

Additional resources are available at Mesothelioma.net for patient education and Mesothelioma Lawyer Center for legal guidance specific to Army veteran claims.

Related Pages

• Military Asbestos Exposure Overview — hub page covering all branches
• Navy Asbestos Exposure — Navy shipboard and shipyard exposure
• Air Force Asbestos Exposure — Air Force aircraft and ICBM silo exposure
• Coast Guard Asbestos Exposure — Coast Guard cutters and Curtis Bay
• Asbestos Trust Funds — complete guide to trust fund claims
• Veterans Mesothelioma Quick Reference — quick-access veteran benefits summary
• Occupational Asbestos Exposure Quick Reference — high-risk occupation overview
• Mesothelioma — comprehensive disease overview