David Gergel, a former U.S. Marine who served at Camp Lejeune, was impacted by toxic water at the North Carolina military base, according to his son. Gergel expressed hopes that the Trump administration would deliver “long-overdue justice” for veterans suffering from neglect for years.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was enacted in 2022, aimed to provide reprieve for veterans like Gergel, who passed away from bladder cancer in 2012. The legislation allows those affected by past water contamination at the base to file lawsuits against the federal government for compensation.
Yet, the Biden administration has since initiated a strong legal challenge. A significant number of the roughly 400,000 lawsuits filed by victims remain unresolved, and progress has been slow.
“In 1978, my father was called to Camp Lejeune and proudly served there,” Eric, Gergel’s son, stated. “He never could have imagined that the water he was drinking, showering with, or cooking with was poisoning him.”
Eric later realized something was awry more than 30 years down the line.
He recounted the troubling symptoms his father exhibited in 2011 and remarked on how nonsensical the eventual cancer diagnosis felt.
Bladder cancer was particularly unexpected, as Eric noted, “no one in my family had ever had that.”
“My father died just before my 26th birthday. I haven’t spent most of my adult life with him. He never got the chance to meet my kids, which breaks my heart because I know he wanted to be a grandfather.”
Eric’s remarks came ahead of a visit from Melania Trump and Usha Vance to the base. He feels there are still many veterans enduring chronic illnesses and financial stress over medical care. “Like my father, numerous others have perished due to the exposure,” he added.
In the late 1980s, it was determined that two wells at Camp Lejeune had alarming levels of volatile organic compounds. By the 1990s, it was revealed that off-base dry cleaners, leaking underground tanks, and other industrial activities had contaminated water on the base with hazardous chemicals for decades.
“For years, we felt betrayed by the government,” Eric explained. “My father served his country, was poisoned while on duty, and was misled by the government during their attempts to cover it up.”
“When Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, we believed justice was finally within reach. But that hasn’t been the case.”
A new nonprofit, Justice for Lejeune, is set to launch this week with the aim of urging the Trump administration to fulfill the promises of the 2022 Act by eliminating “roadblocks” that have arisen under the Biden administration that hinder the ability for families to pursue their claims in court.
Eric expressed his optimism, saying, “We finally have a real chance to take action.”
“We just want justice served,” he emphasized. “Many veterans, like my father, are sick or dying, and their families can’t wait any longer.”
“For the first time in a while, I’m hopeful that the federal government will finally do what it should have a long time ago.”
Melania Trump and Usha Vance are expected to engage with military personnel and their families at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday and give a speech at the base. It remains unclear if they will address the veterans’ concerns regarding the toxic water issue.
