Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune is a United States Navy-run facility that is located on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, USA.Its dedicated, multi-disciplinary health care team provides individualized and comprehensive care to all of its beneficiaries by using a combination of traditional medical services, alternative therapies, state-of-the-art technologies and modern drug therapy.Residing on the largest military installation on the East coast, the hospital serves approximately 150,000 active duty military personnel, retirees and family members.Its vision is to be your medical center of choice, and together, we, “Ensure Strength Through Caring!”HistoryOut of a 144-acre area of swamp, sand dunes, and snakes grew Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune over sixty-four years ago.With World War II already engulfing Europe, it became evident that facilities at Quantico and Parris Island were inadequate to meet Marine Corps plans for expansion on the east coast. After detailed reconnaissance, the vicinity of New River, North Carolina was determined to be the most suitable area for all elements of a Marine Division. On February 15, 1941 the Navy Department received approval to construct the East Coast Marine Corps Training Center that is now Camp Lejeune.The peninsula known as Hadnot Point was selected as the site for the original Naval Hospital. Construction that began on March 13, 1942. By June, the first building was substantially complete and was turned over to Captain T. L. Morrow, MC USN, the Prospective Medical Officer in Command. On March 30, 1942, Chief Pharmacist V. M. Coulter, USN reported aboard and began preparing requisitions for the “several hundred thousand dollars” of medical equipment and supplies required to outfit the hospital. Captain J. F. Riordan, MC USN reported on May 14, 1942 to assume the duties as command officer.