If you spent any time at Fort McClellan between the late 1930s and 1999, you probably remember the red Alabama clay and the grueling heat. You might also remember the smell. For decades, this patch of land in Anniston was the heartbeat of the U.S. Army Chemical School. It’s where soldiers learned how to handle the world’s most terrifying weapons—mustard gas, nerve agents, and radioactive isotopes.
But there was a problem nobody talked about at the time.
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The base was basically a cocktail of toxins. It wasn't just the "live agent" training in the specialized chambers. It was the groundwater. It was the air blowing in from the neighboring Monsanto plant. Honestly, it was everywhere. Today, thousands of veterans are sick, and they're stuck in a frustrating battle with the VA because Fort McClellan isn’t on the "presumptive list" like Camp Lejeune or the burn pits of Iraq.
What was actually in the ground at Fort McClellan?
Most people think of "toxic exposure" and picture a single spill. At McClellan, it was a multi-decade pile-up of different hazards. You've got two main sources: what the Army did on the base and what the Monsanto plant did right next door.
The Army used the site for high-intensity chemical warfare training. We're talking about sulfur mustard and nerve agents like Sarin (GB) and VX. While the VA argues these were used in "controlled environments," veterans tell stories of leaks, accidental sprays, and burial pits that weren't exactly airtight. Then you have the radiological side. The base had authorized sites for Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60. These weren't toys. They were used to simulate nuclear fallout zones so soldiers could practice decontamination.
But the biggest invisible threat might have been the PCBs.
South of the base, Monsanto operated a chemical plant from 1929 to 1971. They pumped out Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) like crazy. These are "forever chemicals" that don't just disappear. They get into the soil and the water. In 2003, Monsanto ended up settling a massive lawsuit with the residents of Anniston for $700 million because the contamination was so bad.
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Think about that. The town was considered a toxic disaster, yet the soldiers living on the base just across the line are still told by the VA that their exposure was likely "low level." It doesn't really add up, does it?
The health problems veterans are seeing now
So, what does this stuff actually do to a human body? It's not always an immediate "falling over" type of illness. Often, it's a slow burn. Veterans who served at McClellan report a staggering range of conditions that seem to cluster in ways that aren't just "getting older."
- Respiratory Issues: Chronic bronchitis, asthma, and rare lung cancers. These often stem from inhaling fog oil and hexachloroethane (HC) smoke used during maneuvers.
- Autoimmune Disorders: Many veterans deal with Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Crohn’s disease. PCBs are notorious for messing with the immune system.
- Neurological Damage: Nerve gas, even in tiny amounts, can lead to long-term tremors, cognitive "fog," and peripheral neuropathy.
- Reproductive Troubles: High rates of infertility and birth defects in children born to McClellan veterans are a huge, heartbreaking part of this story.
The VA acknowledges that these chemicals can cause these diseases. They just won't concede that you were exposed to enough of them while you were there. It's a classic catch-22.
Why isn't Fort McClellan covered by the PACT Act?
This is the question that keeps veterans up at night. The PACT Act of 2022 was supposed to be the "great fix" for toxic exposure. It covered burn pits and Agent Orange. But Fort McClellan was left out in the cold.
The VA’s current stance is basically: "We know there were toxins there, but we don't have enough data to prove a base-wide exposure that justifies a blanket presumption."
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Essentially, they want every individual veteran to prove their specific "nexus"—the direct link between their service at McClellan and their current diagnosis. If you were a janitor at the Chemical School, your claim might be easier. But if you were a Military Police officer or part of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) who just lived and worked on the main post, you're facing a massive uphill battle.
There is some movement, though. The Fort McClellan Health Registry Act has been floating around Congress for years. If passed, it would force the VA to track veterans who served there and, hopefully, pave the way for presumptive status. But as of early 2026, we’re still waiting for that final breakthrough.
How to actually win a VA claim for McClellan exposure
You can't just send in a form saying "I was at McClellan and now I have cancer." You'll get denied in weeks. Because there is no presumption, you have to build a "fortress of evidence."
First, you need a Nexus Letter. This is a document from a medical professional that explicitly states your condition is "at least as likely as not" caused by the specific toxins present at Fort McClellan. You need a doctor who is willing to look at the 2005 National Academy of Medicine report which confirmed the groundwater and soil were contaminated with 67 different disposal sites.
Second, gather your buddy statements. Did you see the fog oil? Did you smell the chemicals? Did you participate in "Operation Top Hat" or other decontamination drills? These personal accounts fill the gaps that your service records might leave out.
Third, use the Anniston Community Health Survey (ACHS). This study found that people in the area had PCB levels three times higher than the national average. If you lived on base, you breathed the same air and drank the same water. Use that data to show that "low level" exposure is a myth.
Actionable Steps for Veterans
If you're ready to stop waiting for Congress and start fighting for your benefits, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Request your complete C-File. You need to see what the VA already has on you.
- Contact an Environmental Health Clinician. Every VA hospital has one. Ask for an environmental health evaluation specifically mentioning Fort McClellan.
- Find a VSO who knows "Non-Presumptive" claims. Not all VSOs are created equal. You want someone who has successfully handled "Direct Service Connection" claims for toxins, not just easy Agent Orange cases.
- Join the registries. Even though there isn't a specific "McClellan Registry" yet, make sure you are on the general toxic exposure registries the VA maintains.
- Gather your own science. Download the 2005 National Academy of Medicine report (Contaminants in the Subsurface). Hand it to your doctor. It proves the base was a Superfund-caliber site.
The truth is, the VA rarely gives these benefits away for free. You have to take them. The data is on your side, even if the current regulations aren't. Keep your records, get your medical opinions in writing, and don't let a single denial stop you.