Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Billy Emerton, left, a flight equipment technician, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing and Gunnery Sgt. David Emerton, equal opportunity advisor for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, both natives of Texas, pose for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 5, 2024. Answering the nation's call has always been a proud tradition in many American homes. Marines having siblings who also serve in the armed forces is nothing new, but for the Emerton brothers, their service has been closer than most. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz)

Photo by Sgt. Mitchell Austin - A portrait photo of Corina Gonzalez, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 1, 2023. Gonzalez is a Marine Corps veteran and loving mother who volunteers at numerous organizations throughout MCAS Iwakuni, and has proven to be a diligent and dedicated member of the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mitchell Austin)

Folk songs and friendships; dancing Bon Odori - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Kikuko Shinjo, a local Iwakuni resident, pose for a photo during a Bon Odori festival at the Kinjuen nursing home in Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. Station residents were invited to participate in a Bon Odori festival through the Marine Corps Community Services Cultural Adaptation Program. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom, meant to honor the spirits of their ancestors. Highlights from the festival were the Bon Odori dance, Yukatas and eating traditional Japanese summer foods. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune) (This image was created in color and changed to black-and-white.)

Air station residents experience flavor of local culture - Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and local Japanese residents attend a cooking class during the 8th Annual Culture Day at Tsuzu Elementary School in Tsuzu Town, Japan, Dec. 1, 2018. Families and service members from MCAS Iwakuni visited the school with the Marine Corps Community Services Youth and Teen Center and Cultural Adaptation Program in order to learn more about Japanese traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Community comes together for Color Me Aware Run - Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni resident stands for a photo after finishing the fourth annual Color Me Aware Run at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 24, 2018. The event was open to all ages, and participants were able to run or walk with their families. The run brought awareness to causes such as breast cancer, domestic violence and child abuse which were all represented by bright colors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

MCAS Iwakuni residents attend annual cultural festival in Iwakuni City - American children from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni get dressed in kimonos by local Japanese volunteers during the 61st Annual Culture Festival in Iwakuni City, Japan, March 17, 2018. The festival showcased many traditional Japanese cultural activities and performances. The event was held off base this year with support from Iwakuni City, which allowed more Iwakuni residents to come together with the base community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

Dads, daughters saddle up to dance night away - Service members and their daughters attend the Boots ‘n Belles Daddy-Daughter Dance at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 13, 2018. Fathers and daughters danced, took photos, played games and won raffle contests as they shared a night and created memories together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

NEO exercise enhances station readiness - Amanda Braudt, a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni resident, visits the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society booth during a Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercise at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 21, 2017. The exercise consisted of a processing center at the IronWorks North Gym where U.S. service members, dependents and other station residents walked through various checkpoints, practicing what they would do in the event of an evacuation and receiving all the necessary information regarding their departure. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni home-schoolers pose for a group picture with the Calligraphy Club from Kannon High School, Hiroshima, during a calligraphy event at the Waki General Community Center in Waki Town, Japan, Jan. 4, 2016. This event allowed the home-schoolers to learn about the culture that they are now a part of. Community relations events like these help bolster the relationship between the station and the local Japanese community. - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni home-schoolers pose for a group picture with the Calligraphy Club from Kannon High School, Hiroshima, during a calligraphy event at the Waki General Community Center in Waki Town, Japan, Jan. 4, 2016. This event allowed the home-schoolers to learn about the culture that they are now a part of. Community relations events like these help bolster the relationship between the station and the local Japanese community.