News Stories

Photo by Sgt. Randall Whiteman - The Furukawa family memorial was created by Kazuzou Furukawa to mourn the deaths of his family following the end of World War II after the 80th anniversary of the Marukoyama Memorial Ceremony in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, April. 3, 2025. The Marukoyama Memorial Ceremony is held every year in Kure during cherry blossom season to honor the crew members of the U.S. Navy TBM-3 Avenger, Torpedo Squadron 6, who died in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on July 24, 1945. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall Whiteman)

Marukoyama Memorial Ceremony Honors 80 Years of Reflection, Healing, and Friendship

On April 3, 2025, U.S. Marines and Sailors from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni joined local residents in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, to mark the 80th anniversary of a tragic World War II aircraft crash. Together, they honored a moment in history that has since become a powerful symbol of reconciliation and shared humanity.On

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U.S. Marine Corps Courtesy Photo - U.S. Marine Corps 1stLt James Detulleo scans his surroundings during training at The Basic School in Quantico, VA, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps Courtesy Photo)

A Calling to Serve: First Lieutenant James Detulleo’s Journey in the Marine Corps

For First Lieutenant James Detulleo, service has never been just a duty—it’s a calling. Growing up surrounded by military families, he found inspiration in their unwavering dedication and values. These early influences instilled in him a belief that service to others is greater than serving oneself. For Detulleo, it’s about contributing to a

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Photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen - U.S. Marine Corps chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN) specialists assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 6, 2024. As CBRN Defense Specialists, Marines are trained to respond to and clear areas with possible CBRN hazards in addition to training units in general CBRN information, identification, and response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen)

MWSS-171 CBRN Defense

On August 21, 2013, the normal sounds of a Syrian summer night was interrupted by the whistling of soaring projectiles that were followed by not explosions, but silence. In minutes, the night was filled with coughs and gasps from residents in the city eventually evolving to screams of terror. An odorless and colorless cloud of sarin, a nerve agent,

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Photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen - Jennifer Ayers, the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni aquatics director and a South Carolina native, poses for a portrait at the Marine Corps Community Services’ indoor pool on Sept. 5, 2024. Ayers and the MCAS Iwakuni aquatics team provide swim clinics and master classes, and train instructors with the goal to improve service members’ survival skills and increase their water confidence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen)

Modern Day Mermaid

In 2023, it was recorded that 27 Marines and sailors lost their lives due to preventable off duty mishaps. On Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Jennifer Ayers, the aquatics director and swim survival skill master trainer, is on a mission to help change these statistics for the better. Finding ways to improve the service members' confidence and

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris, the station station captain of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Virginia, stands in front of a fire truck for a picture at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, June 4, 2024. Huley-Morris recently received the Military Firefighter of the Year award for all military services. The award recognizes the firefighters accomplishments of the preceding year for setting the example of professional activities and career development goals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris, the station station captain of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Virginia, stands in front of a fire truck for a picture at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, June 4, 2024. Huley-Morris recently received the Military Firefighter of the Year award for all military services. The award recognizes the firefighters accomplishments of the preceding year for setting the example of professional activities and career development goals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett)

2023 Firefighter of the Year

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris, a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, and the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station Captain for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni, was recently selected as the recipient for the 2023 Military Firefighter of the Year award.The Military Firefighter of the Year award is an annual award

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Photo by Lance Cpl. Colin Thibault - U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Jyvan Marquez-Fontanez, a Seabee with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, secures equipment in the bed of a truck after a drilling job at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2024. The Seabees of MCAS Iwakuni are able to complete a variety of construction tasks, from installing furniture to repairing the airfield. Seaman Apprentice Jyvan Marquez-Fontanez is a native of Puerto Rico. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Colin Thibault)

Hard Hats, Harder Workers: The Dedication of MCAS Iwakuni Seabee

Among the many different residents of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni exist service members from various parts of the armed forces. They all work together with the same goal in mind, to improve the air station every day. It is not uncommon to spot Marines working diligently on aircraft, Sailors going to and from the Branch Health Clinic,

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Photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett - Catherine Matchem-Watkins, a Marine Corps Family Team Building Trainer with Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni, poses for a photo with her family at Akiyoshidai Safari Land, Japan. Matchem-Watkins, a native of Chicago, Illinois, learned time management skills at a young age that she continues to use to this day to effectively balance time with her family, work, and volunteering in her busy schedule. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett)

Faces of Iwakuni Mrs. Catherine Matchem-Watkins

In a large family, being the middle child can often mean that you don't have enough time for the things you want to do. Whether there wasn’t enough time to enjoy personal interest, or too much time spent on attending different events for family, there may not be enough time for everyone. Catherine Matchem-Watkins was this middle child, and she was

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U.S. Marine Corps Courtesy Photo - Nicole Colburn, a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) art teacher at Iwakuni Intermediate School, looks around her classroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 12, 2024. A native of Shirley, Massachusetts, Colburn teaches art as a way to follow her passion for the history, culture, and creativity of art. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Peter Rawlins)

Doing What You Love: Nicole Colburn

Every three years the bittersweet ritual of packing your bags unfolds once more, ushering you into yet another cycle of beginnings, each departure marking a fresh chapter in the ongoing saga of reinvention and adaptation.Nicole Colburn, an art teacher at Iwakuni Intermediate School and MC Perry Primary school, experienced these events first hand

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Photo by Cpl. Darien Wright - U.S. Airmen with the U.S. Air Force 36th Contingency Response Squadron, 36th Contingency Response Group, demonstrate how to secure cargo during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 12, 2023. The U.S. Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group conducted joint training that focused on equipment and process interoperability in a contested logistics environment with the MCAS Iwakuni Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Logistics Department and members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Darien Wright)

U.S. Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group Conduct training at MCAS Iwakuni

During the week of 11 December 2023, the United States Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group conducted joint training with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Logistics Department and members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on MCAS Iwakuni. Throughout the week, the group completed subject matter

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Courtesy photo - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Navarro, poses for a photo. (Courtesy photo)

From Struggle to Strength: Gunnery Sgt. Robert Navarro’s Journey from Challenging Upbringing to Leadership at MCAS Iwakuni

“Every day you should come into work and try to be better than you were yesterday. If you get off work and you’re not exhausted, you didn’t give it your best. Every day is an opportunity to get better, smarter, faster, and stronger. Don’t waste it,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Navarro, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of S-3, Headquarters

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