News Stories

A child watches as Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services, USA, ascends the alter during a Roman Catholic mass inside the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 24, 2014. The Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, was created by Pope John Paul II in 1985. - A child watches as Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services, USA, ascends the alter during a Roman Catholic mass inside the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 24, 2014. The Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, was created by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

Cpl. Ruben Salinas, a resident Marine Air Ground Task Force planner for Marine Aircraft Group 12 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, shakes hands with a young child after receiving a handmade Christmas ornament while visiting the Akebono Orphanage in Nasake Sima, Yamaguti, Dec. 23, 2014. As a part of giving back to the Japanese locals, MAG-12 Marines collected 777 cans of food from their unit holiday party to distribute to those in need. - Cpl. Ruben Salinas, a resident Marine Air Ground Task Force planner for Marine Aircraft Group 12 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, shakes hands with a young child after receiving a handmade Christmas ornament while visiting the Akebono Orphanage in Nasake Sima, Yamaguti, Dec. 23, 2014. As a part of giving back to the Japanese locals, MAG-12 Marines collected 777 cans of food from their unit holiday party to distribute to those in need.

A volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hands out toys during a visit to a children’s home in Houfu, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The Marine Thrift Store hosted the visit after collecting toys during a toy drive and motorcycle rally earlier this year. The rally collected more than 300 toys to give to the children’s home. - A volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hands out toys during a visit to a children’s home in Houfu, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The Marine Thrift Store hosted the visit after collecting toys during a toy drive and motorcycle rally earlier this year. The rally collected more than 300 toys to give to the children’s home.

Children with the School Age Care aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hand operate engines at the Transportation Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The SAC took the children to the Transportation Museum to learn about all the different types of transportation used throughout history. - Children with the School Age Care aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hand operate engines at the Transportation Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The SAC took the children to the Transportation Museum to learn about all the different types of transportation used throughout history.

Retired Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Elder Hal Pierce, a service missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Liane Pierce, are volunteers with the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Hal Pierce and his wife support troops here and participate in community relations events. - Retired Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Elder Hal Pierce, a service missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Liane Pierce, are volunteers with the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Hal Pierce and his wife support troops here and participate in community relations events.

Left to right, Cpl. Jessica Quezada, a combat correspondent, Lance Cpl. Mark Adams, a combat photographer, and Cpl. Mitchell Flowers, a combat camera production specialist, participate in the Jingle Bell Jog, Dec. 19, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Marines are with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. Marine Corps Community Services hosted the event to help raise morale during the holiday season. The 1.5km event had more than 1,400 participants from various units aboard station. - Left to right, Cpl. Jessica Quezada, a combat correspondent, Lance Cpl. Mark Adams, a combat photographer, and Cpl. Mitchell Flowers, a combat camera production specialist, participate in the Jingle Bell Jog, Dec. 19, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Marines are with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. Marine Corps Community Services hosted the event to help raise morale during the holiday season. The 1.5km event had more than 1,400 participants from various units aboard station.

Capt. Benjamin Baldwin, a weapon systems officer with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 and a judge for Matthew C. Perry High School’s science fair, listens to a student as he explains his project inside the high school gymnasium, Dec. 18, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The science fair is part of the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, which presented students with an opportunity to practice the scientific method. - Capt. Benjamin Baldwin, a weapon systems officer with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 and a judge for Matthew C. Perry High School’s science fair, listens to a student as he explains his project inside the high school gymnasium, Dec. 18, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The science fair is part of the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, which presented students with an opportunity to practice the scientific method.

Marines at the Mainside Postal Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, continue to push through the demanding overload of mail during the busiest time of the year. More than 700 pounds of mail are sent per day and 3,500 pounds of mail are received per day during the busy holiday season months of late November to mid-January. - Marines at the Mainside Postal Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, continue to push through the demanding overload of mail during the busiest time of the year. More than 700 pounds of mail are sent per day and 3,500 pounds of mail are received per day during the busy holiday season months of late November to mid-January.

Students from Higashi Junior High School perform during the holiday concert, Dec. 15, 2014, held at the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The concert was held for students from Higashi Junior High School, Agenosho Elementary School and Matthew C. Perry Schools. - Students from Higashi Junior High School perform during the holiday concert, Dec. 15, 2014, held at the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The concert was held for students from Higashi Junior High School, Agenosho Elementary School and Matthew C. Perry Schools.

Gunnery Sgt. Nathan Lanham, the embarkation chief with Aircraft Rescue Firefighting, passes out fruit to guest of ARFF’s annual holiday party, Dec. 12, 2014, inside the ARFF compound aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The holiday party was hosted as part of an existing relationship between ARFF and the Tsuta Children’s Home, where members of ARFF invite the children’s home aboard station to spread holiday cheer. - Gunnery Sgt. Nathan Lanham, the embarkation chief with Aircraft Rescue Firefighting, passes out fruit to guest of ARFF’s annual holiday party, Dec. 12, 2014, inside the ARFF compound aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The holiday party was hosted as part of an existing relationship between ARFF and the Tsuta Children’s Home, where members of ARFF invite the children’s home aboard station to spread holiday cheer.