MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents and guests gathered at the Landing Zone inside Club Iwakuni aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 25, 2014, for a retirement ceremony recognizing the contributions of 33 Indirect Hire Agreement and Master Labor Contract Japanese employees.
Col. Robert Boucher, MCAS Iwakuni commanding officer and guest speaker for the event, praised the retiring personnel for their dedication over the years.
“This group of retirees represents almost every walk of life imaginable,” said Boucher. “We have electricians, fire fighters, security guards … you name the job, it’s represented here. Collectively and individually, you have provided the knowledge, skills and continuity which have been responsible for the success of this air station over the years, and for that, on behalf of every other commanding officer who came before me, I want to thank you.”
Being in the Marine Corps for almost 25 years, Boucher complimented the retirees on their extensive service to the station.
“One of the biggest things I’ve been humbled by is how many people have worked here for decades, who have seen commanding officers come and go, Marines come and go for decades,” said Boucher.
Missie Hamano, an administration specialist and secretary for the officer in charge of the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Health Clinic, mentioned that her greatest accomplishment during her working career was cultivating and establishing relationships between the Branch Health Clinic and host nation hospitals.
Hamano, who is retiring after 40 years as an MLC employee, also gave her opinion on working with Marines and sailors aboard station since the time of Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal.
“I like English and I always liked Americans and America ever since I was small, getting this job was meant to be,” said Hamano.
While she may be retiring, Hamano said she’s still has goals to attend to.
“I have a lot of things planned for my future,” said Hamano. “I’m going to be a grandma, I want to work on my garden in my back yard and my husband owns a BLT sandwich shop, so I’m going to help him a little bit.”