MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Approximately 50 personnel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, with shovels, rakes and gloves in hand, participated in the main volunteer cleanup project at the Kintai Bridge, Sept. 9.
The high winds and torrential rains of Typhoon Nabi, also known as 'butterfly' in Korean, left Iwakuni battered, submerged underwater and submissive to dangerous landslides Sept. 6. The damage from the unforgiving flood lingered as it departed from Iwakuni, leaving only debris behind in its tracks.
The Kintai Bridge, before the location of festivals, picnics and parties, lay desolate. There weren't any friends and families enjoying the view, no dog walkers, or tourists taking pictures. All that remained were broken boats, uprooted bricks, a turned over car and bus, and the sight of overall wreckage.
"My wife, son and I came out and visited the area before and it's a nice area," expressed the concerned Sgt. Maj. Jerry Bailey, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major. "When we got here yesterday, to figure out how many Marines and sailors we needed to help out, I couldn't believe it. It was that torn up."
"The only word I could think of when I got here was 'Wow,'" said Lance Cpl. David Bradberry, H&HS dispersing clerk. "I wouldn't say it's a complete loss; it's just really damaged. I know it's not as bad as back home (New Orleans) but it's still pretty bad."
The volunteer's main objective was to clean up Nabi's leftovers and take the initial step to clearing out the area.
"We are hoping to pick up most of the debris and all of the things that are lying around," said Bailey. "We are stacking all of the bricks, getting the dirt back in the holes and clearing all of the pathways. We want to get any kind of debris that is lying around staged in an area so the local Japanese can load it up and get it out of here."
As the sun blazed and the sweat dripped from their foreheads, the volunteers worked hard through the day with one purpose, to help.
"We live here too," said Brandi Tereira, dependent. "Many of us come here to the Kintai Bridge and enjoy this area along with the Japanese people. When I saw that they wanted volunteers on channel five, I decided to come out and lend a helping hand."
"We're out here to show that we care about the people here and that we want to give back to the local community," added Bradberry. "It shows that we are not just concerned about the base rather we are concerned with Iwakuni as well."
"We are a part of this community," said Bailey. "Coming out here is a community project to get one of the great landmarks back to order so others can come out and enjoy it again."