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Marines

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

News Stories

Archive: 2004

Iwakuni dances away with annual festival

Thousands filled the streets Sunday as Iwakuni celebrated the 48th anniversary of the metropolis’ municipality with a festival commemorating the event. Like years passed, the festival lived up to its billing as vibrant costumes, traditional dances and parades captivated crowds during the sunny afternoon. The festival began with the “white snakes,”

Prowling Banshees snatch 3rd award

As a truly elite Prowler squadron, the Banshees have recently won the honor of Marine Electronic Warfare Squadron of the year, for the third year in a row. Marine Electronic Warfare Squadron 1, deployed to Iwakuni from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., just won the Royal N. Moore award and squadron personnel point to several factors in

Military retirement plan secures future

Service members preparing for future financial security are in good hands. The Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees. The purpose of the TSP is to provide retirement income. It offers Federal employees, including members of the uniformed services, the same types of savings and tax benefits that

All-Marine team wrestles with new prospects

Two Marines from the All-Marine wrestling team visited Iwakuni looking for new prospects to hopefully join the team next year. Dan Hicks and James Shillow hit the Station mats in their first stop in a trip that will take them to several Marine bases in which they offer clinics and get to look at Marines who may be on the team next year. “We are

Cryogenic gears up on supplies

Nitrogen and oxygen in both liquid and gas forms play vital roles in the mission of the Station. Without it, aircraft would not be able to take off or land and pilots would not have air to breathe. So when technicians at the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Logistics Department Cryogenic Division realize they are running low, they know it’s

Marines slug it out with Japanese

Bats cracked and dirt flew as Marines from Combat Service Support Detachment 36 and the Provost Marshal’s Office met members of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force in softball action Saturday afternoon. But was anyone keeping score? “Nah,” said Cpl. Stan Smith, PMO senior customs inspector, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “It was all

Japanese Open House honors military aviation

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Defense Agency, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force hosted an open house at the JMSDF flight line, Sunday. Thousands turned out for the event, which included aircraft static displays, JMSDF drill and color guard performances, flight simulators, music performances and more. “I came because I

Cowboys revisit hallowed ground

Iwo Jima is eight square miles of volcanic ash, pumice and deep black sand. It is the hallowed ground of the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, and the site of a chance photograph that still stirs the imagination and captures the valor of the Marines who fought six excruciating weeks to wrest the island from a determined Japanese army. Iwo

Marines get up close to bomb's destruction

Marines deployed to Southern Frontier received a rare invitation recently to witness firsthand, the destruction caused by their hard work. Twenty-two Marines boarded a bus for a trip over to the Delamere Range Facility, where their aircraft were dropping ordnance during the exercise. The day’s itinerary had Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212’s

Typhoon Songda sweeps Air Station

Typhoon Songda saluted Iwakuni Sept. 7 with stinging rain and winds gusting up to 100 miles per hour. In her wake she left power outages, severe damage to several structures aboard the Station and the battered remains of previously well-manicured foliage. “Parts of several roofs were blown off,” said Petty Officer 1st Class David Moore,