Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

MCAS Iwakuni residents receive a delicous culture lesson - U.S. Marines and families from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni participate in a community cultural exchange with local Japanese children at Tsuzu Elementary School, Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 29, 2019. The exchange provided an arts and crafts class as well as a cooking class. Participants learned how to make gyoza and residents were given an opportunity to experience Japanese culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Go For Gold Olympic Swimming Workshop with Anthony Ervin - Anthony Ervin, an Olympic swimmer, demonstrates swimming techniques and movements to Japanese children at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 26, 2019. Ervin spoke to children from local Japanese swim teams and the MCAS Iwakuni Tsunami swim team during a State Department sponsored visit to various locations in Japan. The purpose of Ervin’s visit was to inspire children, teach them how to swim better, and provide insight into what it is like to be an Olympian. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Children from MCAS Iwakuni experience Japanese culture first-hand - Students from the Shunan International Children’s Club (SICC) dress American children in Kimonos during a cultural class at the School Age Care Center on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug 20, 2019. This event brought students from SICC to MCAS Iwakuni in order to give the American children the opportunity to experience Japanese culture first-hand. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

Folk songs and friendships; dancing Bon Odori - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Kikuko Shinjo, a local Iwakuni resident, pose for a photo during a Bon Odori festival at the Kinjuen nursing home in Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. Station residents were invited to participate in a Bon Odori festival through the Marine Corps Community Services Cultural Adaptation Program. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom, meant to honor the spirits of their ancestors. Highlights from the festival were the Bon Odori dance, Yukatas and eating traditional Japanese summer foods. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune) (This image was created in color and changed to black-and-white.)

MCAS Iwakuni Change of Command - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William Bowers, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, salutes Marines and Sailors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 22, 2019. U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, outgoing commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, relinquished command to Col. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni. MCAS Iwakuni is a mission-ready air station, capable of providing continuous base-operating support for tenant organizations and follow-on U.S. and allied forces during training, combat or contingency operations throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

Donating blood; one force saving lives - U.S. Navy Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st class, Shelby Hurley, with Carrier Air Wing 5, donates blood during a blood drive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 21. 2019. The American and Japanese Red Cross societies came together for the biannual blood drive to collect blood for the local community to utilize. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

Families celebrate reading all summer - Families enter in a raffle during a Summer Reading Party hosted by Marine and Family Programs at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, August 7, 2019. The party was held to celebrate all of the reading the children accomplished over the span of six weeks. The party included a raffle giveaway, live music, food and drinks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

Maj Gen Banta tours MCAS Iwakuni - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Edward D. Banta, center, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM), speaks to Marines and Sailors at harbor operations while conducting his first command tour of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 23, 2019. The purpose of the tour was to assess the air station’s readiness capability first hand as the newest commanding general of MCICOM, as well as to discuss issues enlisted Marines face in their day-to-day life. Banta toured the air traffic control tower, the base clinic, harbor operations, a barracks and the emergency operations center. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Team USA wins third game in Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series - The USA Collegiate Baseball Team and Japan Collegiate Baseball Team competed against each other in the 43rd Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series at Kizuna Stadium in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 19, 2019. The purpose of the series is to have two cultures come together in a friendly and competitive tournament. This was the third game in the five-game series, and the USA Collegiate Baseball Team won the game 2-0 against the Japan Collegiate Baseball Team. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Sound of Freedom; Nagi Town officials visit MCAS Iwakuni - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Station (MCAS) Iwakuni poses for photo with Nagi Town officials at MCAS Iwakuni during the Sound of Freedom Campaign, July 17, 2019. The visit consisted of a tour through the air station to give guests a better understanding of base operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)