News Stories

U.S. Navy Seabees with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Facilities adopted the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Vietnam Memorial at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, to commemorate the Vietnam War and its fallen heroes. Constructed in May 1972, the memorial has a black and red torii standing between it and the setting sun to honor the fallen, and symbolizes the friendship and support of our Japanese neighbors. Located within the emblazoned names on the monument are words saying “In memoriam, with grateful remembrance for those who gave their lives before us, we dedicate this plaque and our lives that their sacrifice may never be in vain. We commend their souls to Almighty God. May all who read these words rededicate their lives to the preservation of freedom which others have bought for us.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Seabees with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Facilities adopted the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Vietnam Memorial at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, to commemorate the Vietnam War and its fallen heroes. Constructed in May 1972, the memorial has a black and red torii standing between it and the setting sun to honor the fallen, and symbolizes the friendship and support of our Japanese neighbors. Located within the emblazoned names on the monument are words saying “In memoriam, with grateful remembrance for those who gave their lives before us, we dedicate this plaque and our lives that their sacrifice may never be in vain. We commend their souls to Almighty God. May all who read these words rededicate their lives to the preservation of freedom which others have bought for us.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

A volunteer extends her hand to a Japanese local preschooler at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The children bonded with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers through laughter, blowing bubbles and a water fight during a community relations preschool visit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - A volunteer extends her hand to a Japanese local preschooler at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The children bonded with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers through laughter, blowing bubbles and a water fight during a community relations preschool visit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

A child prays before getting released to eat during Vacation Bible School at the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. VBS consisted of group discussions, feeding the children and volunteers, praying and rotation stations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - A child prays before getting released to eat during Vacation Bible School at the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. VBS consisted of group discussions, feeding the children and volunteers, praying and rotation stations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Masatoshi Ohno, Yokoyama 1st section representative and Iwakuni local, prepares to honor the Shiroyama Hime Shrine during the Bon-Odori Yukata-Experience festival in the Yokoyama area of Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 13, 2016. During the festival, priests blessed the Shiroyama Hime shrine and gave a moment of silence in honor of those who passed this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Masatoshi Ohno, Yokoyama 1st section representative and Iwakuni local, prepares to honor the Shiroyama Hime Shrine during the Bon-Odori Yukata-Experience festival in the Yokoyama area of Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 13, 2016. During the festival, priests blessed the Shiroyama Hime shrine and gave a moment of silence in honor of those who passed this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Marine Corps Community Services hosts a grand opening ceremony of the Torii Pines plaza on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 12, 2016. The new plaza holds several different shops such as a bike shop, barber shop, tailor, gift shop and hotel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - Marine Corps Community Services hosts a grand opening ceremony of the Torii Pines plaza on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 12, 2016. The new plaza holds several different shops such as a bike shop, barber shop, tailor, gift shop and hotel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Students of Iwakuni-Kawashimo Kindergarten pose with zero hangar stamps they received during a school visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2016. The school visit is a time honored tradition between the base and the local community and holds a lasting memory with the visiting students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - Students of Iwakuni-Kawashimo Kindergarten pose with zero hangar stamps they received during a school visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2016. The school visit is a time honored tradition between the base and the local community and holds a lasting memory with the visiting students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)