News Stories

Cmdr. Dean L. Hoelz, Marine Aircraft Group 12 chaplain, talks with a patient at the Guam Memorial Hospital here May 18, 2012. Volunteers spent the afternoon with hospital patients during a community relations project as part of Exercise Geiger Fury 2012. - Cmdr. Dean L. Hoelz, Marine Aircraft Group 12 chaplain, talks with a patient at the Guam Memorial Hospital here May 18, 2012. Volunteers spent the afternoon with hospital patients during a community relations project as part of Exercise Geiger Fury 2012.

Volunteers open hearts, spend time with local patients

A convoy of vehicles traveled through the streets of Guam as Marines and sailors participating in Exercise Geiger Fury 2012 donated their time at Guam Memorial Hospital with longterm patients who may not often get to see friends or family.Volunteers spent time with patients under the care of the Skilled Nurses Unit, a group within GMH.The SNU

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Volunteers remove old walls of what used to be a local souvenir shop and restaurant at a dock in Ishinomaki, Japan, March 6. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers and other local organizations::r::::n::worked in different locations around Ishinomaki to help local communities recover from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the area.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Pryer/released) - Volunteers remove old walls of what used to be a local souvenir shop and restaurant at a dock in Ishinomaki, Japan, March 6. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers and other local organizations::r::::n::worked in different locations around Ishinomaki to help local communities recover from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the area.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Pryer/released)

Renovations for future generations

A dock rests by the outskirts of the town, submerged before high tide even hits because of the powerful shift in Japan’s tectonic plate during the earthquake and subsequent tsunami last year. A fishing boat, its anchor rusted and planted in the ground, sits by the whale museum, which used to bring visitors from around the city and beyond. Between

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Robert Mangold, International Disaster Relief Organization Japan director, and Robert Sheu, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteer, measure the length of the floor of a local fishermen’s shed being built March 8. The shed will give fishermen an area to store their equipment and set up an office. - Robert Mangold, International Disaster Relief Organization Japan director, and Robert Sheu, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteer, measure the length of the floor of a local fishermen’s shed being built March 8. The shed will give fishermen an area to store their equipment and set up an office.

Air Station volunteers help community rise from depths

The few remaining houses of the community of Nagatsura sit nestled in a valley against one of northern Japan’s many hills. A year has passed since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The locals still have no electricity. The only path to the standing buildings is a dirt road surrounded by empty foundations and obliterated houses with

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Miguel Rivera, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteer, rigs an old machine up so it can be lifted by a crane at the Funakoshi Harbor March 7, 2012. Volunteers spent their day salvaging equipment and metal from the old workshop and clearing debris from the docking area. - Miguel Rivera, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteer, rigs an old machine up so it can be lifted by a crane at the Funakoshi Harbor March 7, 2012. Volunteers spent their day salvaging equipment and metal from the old workshop and clearing debris from the docking area.

Changing with the tides: fishing community pushes through tragedy

Approximately 350 people from the Funakoshi harbor were washed out to sea during the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March of last year and were never found. An area once covered with houses and boats stood silent and desolate, a fraction of its inhabitants remaining among the scant few buildings. But in this harbor, Marine Corps Air Station

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Ishinomaki volunteers prepare to build bridges, cultural ties

Volunteers gathered to discuss the plan and priorities of the Ishinomaki volunteer trip scheduled to take place in early March in the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 Building 1642 2nd deck conference room here Feb. 16. The trip itself has three main priorities, said Capt. Martin F. Ziola, MALS-12 aircraft maintenance engineer officer. Getting

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Children from the Drug Education for Youth program jump with excitement in front of the Kintai Park pool during a field trip Aug. 5. DEFY shows children the dangers of drugs and helps them overcome other struggles. - Children from the Drug Education for Youth program jump with excitement in front of the Kintai Park pool during a field trip Aug. 5. DEFY shows children the dangers of drugs and helps them overcome other struggles.

Children defy odds of falling into drugs

Matthew C. Perry Elementary and High school students visited the Kintai Bridge during a field trip Aug. 5 sponsored by the Drug Education For Youth program. DEFY is an eight-day program designed to help kids become more open, confident and have fun with other children. The program shows children, ages 8-12 the dangers of drugs and how to repel low

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Cpl. Marcie McWaters, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 community relations coordinator, and 2nd Lt. Richard K. Grainger, volunteer, welcome the stampede of kindergartners during a visit at a local Japanese elementary school Sept. 30. The children were playing a shape association game. - Cpl. Marcie McWaters, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 community relations coordinator, and 2nd Lt. Richard K. Grainger, volunteer, welcome the stampede of kindergartners during a visit at a local Japanese elementary school Sept. 30. The children were playing a shape association game.