Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Americans dance with Japanese locals to honor ancestors - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Milton Bridges, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, gets dressed in a summertime kimono, called a Yukata, during the Bon-Odori festival at Kinjuen nursing home in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 14, 2017, as part of a Cultural Adaptation trip. This was the second time Bridges and his family attended the festival with Cultural Adaptation. He said the event was a good opportunity to dress-up, go dancing, enjoy good food and mingle with the locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

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)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Lance Cpl. Christopher Kopack, left, and Lance Cpl. Efrain MoralesHernandez, correctional specialists with the Provost Marshal’s Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, read a book to students at Midoro Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City, during a community relations visit, July 30, 2015. Kopack and MoralesHernandez are assigned to Headquarters and Headquarter Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni. Volunteers played games and sang songs to help the children learn English. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Kopack, left, and Lance Cpl. Efrain MoralesHernandez, correctional specialists with the Provost Marshal’s Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, read a book to students at Midoro Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City, during a community relations visit, July 30, 2015. Kopack and MoralesHernandez are assigned to Headquarters and Headquarter Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni. Volunteers played games and sang songs to help the children learn English.

Service members teach Japanese students English at Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, during a community relations preschool event conducted by the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 10, 2015. Whenever Americans visit the students flip their name tag over so that the English translation is showing. - Service members teach Japanese students English at Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, during a community relations preschool event conducted by the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 10, 2015. Whenever Americans visit the students flip their name tag over so that the English translation is showing.

Students from Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, listen to a service member from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni read English books to them during a community relations preschool event hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel, Jan. 13, 2015. Volunteers used picture books to teach the children English. - Students from Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, listen to a service member from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni read English books to them during a community relations preschool event hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel, Jan. 13, 2015. Volunteers used picture books to teach the children English.

Retired Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Elder Hal Pierce, a service missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Liane Pierce, are volunteers with the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Hal Pierce and his wife support troops here and participate in community relations events. - Retired Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Elder Hal Pierce, a service missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Liane Pierce, are volunteers with the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Hal Pierce and his wife support troops here and participate in community relations events.

A volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, dressed as Santa Claus, hands out candy to the children at Josho Hoikuen during a community relations preschool visit, Dec. 9, 2014. The purpose of this event was to interact with the local community in a gesture of goodwill and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. - A volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, dressed as Santa Claus, hands out candy to the children at Josho Hoikuen during a community relations preschool visit, Dec. 9, 2014. The purpose of this event was to interact with the local community in a gesture of goodwill and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan.