Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

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)

Dancing toward unity - Children with the School Age Center attend a Kagura dance performance at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, July 15, 2019. The Aozora Kids Kagura Association, based out of Hiroshima City, visited MCAS Iwakuni to give Japanese and American children a way to interact with each other and to show the American children a piece of traditional Japanese culture. This was the 3rd annual visit the association has made to MCAS Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Commanding officer walks with local community for the last time - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, left, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and Yoshihiko Fukuda, the mayor of Iwakuni City, take a photo with local Japanese residents during the 11th annual Joint Leadership Walk in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 12, 2019. During the walk, they spoke to local Japanese residents, business owners and residents of the air station. The walk was Fuerst’s final goodbye to the Japanese local community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

Seventeen air station employees retire - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, center, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, gives a speech during a retirement ceremony for master labor contractors and individual hire agreement employees at MCAS Iwakuni, June 28, 2019. The ceremony was held to congratulate and award the retirees with certificates of appreciation for all their work and time spent with units on MCAS Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

Thunder rolls through Yamaguchi - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. John Harris, the executive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, presents Osamu Koizumi, the Superintendent Chief of the Iwakuni Police Department, a plaque. The police department’s traffic division ensured the route was safe and two police officers escorted the group during the ride, in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 24, 2019. The Thunder Run was an inaugural station sanctioned motorcycle ride hosted by the Torii Riders, the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Motorcycle Mentorship Program, to promote the correct use of proper protective equipment and safety throughout the 101 Critical Days of Summer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Kevin Alarcon)

Akeel Austin recognized as 2018 MCIPAC NCO of the Year - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Akeel Austin’s command board photo at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Feb. 18, 2019, before earning the 2018 Marine Corps Installations Pacific Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year Award Feb. 28. Austin earned the award for the superior performance of his duties as the Communication Strategy and Operations photography NCO in charge at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo by Tadahiro Ozako)

M.C. Perry High School JROTC hosts Memorial Day ceremony - JROTC color guard cadets present colors at M.C. Perry High School during a Memorial Day ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 20, 2019. The ceremony was coordinated by the school’s JROTC program in order to honor the memories of fallen service members. U.S. Marines from Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 attended the ceremony to commemorate the memories of their fellow Marines on the memorial wall. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

JMSDF, MCAS Iwakuni take Friendship Day 2019 to new altitudes - Japanese guests view various U.S. and Japanese static display aircraft during the 43rd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2019. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an exciting experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static display aircraft, aerial performances, food and entertainment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Timothy Valero)

Americans learn Japanese history through Hiroshima Peace Park visit - Mikie Watanabe, a cultural adaptation specialist with the Cultural Adaptation Program, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan, April 26, 2019. Watanabe coordinated the Hiroshima Peace Park Visit for participants to learn more about Japanese culture and help strengthen the positive relationship between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

Friendly neighborhood Single Marine Program - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Yoshi Cacho, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, participates in the Humvee pull during the Day of Service at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2019. The Humvee pull was one of the culminating events that was held after the Days of Service clean-up concluded on Friday. The Days of Service is a week-long event with multiple volunteer opportunities that culminates with the final day of the event, the Day of Service. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Kevin Alarcon)