Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Japanese American Society Iwakuni hosts speech contest - Rayna Ralston, a student at Iwakuni Middle School, gives a speech during the 58th annual Japanese and English speech contest in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 17, 2019. The speech contest is held for participants to experience each other’s culture by learning and reciting a speech in their counterparts’ language. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Iwakuni City celebrates 63rd Iwakuni Matsuri Festival - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, dances in the 63rd Iwakuni Matsuri parade in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 20, 2019. The Iwakuni Matsuri Festival is an annual festival and parade that features the local community and local organizations coming together to promote safety and development in the city. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

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)

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)

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)

Halloween Carnival in Iwakuni City creates opportunity to make f - Local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni residents participate in the 2018 Japanese American Society Halloween Carnival in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 19, 2018. The carnival created an opportunity for local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to make friends, enhance the U.S.-Japan alliance and conduct cultural exchanges by participating in the holiday together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Iwakuni Marines rescue boat passengers at Kintai Bridge - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dawson Hatzman, an engineer assistant with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, stands for a photo in the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 1, 2018. Hatzman helped a local Japanese boatman free his boat from the current in the Nishiki River during Easter weekend. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

MCAS Iwakuni residents attend festival in Shunan City - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents share a meal with Japanese residents during the 20th Hina Doll Festival in Shunan City, Japan, March 3, 2018. The event brought families from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and the Shunan International Children’s Club together to make new friends and bond while taking part in Japanese traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst gives a speech before the start of the 7th annual U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert at the Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, Feb. 25, 2017. The concert is a way for the student performers to experience different cultures and communicate with each other through music despite the language barrier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst gives a speech before the start of the 7th annual U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert at the Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, Feb. 25, 2017. The concert is a way for the student performers to experience different cultures and communicate with each other through music despite the language barrier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)