NEWS

Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez speaks with a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. The memorial walls are inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died, regardless of nationality, civilian or military status in the battle. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Marquez, a Lakewood, California native, is the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe) - Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez speaks with a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. The memorial walls are inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died, regardless of nationality, civilian or military status in the battle. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Marquez, a Lakewood, California native, is the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Lance Cpl. Tony McCandless, right, hands out cake to kids Dec. 19 at the Kin Town Social Welfare Center, Okinawa, Japan. Marines organized a toy drive through the Kin Town Single Parent Association to give back to their community by handing out gifts and cake to the children. McCandless is a radio maintainer with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released) - Lance Cpl. Tony McCandless, right, hands out cake to kids Dec. 19 at the Kin Town Social Welfare Center, Okinawa, Japan. Marines organized a toy drive through the Kin Town Single Parent Association to give back to their community by handing out gifts and cake to the children. McCandless is a radio maintainer with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released)

Keiichi Hirano, left, a Japanese major league baseball player pitches to a local kid during a friendly game at a baseball clinic Jan. 24 on Camp Kinser. This was the first baseball clinic held on Camp Kinser. Approximately 50 Japanese and American children participated in the event. The clinic consisted of Hirano teaching fundamental skills and techniques followed by a game. The day ended with prizes, lunch and a cake for all who participated. Hirano is with the Orix Buffaloes. - Keiichi Hirano, left, a Japanese major league baseball player pitches to a local kid during a friendly game at a baseball clinic Jan. 24 on Camp Kinser. This was the first baseball clinic held on Camp Kinser. Approximately 50 Japanese and American children participated in the event. The clinic consisted of Hirano teaching fundamental skills and techniques followed by a game. The day ended with prizes, lunch and a cake for all who participated. Hirano is with the Orix Buffaloes.

Gunnery Sgt. Shane R. Bertrand, from Ontario, Oregon, helps children put together paper pilgrim and American Indian hats Nov. 23 during the second annual Thanksgiving celebration with Tai Chu En Children’s Home at the Camp Kinser Chapel. This was the second annual Thanksgiving event with the children’s home and the Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 35. Following the crafts, the children and volunteers sat down for a Thanksgiving feast including turkey, corn and pumpkin pie. Bertrand is the logistics chief for CLR 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary. - Gunnery Sgt. Shane R. Bertrand, from Ontario, Oregon, helps children put together paper pilgrim and American Indian hats Nov. 23 during the second annual Thanksgiving celebration with Tai Chu En Children’s Home at the Camp Kinser Chapel. This was the second annual Thanksgiving event with the children’s home and the Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 35. Following the crafts, the children and volunteers sat down for a Thanksgiving feast including turkey, corn and pumpkin pie. Bertrand is the logistics chief for CLR 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary.