Dennis E. Provencher, the district commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9723, Okinawa salutes the Ernie Pyle Monument April 19, after placing a floral wreath at the foot of the epitaph on Ieshima, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa citizens, service members, veterans, Boy Scouts, and families gather to honor the 70th anniversary of Ernest T. “Ernie” Pyle’s death at the sight where he was killed in 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. Pyle was a Pulitzer Prize winner and served as a war correspondent from 1935 through most of World War II, famous for his columns for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Pyle volunteered to deploy with the men of the Army’s 77th Infantry Division to report first-hand during the battle of Okinawa. - Dennis E. Provencher, the district commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9723, Okinawa salutes the Ernie Pyle Monument April 19, after placing a floral wreath at the foot of the epitaph on Ieshima, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa citizens, service members, veterans, Boy Scouts, and families gather to honor the 70th anniversary of Ernest T. “Ernie” Pyle’s death at the sight where he was killed in 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. Pyle was a Pulitzer Prize winner and served as a war correspondent from 1935 through most of World War II, famous for his columns for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Pyle volunteered to deploy with the men of the Army’s 77th Infantry Division to report first-hand during the battle of Okinawa.

U.S. Reconnaissance Marines learn how to fall properly while skiing Jan. 23 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The proper fall is to tuck your ski poles off to the opposite side of your fall, fall uphill and land on your leg, shoulder and hip to protect your head and wrists from damage. The U.S. Marines are with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Reconnaissance Marines learn how to fall properly while skiing Jan. 23 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The proper fall is to tuck your ski poles off to the opposite side of your fall, fall uphill and land on your leg, shoulder and hip to protect your head and wrists from damage. The U.S. Marines are with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event. - Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event.

Cpl. Joseph Dutton, from Brookline, Vermont, pry nails loose in the wooden flooring in an old military housing facility Jan. 9 during exercise Lava Viper 15-1.2 at Kawaihae Harbor, Hawaii. Dutton is removing the nails to remove and replace the floor. The housing facility is used by various military branches as a safe house while waiting for ships to arrive with vehicles and supplies. MWSS-472 has been tasked to refurbish the facility because the building is deteriorating Dutton is a combat engineer with MWSS-472, Marine Air Group 47, 4th Marine Air Wing. - Cpl. Joseph Dutton, from Brookline, Vermont, pry nails loose in the wooden flooring in an old military housing facility Jan. 9 during exercise Lava Viper 15-1.2 at Kawaihae Harbor, Hawaii. Dutton is removing the nails to remove and replace the floor. The housing facility is used by various military branches as a safe house while waiting for ships to arrive with vehicles and supplies. MWSS-472 has been tasked to refurbish the facility because the building is deteriorating Dutton is a combat engineer with MWSS-472, Marine Air Group 47, 4th Marine Air Wing.

U.S. Navy Lt. Andrew W. Burns, standing, introduces Paul Saneaki Nakamura, right, and his translator Chiyomi Sumida Dec. 9 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. Nakamura spoke to service members about his life expierences as a World War II veteran and Anglican Church bishop. Burns is from Mount Desert, Maine, and a chaplain with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. Nakamura is a retired Anglican Church bishop and a prior service World War II veteran with Special Missions Unit, Japanese Imperial Navy Air Corps, Imperial Japan. Sumida is a reporter and translator with the Stars and Stripes Okinawa Bureau. - U.S. Navy Lt. Andrew W. Burns, standing, introduces Paul Saneaki Nakamura, right, and his translator Chiyomi Sumida Dec. 9 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. Nakamura spoke to service members about his life expierences as a World War II veteran and Anglican Church bishop. Burns is from Mount Desert, Maine, and a chaplain with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. Nakamura is a retired Anglican Church bishop and a prior service World War II veteran with Special Missions Unit, Japanese Imperial Navy Air Corps, Imperial Japan. Sumida is a reporter and translator with the Stars and Stripes Okinawa Bureau.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members with the Special Weapons Protection Unit remove clothing from a casualty during an exercise Dec. 1 at Camp Naha, Okinawa. The casulty went through an immediate evacuation from the area prior to being treated. Participating U.S. Marine chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specalists then wrapped the casualty in a blanket and went through the full decontamination process. The JGSDF personnel are with the Nuclear Biological Chemical Unit, 15th Brigade. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members with the Special Weapons Protection Unit remove clothing from a casualty during an exercise Dec. 1 at Camp Naha, Okinawa. The casulty went through an immediate evacuation from the area prior to being treated. Participating U.S. Marine chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specalists then wrapped the casualty in a blanket and went through the full decontamination process. The JGSDF personnel are with the Nuclear Biological Chemical Unit, 15th Brigade.

Kunekatsu Kayo prepares to bowl Nov. 25 at Camp Schwab’s bowling center during an event organized between the Henoko Friendship Committee and 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The last time Kayo bowled with Marines was 20 years ago. “It’s really nice to play here,” said Kayo. “I like to bowl with Marines.” The event marked the first bowling tournament between the two groups since 2002. Kayo is the mayor of Henoko district. The Marines are with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Kunekatsu Kayo prepares to bowl Nov. 25 at Camp Schwab’s bowling center during an event organized between the Henoko Friendship Committee and 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The last time Kayo bowled with Marines was 20 years ago. “It’s really nice to play here,” said Kayo. “I like to bowl with Marines.” The event marked the first bowling tournament between the two groups since 2002. Kayo is the mayor of Henoko district. The Marines are with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines prepare to fuse 155 mm rounds to fire Nov. 4 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that strengthens combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces, and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the Unit Deployment Program. - Marines prepare to fuse 155 mm rounds to fire Nov. 4 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that strengthens combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces, and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the Unit Deployment Program.

Maj. Matthew A. Thompson, right, speaks with the Marines of Battery B after a Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony Nov. 10 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that increases and maintains combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Thompson is from Presho, South Dakota, and is the commanding officers for Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Maj. Matthew A. Thompson, right, speaks with the Marines of Battery B after a Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony Nov. 10 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that increases and maintains combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Thompson is from Presho, South Dakota, and is the commanding officers for Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.