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.

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque Dec. 12 during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque Dec. 12 during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF.

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.

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

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.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

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.