Posted on May 15, 2022
Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests
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READ OF THE DAY
Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests
By Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
May 15, 09:35 AM
An elderly man visits a height near the U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO — Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki on Sunday urged Japan’s central government to do more to reduce the U.S. military presence in the southern island group as it marked the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan after 27 years of American rule, amid frustration and bitterness over a lack of support from the mainland.
Tamaki said Okinawa has come a long way since the devastation of World War II and nearly three decades of U.S. rule, which ended when it reverted to Japan on May 15, 1972. But the tiny island group’s yearslong demand for the mainland to share its security burden remains unresolved.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace SGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland
Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests
By Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
May 15, 09:35 AM
An elderly man visits a height near the U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO — Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki on Sunday urged Japan’s central government to do more to reduce the U.S. military presence in the southern island group as it marked the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan after 27 years of American rule, amid frustration and bitterness over a lack of support from the mainland.
Tamaki said Okinawa has come a long way since the devastation of World War II and nearly three decades of U.S. rule, which ended when it reverted to Japan on May 15, 1972. But the tiny island group’s yearslong demand for the mainland to share its security burden remains unresolved.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace SGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland
Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Okinawa
Okinawa
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Being stationed at Kadena Air Base and living in Camp Shields Housing gave me my best three years in the Air Force, while teaching at the PACAF NCO Academy.
The Okinawans have to be the nicest, kindest people on Earth! And the Okinawan scenery--beaches, parks, etc., coupled with the delicious food, and the great culture, were an awesome combination to experience. Of my 9 permanent party assignments in my 20 years in uniform, they were the most memorable.
Thanks for posting!
Being stationed at Kadena Air Base and living in Camp Shields Housing gave me my best three years in the Air Force, while teaching at the PACAF NCO Academy.
The Okinawans have to be the nicest, kindest people on Earth! And the Okinawan scenery--beaches, parks, etc., coupled with the delicious food, and the great culture, were an awesome combination to experience. Of my 9 permanent party assignments in my 20 years in uniform, they were the most memorable.
Thanks for posting!
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SMSgt Anil Heendeniya
Sgt Jim Belanus
Not the PACAF NCO Academy--that's for E6s (TSgts) and E7s (MSgts).
If you did attend the Air Force's PME school at Kadena, that would have been just up the hill near the Academy--either the Airman NCO Preparatory Course, which is for E4s, or NCO Leadership School, which is for E4s and E5s (Sgts & SSgts).
Not the PACAF NCO Academy--that's for E6s (TSgts) and E7s (MSgts).
If you did attend the Air Force's PME school at Kadena, that would have been just up the hill near the Academy--either the Airman NCO Preparatory Course, which is for E4s, or NCO Leadership School, which is for E4s and E5s (Sgts & SSgts).
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Needs to be an 50/50 mix. Okinawa can cut back on U.S. bases but Japan and the U.S needs to be able to use Okinawa as a strike-force location. My wife is from there and I was station there for 3.4 yrs.at Camp Butler. We need to be on Okinawa and all Americans need to act right while station there.
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