U.S. Army, Battle of Okinawa veteran visits cave where he saved lives [Image 3 of 3]

FUTENMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.09.2014

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Takejiro Higa, seated, discusses his experiences Dec. 9 with Marines, who are stationed here. Higa, a U.S. Army and Battle of Okinawa veteran, returned to the cave where he assisted local non-combatants to safety during the battle 69 years ago. “I did my job as an American citizen soldier,” said Higa. “I was able to help non-combatant Okinawa citizens with whom I grew up with for 14 years, and I feel proud to have helped saved the lives of both Americans and Okinawa citizens.” Higa was invited by the Okinawa Prefectural Government to attend a symposium at the Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman. Higa was born in Waipahu, Hawaii, and moved to Okinawa, Japan, at the age of two, and he returned to the U.S. at the age of 16 before becoming a soldier in the U.S. Army. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/released)

• Date Taken: 12.09.2014
• Date Posted: 12.11.2014 20:35
• Photo ID: 1697524
• VIRIN: 141209-M-DM081-580
• Resolution: 1920x2880
• Size: 3.44 MB
• Location: FUTENMA, OKINAWA, JP