Photo By Sgt. Brennan Beauton | Yonekichi Shinzato, chairman for the Okinawa prefecture, and Gov. Denny Tamaki,...... read more read more
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IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, Japan – Okinawa and U.S. officials gathered to remember casualties of World War II, and specifically a light house keeper and his family, during the annual Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Service April 21.
Seventy-four years ago, during the Battle of Okinawa, a lighthouse keeper and eight of his family members were killed by an air raid at the same location the ceremony was held. Wreaths were laid by Okinawa and U.S. officials as well as descendants of the late lighthouse keeper.
After the ceremony, incense were burned for ceremonial purposes.
“We came out to represent the U.S. forces and to show that we care about the family,” said 1st Lt. Timothy Steinberg, the Ie Shima Training Facilty officer in charge. “We came to pay our respects in hope to build our relationship with the local community.”
Japan Coast Guard Denny Tamaki, the governor of the Okinawa prefecture, Hideki Shimabukuro, the mayor of Ie Shima Village, Cmdr. Masaki Kasai, the commander of the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters Japan Coast Guard, and U.S. Marine Col. Darin J. Clarke, acting deputy commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, were in attendance for the Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Ceremony.
“The ceremony was for the lighthouse keeper and his family,” said Kasai. “The lighthouse keeper was killed during the war. We want to maintain his spirit for the future safety of boats traveling in the area.”
Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2019 22:20 |
| Story ID: | 318916 |
| Location: | IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 273 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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