Marine returns Japanese WWII flag to original family [Image 6 of 14]

HIGASHISHIRAKAWA, GIFU, JAPAN

08.15.2017

Photo by Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

Sayoko Furuta mourns over her brother’s flag at Higashishirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, Aug. 15, 2017. World War II veteran Marvin Strombo traveled 10,000 miles from his quiet home in Montana to personally deliver a flag he had taken from a Japanese soldier during the battle of Saipan. The heirloom was given to Sadao Yasue before he departed to the war from his family and village members. It was adorned with the signatures of all his loved ones as a symbol of good fortune. The flag is the only thing the Yasue family has been able to retrieve since their brother departed 73 years ago. The reunion was made possible by the Obon Society of Astoria, Oregon. The ceremony also took place during the Obon holiday in Japan, a holiday dedicated to going back to the place of origin of one’s family and spending time with one another. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. N.W. Huertas)

• Date Taken: 08.15.2017
• Date Posted: 08.15.2017 06:06
• Photo ID: 3675027
• VIRIN: 170815-M-RH401-786
• Resolution: 1555x2622
• Size: 532.81 KB
• Location: HIGASHISHIRAKAWA, GIFU, JP