Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Carkeet IV | During a Feb. 12, 2016, luncheon hosted at Camp Kenjun in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan,...... read more read more
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CAMP KENJUN, Japan – Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eric C. Dostie, command sergeant major, United States Army Japan (USARJ), met with his Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) counterparts at JGSDF Western Army headquarters in Camp Kenjun in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 12, 2016.
The brief but productive visit with the JGSDF Western Army’s commanding general, Lt. Gen. Ogawa Kiyoshi, and command sergeant major, Warrant Officer Kimura Hiroomi, punctuated Dostie’s farewell tour in preparation for his return to the U.S. for his next assignment this spring.
“This will likely be the last time I meet these men,” said Dostie, a native of Merrimack, New Hampshire. “It was also the best opportunity to see how far we’ve come and where we go from here.”
After making friendly introductions and boarding a bus at Kumamoto airport, Hiroomi guided Dostie and his team to a memorial dedicated to Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Col. Kunio Nakagawa, commander of the Japanese forces that defended the island of Peleliu during a fierce, 73-day battle between the IJA and U.S. Marines in the fall of 1944. Nakagawa’s elaborate defensive network and stalwart resistance inflicted more than 10,000 allied casualties. He committed ritual suicide Nov. 24, 1944, after his force of approximately 11,000 troops had diminished to a few dozen men. The IJA posthumously promoted Nakagawa to lieutenant general.
“[Nakagawa] and I were both born and raised in Kumamoto Prefecture,” said Hiroomi as he delicately brushed his fingers against the monument’s marble engraving. “I respect his ability to lead and inspire his outnumbered and isolated command … I have tried to emulate many of his leadership qualities throughout my military career.”
Hiroomi and Dostie also discussed how the Battle of Peleliu demonstrates how bitter enemies can later settle their feuds in the name of promoting peace, friendship and prosperity for future generations.
“We paid our respects to a soldier,” said Dostie. “Regardless which country they served, we honor fallen professionals who were dedicated to their mission and the people sworn to carry out that mission. Memorials like this allow us to reflect on the past and appreciate the sacrifices made on both sides to create our current, close relationship.”
The group proceeded to Camp Kenjun where a traditional Japanese style luncheon awaited the distinguished guests. Between honorific toasts and satisfied appetites, Dostie, Hiroomi and Kiyoshi discussed their past successes, present challenges and future opportunities to enhance the bilateral partnership among the JGSDF, JGSDF and their respective noncommissioned officer corps. Most notably, the three leaders proposed plans to enhance their NCO corps’ role in Yama Sakura (YS) 71, one of the world’s largest bilateral training exercises.
“Western Army will host YS 71 this December,” said Dostie. “[Lt. Gen.] Kyoshi and Warrant Officer Kiyoshi sounded genuinely interested in placing more emphasis on the NCO corps’ roles and responsibilities, particularly in relation to staffing and planning.”
“We work very closely with the [U.S.] Marines to develop our amphibious operations,” said Hiroomi. “We currently have several hundred [JGSDF] service members training with Marines in Camp Pendleton … I would like to see that high level of collaboration carry over to U.S. Army and JGSDF service members participating in YS 71.”
The tour concluded with both sides exchanging gifts and well wishes. Dostie presented Hiroomi and Kiyoshi custom made plaques as well as the latest issue of the “NCO Update,” USARJ’s first publication that highlights the achievements of USARJ and the JGSDF NCO Corps.
“Although my time [in Japan] was short, I feel confident that we laid the foundation a stronger NCO corps,” said Dostie. “I look forward to the day when our two armies work so closely together that it becomes second nature."
Dostie plans to meet with the command sergeant majors of every JGSDF regional army prior to relinquishing his command to Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Clark, currently the command sergeant major of the 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Vicenza, Italy.
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2016 17:17 |
| Story ID: | 188839 |
| Location: | CAMP KENJUN, KUMAMOTO, JP |
| Hometown: | MERRIMACK, NH, US |
| Web Views: | 418 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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