III MEF Marines Visit Chatan-Daini Kindergarten

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kelsey Dornfeld | U.S. Marine Corps GySgt. Raetheon W. Mitchell, a motor transportation maintenance chief at Garrison Mobile Equipment, Marine Corps Base Smedley Butler, III Marine Expeditionary Force, builds block towers with a student at the Chatan-Daini Kindergarten during a visit to the school in Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2016. The Marines were able to show the local children the similarities between U.S. and Japanese cultures through a variety of games and books. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelsey Dornfeld)  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

10.27.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Kelsey Dornfeld 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan — U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force visit a local Okinawa Kindergarten to reach out to the community in Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2016. The Marines were able to show the local children the similarities between the U.S. and Japanese cultures through a variety of games and books.
The III MEF conducts many events with the Okinawa people throughout the year. They visit the Chatan-Daini Kindergarten three times a year, according to Hiroko Tomimura, the community relations specialist for Camp Foster.
“Japanese kids are just like American kids,” said Maj. Eve Baker a public affairs officer with III Marine Expeditionary Force. “They had just as much energy.”
The children were able to see people from a different culture and the similarities with their own culture. The children and Marines may not look the same but they could still have fun together, according to Baker, from New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I think more people should get out here and take advantage of these volunteer opportunities,” said Baker. “It’s a lot of fun for us and the kids in any community we are volunteering in.”

• Date Taken: 10.27.2016
• Date Posted: 10.27.2016 07:33
• Story ID: 213049
• Location: OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US