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CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- First responders with the Camp Schwab Fire Station were recognized by Marine Corps Installations Pacific for saving the lives of seven Marines on April 2.
On Feb. 15, the Camp Schwab Fire Station received an emergency call, alerting first responders that seven Marines were stranded two kilometres off the ocean shore while kayaking recreationally near Ginoza, Japan. The emergency personnel deployed two jet skies to rescue the Marines.
“This could have been a great tragedy for this base and its community,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William Bowers, commanding general of MCIPAC. “You all responded quickly, confidently and professionally.”
Bowers presented the 11 first responders with a Commanding General Safety Award challenge coin to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the job.
“It felt great that Brig. Gen. Bowers came to give us these coins because things like this don’t happen very often,” said Yasunori Makishi, a fire captain with Camp Schwab Fire Station and native to Uruma City. “We went out to do our jobs and didn't think twice about it.”
“As I read through this list of names, I noticed that every first responder has served for more than 20 years at the fire department,” Bowers said. “Between all of the emergency personnel in this room, hundreds of years have been dedicated to saving lives and keeping the community safe from harm.”
With summer approaching and an increase of water activities, raising awareness in the importance of water safety is a priority for the fire station and MCIPAC. Unfortunately, this is the fire departments fourth water related emergency this year, however, they remain diligently in their efforts to minimize water-related incidents.
“Every summer we get notified about at least five water emergencies,” said Makishi. “We tell everyone that if you go into the water, be safe and have a plan. We want everyone to have fun this summer and enjoy the island, but we just ask them to do so safely.”
Thanks to the first responders’ training and years of experience, all seven of the Marines’ lives were saved that day.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2021 01:54 |
| Story ID: | 393411 |
| Location: | CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camp Schwab first responders presented with challenge coins from MCIPAC, by LCpl Zachary Larsen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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