Camp Schwab

Camp Schwab is a United States Marine Corps camp located in northeastern Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, that is currently home to the 4th Marine Regiment and other elements of the 28,000 American servicemen based on the island. The Camp was dedicated in 1959, in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Albert E. Schwab, who was killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa.

Camp Schwab
Okinawa, Japan
Gate 1 of Camp Schwab
TypeMilitary base
Site information
Controlled byUSMC
Site history
In use1959- present
Garrison information
Garrison3rd Reconnaissance Battalion

Combat Assault Battalion

4th Marine Regiment

Camp Schwab primarily located in the city of Nago (99%); a small part of the base is located in the village of Ginoza (1%).

The unit conducts live-fire training and coordination with other units.

Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

Ourawan bay and Camp Schwab

There have been various plans to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma—first off the island and most recently to Camp Schwab—however, as of November 2014 the future of any relocation is uncertain with the election of base-opponent Onaga as Okinawa governor.[1] Onaga won against the incumbent Nakaima who had earlier approved landfill work to move the base to Camp Schwab in Henoko. Onaga has promised to veto the landfill work needed for the new base to be built and insisted Futenma should be moved outside of Okinawa.[2]

Incidents

1971: Marine Scott Parton at Camp Schwab on Okinawa near Agent Orange Barrel (second from right)

Reports indicate that Agent Orange was stored and used at Camp Schwab and other US bases on Okinawa in the 1960s. The US government denies that the toxin was present at the base and the Japanese government has declined to investigate.[3][4]

On 24 March 2009 a Marine was killed and two others injured in an explosion near the base. The Marine Corps announced that the Marines were part of an explosive ordnance disposal team preparing unexploded ordnance for disposal when the explosion occurred.[5]

References

  1. "Okinawa US base move in doubt after governor elections". BBC. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. "U.S. base relocation opponent elected Okinawan governor". Japan Today. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. Mitchell, Jon (13 August 2011). "Agent Orange buried on Okinawa, vet says". Japan Times. Okinawa. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  4. Mitchell, Jon, "U.S. Agent Orange activist brings message of solidarity to Okinawa", The Japan Times, 15 September 2012, p. 14
  5. The Washington Post, "Okinawa Blast Kills U.S. Marine", 25 March 2009, p. 10.

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