CAMP KINSER, Japan — Seventeen members from the Urasoe City Chamber of Commerce toured Camp Kinser Aug. 10. The tour was hosted by camp services and led by Col. John E. Kasperski, the camp commander for Camp Kinser, Paul E. Newman, the deputy camp commander of Camp Kinser, and Ichino Kuba, the community relations specialist for the camp.

The chamber members toured the camp to gain a better understanding of Kinser’s function, according to Newman.

“With Camp Kinser being in Urasoe City, we see it every day,” said Asao Ogimi, a member of the chamber. “The tour was important. It gave us an opportunity to make an opinion on the U.S. military for ourselves.”

The tour began with a welcome aboard brief, followed by visits to various locations on the camp including family housing, the bachelor enlisted quarters, the mess hall, Kinser Elementary School, the cook-chill facility and the Battle of Okinawa Historical Organization’s Display.

“There are so many moving parts on a logistics camp,” said Newman. “Behind the gate, there is so much that goes on they don’t know about. We wanted to give them an opportunity to see it all.”

During the tour, the chamber members were given briefs at each location and were encouraged to ask questions.

“I thought the display told the story of the Battle of Okinawa very well,” said Ogimi. “I was most interested in what many people on the camp call ‘warehouse road.’ That road was once a runway for the Imperial Japanese army during World War II.”

Chamber members were also given an opportunity to see how Marines live in the BEQ and family housing.

“I visited Camp Kinser for the first time five years ago,” said Toshio Takara, a member of the chamber. “I am impressed that young Marines are well disciplined to keep their room so clean. It reflects the high quality of the U.S. Marine Corps.”

While at the school, chamber members visited the culture room to get a better understanding of how American children are taught about different cultures.

“It is important for them to understand how American schools operate because we are guests in their country,” said Nicholas E. Peters, the administrative officer for Kinser Elementary School and Lester Middle School. “Seeing how we teach our children lets them know we care about other cultures.”

The tour concluded at the mess hall, where Kasperski thanked the members for coming and emphasized the hard work Marines and Okinawan employees put into keeping the camp functional every day.

“Our Marine and Okinawan brothers and sisters do a great job every day,” said Kasperski, who also serves as commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “I thank all of [Urasoe City Chamber of Commerce] for coming out and getting a better understanding of what goes on behind the fence.”

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