Okinawa City, Japan – Marine Commanders in the Far East are preparing for an island-wide lockdown following the decision to lift the controversial ban on off-base alcohol consumption. The ban was lifted less than a year ago after politicians and military leadership determined that Marines in the region were deemed “good to go.” The recent chaotic weekend that followed, however, was anything but. The weekend, now being referred to as the “Second Battle of Okinawa,” left in its wake a string of violence, destruction, and debauchery that has not been rivaled on the island since the end of World War II.
“I don’t have a clue what the leadership was thinking when they decided to revoke this policy,” 1stSgt Johnson, from 3rd Marine Division, explained. “I’ve got to read Article 15 rights to an entire Company now, including the Company Commander.” The First Sergeant was glad to take a few minutes between reading rights to over 100 Marines in his Company to detail the command response. “Simply put, I didn’t go through two tours of Drill Instructor duty for this.”
A source within III Marine Expeditionary Force, wishing to remain anonymous, informed us that the change was meant to be a gesture of goodwill for the Marines doing the right thing. “We were just trying to throw a bone to all the devil dogs out there. But after the unprecedented amount of international incidents we saw on Friday night, we knew we had to pull the plug.” Our source then shook his head in disgust, “Okinawa Marines just aren’t ready for alcohol yet.”
As predicted by many experts, the shift in policy can be chalked up as a failed experiment. The carnage displayed over the weekend turned the once peaceful Pacific Island into a wasteland indistinguishable from the battlefields of western Iraq and Ebola-ravaged Liberia. Early reports from Japanese Police in Naha indicate that intoxicated Marines accomplished everything from drunken altercations downtown to hijacking the already contentious MV-22 Osprey platform in order to crash it, “kamikaze style,” into a Japanese pre-school.
Many locals are understandably upset with the decision to reinstate liquor consumption on off-base premises. Keisuke Yamashiro, a student at the University of the Ryukyus, took the time to voice his displeasure. “This is a bad situation. Exactly as predicted, American Marines cannot handle to drink alcohol. They begin fights and crash Osprey into schools.” He became visually upset as an American convoy drove by during our interview, “GO HOME G.I.! NO OSPREY!”
But not all local residents are angry about the decision. Since the ban was instituted in October, 2012, many areas outside military bases became the hardest hit financially in Japan. Kenji Miyagi, owner of the “LET’S GET HAPPINESS!” Bar in Kin-cho, outside of Camp Hansen, filled us in on why it was time for a change. “Yes, some Marines make mistakes and crash airplane. But many of them spend entire paycheck at my club. They are good for the community.” It’s hard to deny that the impact on the local market has been far reaching. American alcohol purchases accounted for over 45% of the Kin-cho economy in 2011, the last year that economic data was available.
The silver lining will be hard to gauge for Marine leadership. It is estimated that over 30,000 Marines will receive either Non-Judicial Punishment or Courts Martial for participation in the island-wide festivity. Lance Corporal Smith, of 7th Communications Battalion, was proud to boast of his contribution. “I view my punishment as a campaign ribbon. Chesty Puller himself even said that all ‘real’ Marines have been NJP’d.” No source was readily available for the Chesty Puller quote, but it’s been re-stated so many times that the authenticity is hard to doubt. Ultimately, the effects of this drunken weekend will be far reaching. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, the legacy will forever be etched into the annals of Marine Corps and Okinawa history.
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