Kaori Tanahara
Lance Cpl. Jacob A. McKinney took a deep breath and then had a personal moment of silence after finding “MCKINNEY M C,” his great-grandfather’s name, engraved on one of the 126 Cornerstone of Peace memorials at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City March 10.
More than 240,000 names of those killed during the Battle of Okinawa are carved on the memorial stones, which were erected to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle. Of those, approximately 14,000 were American service members. McKinney’s great-grandfather was one of them.
“It’s kind of closure,” said McKinney. “I had heard about him from my grandpa, but I never saw him. This is a relief to finally get to see his name here. I’m glad that I got to see the island where he fought.”
Ninety-two Marines from Motor Transportation Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, including McKinney, visited the park as part of their unit‘s professional military education program, which aims to increase military knowledge and improve leadership skills.
Before arriving at the park, the Marines had stopped at Hacksaw Ridge, the Battle of Okinawa
historical display on Camp Kinser, and the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, gaining
insight into one of the most devastating periods in Okinawa’s history.
Learning about part of Okinawa’s history also gave them insight into current aspects of the
island. “Knowing the history really helps when trying to understand Okinawa and its people and their attitudes toward the military,” said Cpl Greg Mann. “I was especially moved by the Cornerstone of Peace because rather than memorializing one side, it focused on saying we need peace instead of war. I really liked that.”
Marine units across Okinawa regularly travel to battle sites as part of their professional military education activities, according to Mitsuko Igei, a coordinator for the Marine Corps Community Services’ “Tours Plus” office. Since 1995, Tours Plus has provided guides and transportation to units making battle sites tours. In 2007 alone, 53 units conducted such trips.
Chris Majewski, who first came to Okinawa as a Marine corporal in 1993, has been leading those tours since 1996. “Anytime you learn something new about a place, it changes the way you view it,” said Majewski. “If it doesn’t, then you’re not really looking at it. The same goes for these tours. By learning about such a significant part of Okinawa’s history, it can’t help but change the way a person looks at the island, its people and culture.”
McKiney was one such Marine. “When I first got here, I thought this was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been,” he said. “But coming on this tour helps you understand there is
much more to this island than just its beauty.”
Most importantly, perhaps, are the lessons to be learned by studying the island’s past. “It’s almost a cliché,” said Majewski, “but if you don’t learn from history, you just repeat it.”
LCpl Ron Manning, echoed that thought. “The lessons we learn from the past teach us what we
need to do to make a better future,” he said. “And that’s what all of us want.”
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