I apologize from the bottom of my heart. The bases have become key facilities from which U.S. troops deploy in Asia. The United States has promised to relocate some troops to other bases, if suitable locations can be found, but the Japanese government has long preferred to keep the bases on Okinawa. First, because the Marine Corps is so heavily oriented toward infantry and other combat jobs, personnel in those units tend to be younger and have more run-ins with authorities. Also, Marines on Okinawa are far from home, sometimes for the first time in their lives.
Married personnel leave spouses in the United States.
Retired Marine Col. Gary Anderson, who commanded the Marines' Camp Hansen on Okinawa from 1996 through 1998, said he doesn't think the crime rate among Marines there is unusually high, but he said every incident is publicized by Japanese politicians opposed to the U.S. military presence. Full Asia Coverage Latest World News Special Report Military Columnist Washington Post reporter Steve Vogel covers local and regional military issues. His Military Matters column runs every other week. News Jobs AP Shopping Archives Entertain.