Brian McElhiney
@brianmcelhiney.bsky.social
Reporter for Stars and Stripes, covering the U.S. military on Okinawa, Japan. Shares are not endorsements.
The U.S. airman who died Wednesday night at an off-base residence on Okinawa was Staff Sgt. Devin Bandow of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, according to a Friday news release from the 18th Wing.
Kadena mourns logistics airman who died at off-base home on Okinawa
Staff Sgt. Devin Bandow of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron has been identified as the U.S. airman who died at an off-base residence on Okinawa.
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A U.S. airman assigned to Kadena Air Base died late Wednesday at an off-base residence on Okinawa, according to the 18th Wing.
Kadena airman dies at off-base home on Okinawa
U.S. Air Force officials are investigating the death of an airman assigned to Kadena Air Base who was found at an off-base residence on Okinawa.
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The family of a Japanese woman killed this month on Okinawa is demanding punishment equal to the severity of the crime, saying they are struggling through each day with grief, anger and fear.
‘Barely making it through each day’: Okinawa homicide victim’s family speaks out
Family of Okinawa homicide victim Anna Yagi is calling for justice after a U.S. Marine’s arrest, as Japan and the U.S. review troop restrictions amid public criticism.
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Japan’s prime minister criticized the U.S. military response to a Marine’s arrest in an Okinawa homicide investigation Tuesday, calling a monthlong overnight curfew for American troops inadequate.
Japanese prime minister calls US military curfew ‘insufficient’ after Okinawa homicide
Japan’s prime minister criticized the U.S. military response to a Marine’s arrest in an Okinawa homicide investigation.
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U.S. service members on Okinawa will not be prohibited from drinking alcohol during a monthlong overnight curfew that begins Friday, according to the Marine Corps.
No alcohol ban, but US troops on Okinawa face heightened oversight during 30-day curfew
The U.S. military is instituting a month-long overnight curfew between midnight and 5 a.m. for all troops on Okinawa but will not enforce an alcohol ban.
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A 48-hour alcohol ban and other restrictions imposed across U.S. military bases on Okinawa apply only to active-duty troops, the Marine Corps clarified Wednesday, adding that officials have not ruled out extending the alcohol prohibition during a subsequent 30-day curfew.
Okinawa military restrictions apply only to service members, Marines clarify
A 48-hour alcohol ban and new Okinawa base restrictions apply only to active-duty U.S. troops following a fatal criminal case involving a Marine.
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The Marine Corps will deploy two of its newest missile systems to Japan’s westernmost island — about 70 miles from Taiwan — for the first time this month during a large-scale exercise with Japanese forces.
Marines to bring new missile systems closer to Taiwan during Keen Sword exercise
The Marine Corps will deploy NMESIS and MADIS, two of its newest missile systems, to Japan’s westernmost island for the first time during the exercise.
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UPDATE: The U.S. military will halt normal operations and ban alcohol on Okinawa for 48 hours, then impose a monthlong overnight curfew following the arrest of a Marine on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman at a Naha hotel.
US military orders alcohol ban, monthlong curfew amid Okinawa homicide investigation
Marine Corps identifies Okinawa-based combat engineer arrested on suspicion of homicide, as the service works to rebuild trust with local community.
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The Army is expanding its logistics headquarters on Okinawa by about 120 personnel as part of a reorganization aimed at sustaining U.S. forces across the Western Pacific.
Army reactivates Okinawa brigade as Pacific force restructuring continues
Army expands Okinawa logistics hub with 45th Sustainment Brigade, adding 120 personnel to strengthen Indo-Pacific operations and regional readiness.
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The Marine arrested on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman at an Okinawa hotel is a combat engineer from Ohio who joined the service two years ago, the Marine Corps announced Tuesday.
Marine Corps releases service record of lance corporal accused in Okinawa homicide
Marine Corps identifies Okinawa-based combat engineer arrested on suspicion of homicide, as the service works to rebuild trust with local community.
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Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja called Monday for revisions to the agreement governing U.S. military personnel in Japan after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a local woman at a Naha hotel.
Okinawa governor confronts US military over Marine suspected of weekend homicide
Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja called for revisions to the agreement governing U.S. military personnel in Japan after Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard’s arrest.
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Okinawa police arrested a U.S. Marine early Sunday on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings at a hotel in the prefectural capital.
Okinawa police arrest US Marine on suspicion of killing Japanese woman at hotel
Okinawa police arrested a U.S. Marine early on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings at a hotel.
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Okinawa’s new governor has moved to dismantle the government office his predecessors used in their decade-long fight against construction of a new Marine Corps airfield and redirect efforts toward speeding the return of American military property.
New Okinawa governor to dissolve office that fought Marine airfield construction
Okinawa’s new governor moved to dismantle the government office his predecessors used in their fight against construction of a new Marine Corps airfield.
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Chinese research-vessel activity around Japan’s southwestern islands has more than tripled this year, with the Japan coast guard reporting 14 cases of ships conducting surveys in the country’s exclusive economic zone around Okinawa and its remote islands.
Chinese research-vessel activity more than triples around Japan’s southwestern islands
Japan’s coast guard has reported 14 cases of Chinese research ships operating in the country’s exclusive economic zone around Okinawa and its remote islands..
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The U.S. Army will temporarily store its mid-range missile system, Typhon, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa starting in mid-October, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.
US Army to temporarily store advanced missile systems on Okinawa
The U.S. Army will temporarily store its missile systems at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa starting in mid-October, Japan’s Defense Ministry said.
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Guam will need an estimated $11.7 billion in infrastructure and public services over the next 30 years to accommodate a growing U.S. military presence, the island’s governor said this week as she called for greater federal support.
Guam seeks federal help for $11.7 billion impact of US military buildup on island
Guam seeks $11.7B in federal aid as a major U.S. military buildup strains housing, infrastructure and public services across the island.
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A shortage of available homes both on and off U.S. military installations on Okinawa means some newly arriving families may spend up to three months in temporary lodging.
US military families face weeks in hotels amid Okinawa housing shortage
Okinawa military families face housing shortages, spending weeks in hotels as limited on-base and off-base homes drive long wait times.
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A Washington think tank with ties to Trump administration officials is calling for a dramatic retrenchment of U.S. military power in the Western Pacific, including ending defense alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines and adopting a non-intervention policy toward Taiwan.
Think tank with Trump administration ties calls for major US military pullback in Pacific
The recent proposal from Defense Priorities calls for ending defense alliances with longtime partners and adopting a non-intervention policy toward Taiwan.
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Nearly 90 residents of neighboring Chatan town rehearsed an evacuation to higher ground on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Saturday, three months after a tsunami alert prompted the base to open the same escape route for real.
Okinawa air base rehearses tsunami escape route opened for actual alerts 3 years running
Nearly 90 people rehearsed an evacuation to higher ground on Kadena Air Base.
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A Japanese F-15 Eagle made a precautionary landing at an Air Force base on Okinawa late Wednesday after a hydraulic malfunction, the third incident involving the fighter on Okinawa in a month.
Japanese F-15s encounter third malfunction in a month on Okinawa
Japanese F-15 fighter makes precautionary landing at Kadena Air Base after hydraulic malfunction, the third incident involving the fighter in a month.
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Okinawans elected their first governor in 12 years to support the controversial relocation of a Marine Corps airfield, handing former Naha Vice Mayor Genta Koja a landslide victory Sunday over two-term Gov. Denny Tamaki.
Okinawa elects first governor in 12 years to support Marine airfield relocation
Okinawans elected their first governor in 12 years to support the controversial relocation of a Marine Corps airfield.
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A Japanese F-15 made a precautionary landing at Okinawa’s main civilian airport Thursday, disrupting more than a dozen commercial flights in the second incident involving the aircraft there in less than a month.
Japanese F-15 disrupts Okinawa flights in second incident in less than a month
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagle made a precautionary landing at Naha Airport.
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The U.S. military did not confirm or deny a report that American officials identified two U.S. airfields on Okinawa as likely sources of PFAS contamination, while Japanese officials declined to discuss details of the reported exchange.
US, Japan offer few details on report linking Okinawa bases to PFAS contamination
The U.S. military did not confirm or deny a report that American officials identified two U.S. airfields on Okinawa as likely sources of PFAS contamination.
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Japan’s military disposed of more than 11 tons of unexploded ordnance on Okinawa during the past fiscal year, as the former World War II battleground continues to yield thousands of pieces of buried ammunition.
More than 11 tons of World War II ordnance cleared from Okinawa in a year
Japan’s military cleared 20,138 pieces of ordnance weighing 11.47 tons in the past fiscal year, as the former battleground continues to yield buried ammunition.
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Rising prices, jobs and the economy are eclipsing the U.S. military presence as the top concern for Okinawan voters heading into a closely contested gubernatorial election this month, according to a new poll and political analysts.
US bases take back seat to pocketbook concerns in Okinawa governor’s race
Rising prices and jobs eclipse the U.S. military presence as the top concern for voters heading into a closely contested gubernatorial election on Sept. 13.
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Japanese police allege an American tourist set fire to an Okinawa hotel last month intending to kill the 18 other guests inside, including a man later rescued with the help of a U.S. Marine.
American tourist accused of setting Okinawa hotel fire where Marine helped rescue guests
An American tourist faces arson and attempted murder charges for an Okinawa hotel fire wherein a Marine helped rescue guests.
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A Marine accused by Japanese prosecutors of sexual assault appeared impaired and behaved strangely before the incident in March 2025 in a Marine Corps gym bathroom, two witnesses testified in a Japanese court recently.
Marine accused of sexual assault was ‘out of his mind,’ fellow Marine testifies
A Marine accused of sexual assault appeared impaired and behaved strangely before the incident in a base gym bathroom, two witnesses testified.
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A general with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has taken command of the Marine Corps’ only expeditionary force permanently deployed overseas amid heightened security concerns in the Pacific and an ongoing force restructuring.
New commander takes over III MEF during ‘strategic complexity’ in Pacific
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson assumed command of the Marine Corps’ only expeditionary force permanently deployed overseas amid an ongoing force restructuring.
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A jet fuel spill at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in May 2024 released about 14 times more fuel than the U.S. military originally reported, according to a report obtained by a local environmental organization.
Test failure released 720 gallons of jet fuel at Okinawa air base in 2024, report says
A jet fuel spill at Kadena Air Base released about 14 times more fuel than the U.S. military originally reported, according to a report.
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Marine Corps capabilities and tactics are evolving alongside those of the Japanese military as they face increasing threats in the Pacific region, the Marines’ top general in Okinawa said as he prepares to relinquish command.
Marine general on Okinawa in exit interview touts ‘maturity’ of US-Japan alliance
Marine Corps and Japanese military capabilities are evolving as they face increasing threats in the Pacific region, the Marines’ top general in Okinawa said.
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