Marine Headline News
Marines,
sailors dance, sing at local hospital
URASOE
CITY, OKINAWA, Japan
— There is a saying that the most precious
gift you can give someone is your time. Time is what eight
Marines and sailors from Camp Kinser gave to the patients of
Dojin Hospital’s geriatric intensive care unit, July 15.
“Normally the residents here don’t have visitors,” said
Lt j.g. John Keith, battalion chaplain, Headquarters and
Service Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group. “So the
Marines and sailors came up here and made their day a whole
lot better.”
Showing
off their dance moves and singing voices, the servicemembers
performed to several songs including “The Hokey Pokey” and
“Megumi no Hito,” a Japanese pop song.
According
to Keith, the interaction between the servicemembers and the
elderly patients led to many smiles, making the visit a
positive experience for both groups.
“Community
relations like this helps servicemembers get experience
outside of what they do on a daily basis,” Keith said.
“This gives them a chance to put a face to the outside
community and allows them to get up close and personal and
makes them feel like they are doing something worthwhile.”
For
Sgt. Michael T. McAleer, tactical network specialist,
operations, 3rd FSSG, who recently came to Okinawa, it was his
first time participating in a community relations project.
“I
decided to come out here because I am a people person,”
McAleer said. “I like to go out, see the community and help
where I can. I have been blessed with a lot of fortunes and
good things, and I like to give back when I can.”
Another
newcomer to Okinawa, Lance Cpl. Aaron J. Gentili, supply
administration clerk, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Force Service
Support Group, had been on Okinawa just three days and
couldn’t wait to start exploring his new surroundings.
“I
wanted to get out and see some of Japan, not just stuff people
normally do like go to bars,” Gentili said. “I wanted to
see the culture.
“When
you are in someone else’s country, it opens up your eyes to
what you are doing in your life. It’s humbling putting forth
the effort to sing songs and bring smiles to the faces of so
many people,” Gentili said.
The
servicemembers were not the only ones gaining something from
their visit to the hospital.
“Many
of these patients experienced the (Battle of Okinawa), and it
is a great opportunity for them to make a connection with the
good-hearted Americans who come here and volunteer to
entertain them,” said Michiko Gushiken, head nurse,
geriatric intensive care unit, Dojin Hospital.
“It
is important to have the communication and friendship between
the two so there is a healing and the patients feel better.”
URASOE CITY, OKINAWA, Japan —
Marines, sailors and nurses dance to the “Hokey Pokey” for
patients at the Dojin Hospital geriatric intensive care unit
here July 15. Eight servicemembers from Camp Kinser visited
the hospital to bring smiles and good times, while building a
solid relationship between the U.S. military and local
civilian population. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl.
Chris Korhonen) (Released)
URASOE CITY, OKINAWA, Japan — While
dancing to the “Hokey Pokey,” Lance Cpl. Aaron J. Gentili
shakes his right hand all about while entertaining patients at
the Dojin Hospital geriatric intensive care unit here July 15.
Servicemembers from Camp Kinser visited the hospital to bring
smiles and good times, while building a solid relationship
between the U.S. military and local civilian population.
Gentili is a supply administration clerk with 4th Supply
Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group. (U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Lance Cpl. Chris Korhonen) (Released)
