Henoko Bay as seen from Camp Schwab, Okinawa, on Sept. 15, 2022. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
A Marine Corps commander on Tuesday suspended recreational swimming at Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa after two Marines were rescued in waters nearby, the second rescue there this summer, according to the Marines.
The missing Marines were found about an hour after sunset Monday, clinging to a buoy a half-mile southeast of Henoko fishing port, a Japanese coast guard spokesman said by phone Tuesday. Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
Camp commander Col. Richard Barclay “has temporarily ceased all recreational water activities aboard Camp Schwab, pending a water safety stand-down and remedial actions,” 3rd Marine Division spokesman Capt. Kazuma Engelkemier said by email Tuesday. He did not know how long the stand-down would last.
The two Marines went swimming at Recon Beach on Schwab with two others around 6 p.m. and were reported missing 45 minutes later, according to the release.
A search party of Marines in an inflatable boat rescued the pair about 90 minutes after they were reported missing, according to a coast guard news release.
The two are with the 4th Marine Regiment at Schwab and were rescued by a boat team with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, according to Engelkemier.
Recon Beach is located between the fishing port and the construction site for a future Marine Corps airfield, according to Engelkemier.
Skies were clear at the time, with 11 mph easterly winds and 5-foot waves.
“This isn’t the first save that 3rd Recon has made in the area recently,” Engelkemier said by phone. “A study will be done to see what is going on.”
Three Marines swimming in the same area on July 18 were rescued by the reconnaissance battalion about a mile southeast of the fishing port after spending more than an hour adrift, according to the Marines and the coast guard at the time.
AloJapan.com