WEBVTT

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(dramatic music)

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- Thanks for joining us, I'm Tech Sergeant Brian McGee.

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- And I'm Sergeant Paul Williams.

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^Marines on Iwakuni show us the secret to maintaining

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^a constant battle rhythm during emergency contingencies.

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^Marine Corporal Emily Kirk is on the ground with more.

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- [Emily] For the first time in 728 days,

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expeditionary air field systems technicians

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maintain the M-31 Marine Corps

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expeditionary aircraft arresting gear.

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This maintenance happens every two years.

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^- We see this gear every day,

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^but we don't get this in depth every day.

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^So, they get to see more, the inner workings,

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^and there's a lot of small things

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that we have to do during this maintenance.

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- [Emily] Reporting from Marine Corps Air Station

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Iwakuni, Japan, I'm Marine Corporal Emily Kirk.

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^- US service members hail from

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^various locations around the world.

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^The Third Marine Division's top enlisted Marine

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^visited his home on Guam for the island's national holiday.

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^I had a chance to meet with him in the island of Merizo.

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^- [Brian] Japanese forces occupied Guam for

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^more than three years during World War II,

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^until U.S. Marines liberated the island in 1944.

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This dark era inspired generations

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of young Chamorros to serve in the U.S. military.

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The top enlisted Marine for the Third Marine Division

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shared his family's military history.

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^- To be the division Sergeant Major of the division

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^that landed and liberated my island,

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^that was really important.

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^But I would say the most important thing is the legacy.

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My father was a Marine, Joe Santiago,

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he was a Gunnery Sergeant and also my son.

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Two deployments with Third Marine Division.

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Three generations serving in Third Marine Division,

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so that's pretty significant.

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- [Brian] As the top enlisted marine in the very same

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division that liberated the island 73 years ago,

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Sergeant Major Santiago carries the pride of his culture

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wherever he goes, but never forgets the sacrifices

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made along the way by so many from

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a special place in the Pacific.

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Reporting from Guam, I'm Technical Sergeant Brian McGhee.

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^- This is the second year Sergeant Major Santiago

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^has participated in Guam's Liberation Day

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^as the Sergeant Major for the Third Marine Division.

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That does it for this news break.

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- Thanks for watching.