WEBVTT

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(triumphant music)

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^- Thanks for joining us,

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^I'm Senior Airman Dhruv Gopinath.

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^The loss of a loved one transcends time,

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^but to gain a piece of your family back

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^after 73 years, is priceless.

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^Marine Corporal Kate Busto

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^reports from Gifu Prefecture,

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^for United States Marine and World War II veteran,

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^Marvin Strombo, kept his promise to bring back an item

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^the Yasue family lost during the battle of Saipan.

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- [Narrator] It was a hot, humid, and rainy day

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^in Gifu Prefecture, Japan,

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^and Marvin Strombo had set foot back on Japanese soil

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^for the first time in 73 years.

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Marvin served with 2nd Marine Division during the war,

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a main effort during the battle of Okinawa

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to the Mariana Islands campaign in the Asia Pacific.

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It was during these island campaigns

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where he made a powerful connection with Japan

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that has lasted since.

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- We went out on patrol in the girupan

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ahead of the American lines,

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and we got to the Japanese lines,

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^but then I got to looking around

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^and I lost contact with my squad, and there I was.

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I was on the Japanese line all by myself, I thought.

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But then I got to walking around

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and I saw the soldiers, Japanese soldier laying there.

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I had a hard time taking their flag,

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because that means a lot to them, but I finally did.

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And I made a promise that I'd return it.

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- [Narrator] Marvin stayed faithful to his word,

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beginning his journey back to the Land of the Rising Sun.

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- I've done something real good to the family.

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I can see that it made them quite happy.

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So that's the main thing.

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It was a very emotional moment, really.

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- [Narrator] Reporting from Gifu Prefecture, Japan,

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I'm Marine Corporal Kate Busto.

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- That's it for this news break.

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Thanks for watching.

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(triumphant music)