EODMU 5, Dive Locker Sailors Host Holiday Party For Children
Story and photo by Joseph Schmitt, CFAY Public Affairs

EODMU 5 Detachment, Japan and SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Navy Diver Locker Sailors pose with children and faculty members from Shinsen Gakuen Dec. 6. The visit was a part of a community service project for the children who got to see where the Sailors work and to attend a Christmas party.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 5 Detachment Japan and Ship Repair Facility - Japan Regional Maintenance Center Yokosuka Navy Dive Locker Sailors hosted children from Shinsen Gakuen on base and to visit where the Sailors work Dec. 6. The visit was a part of a Christmas party community service project for the children.

The orphanage itself has a history with the base. It’s one of the places where Yokosuka Sailors can volunteer to clean or paint. When the Sailors volunteer, they get to see where the children live and go to school but on this tour, the children got to see what life is like for some of the Sailors.

“We started our relationship over 50 years ago,” said Fumi Iizuka, the director of the school. “These children have been coming here not only during Christmas time but also summer picnic parties and graduation parties. The children don’t always get to make good memories from their childhood but going to base can provide very special memories for the children.”

One memory that the children will be taking with them was EOD robots “Talon” and “Pacbot.” The robots are remotely controlled and are used to remove or destroy hazardous material or explosives. The student got to drive the robots around using the on board video cameras.

“We wanted to demonstrate some EOD equipment to the children,” Yeoman 2nd Class Adrian Bracamonte, who helped coordinate the tour. “They also got to see the dog handlers. We got to show them a lot of what goes on over here and it looked like they were having a lot of fun with it.”

Following the robot demonstration, the children went inside to see where the divers work and what systems they use to accomplish a mission or how they train to maintain their skills.

“We showed them the pressure chamber and our other equipment,” said Navy Diver 2nd Class Daniel Bradley, one of the Navy divers. “I think that was great because we do work with Japanese civilians. So, maybe this could give them an idea of what they can do when they grow up.”

After the visit to the Diver’s workplace, the students were brought to the Community Readiness Center for a Christmas party.

“I think that the best part was getting to know American culture, how they spend Christmas and what Christmas is, and not to learn from a book, but to share time with Americans,” said Iizuka. “I really am thankful to the command for continuing the relationship with the children and I thank each of them for the very warm heartfelt welcome they gave to the children.”

The Sailors laughed along with the students and enjoyed spending part of their day with them.

“If the commands have the opportunity, they should definitely consider inviting the kids to see where they work because it was awesome to see the kids playing and experiencing what we do here,” said Bracamonte.

At the end, the Sailors waved as the children boarded the bus and invited them back next year.