List of Main Crimes Committed and Incidents concerning US Military on Okinawa - Excerpts
Since the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in 1972, approximately 4,700
crimes have been committed by U.S. millitary personnel. The
relatively serious crimes and incidents concerning U.S. military,
from which Okinawan people have suffered are extracted below.
[Translation from Okinawa Times, Oct.12,1995]
Before the Reversion
Aug.6,1948
Ammunition exploded while the U.S. Navy was loading the bomb stored
during W.W.II into cargo-ship at Kabira New Peer. The explosion killed 106
and wounded 76 passengers leaving a near-by ferryboat.
Aug.2,1950
A refuel tank was dropped on the yard of a private house from the U.S. Army
aircraft flying over Yomitan Village and exploded, killing one and
injuring three.
Oct.20,1951
A fuel tank was dropped on a private house from a U.S. airforce fighter in
Makishi, Naha. It burned the house totally, killing six residents.
Sep.4,1955
A six-year-old girl, living in Ishikawa City was found murdered in Kadena
area. A U.S. sergeant was arrested and sentenced to death in December.
Rycom Compensation Examining Committee informed the bereaved family of the
payment of $2000 compensation, one eighth of the amount claimed. Later, the
sentence was reduced to 45 years' heavy labor servitude.
Mar.8, 1956
A 28-year-old man crossing the road in Urasoe Village was run over and
killed by a Military Police (MP) car. A U.S. serviceman driving the police
car was judged 'not guilty'.
Jun.30, 1959
A U.S. Airforce fighter crashed on the schoolhouse of Miyanomori Elementary
School in Ishikawa City, killing seventeen pupils and teachers and injuring
over 100.
Oct.28,1959
A 23-year-old woman employee of a club for foreigners was strangled to
death in Center Street of Koza City. Two days later, a 24-year-old U.S.
serviceman was arrested, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment the
next year.
Dec.26,1959
A farmer, fifty-five-year-old woman picking up used bullets, was shot to
death by a U.S. sergeant in Camp Hansen of Kin Town. The sergeant testified
that he took her for a wild boar. U.S. Army decided to pay $2700
compensation to the bereaved family. The sergeant was judged 'not guilty'
by court-martial the next year.
Dec.9,1960
An American hunter shot a 73-year-old man to death in Miwa Village
mistaking him for an animal.
Feb.1,1961
A twenty-year-old man was shot to death while he was picking up used
bullets in the U.S. Army firing training area of Iye Island. U.S.
Military Police judged this case a "self-injuring deed".
Jul.11,1961
An 47-year-old employee was murdered with an edged tool in a bar in Henoko,
Kushi Village. Two marines, both 20 years old, confessed their crime and
one of them was imprisoned for life.
Sep.19,1961
A U.S. serviceman hit four pupils and escaped in Koza City; nine- and
ten-year-old schoolgirls were killed. The court-martial sentenced the
accused to one-rank demotion and six months' confinement to barracks.
Dec.7,1961
A car driven by U.S. Army jet fighter crashed on a private house in
Kawasaki, Gushikawa Village; six citizens killed or injured. U.S. Army
paid $623 compensation to the bereaved family.
Dec.20,1962
A U.S. transport aircraft crashed on a private house in Yara of Kadena
Town; seven citizens were killed and eight were seriously or slightly
injured.
Feb.28,1963
A 12-year-old junior high school boy on the way home from school was hit
and killed by a car driven by a 20-year-old U.S. serviceman on Root 1 in
Naha City. This criminal was judged 'not guilty' by court-martial in May,
which caused a prefecture-wide protest movements.
Jul.3,1963
A 22-year-old woman employee of a diner, was strangled to death. A
19-year-old U.S. Marine confessed his crime and was sentenced to eighteen
years' imprisonment by court-martial.
Jan.21,1964
A taxi driver was attacked by a couple of U.S. Military servicemen on the
road of Kin Village and was robbed of his taxi.
Aug.10,1964
A 32-year-old man, gathering sea shells on Kuwae beach, Chatan Town, was
hit by a stray bullet, and died three days later. U.S. Army paid $2000
compensation to his family, though the family had claimed $6000.
Jan.24,1965
A 28-year-old woman working at a bar for foreigners was murdered at her
house in Kin Village. A U.S. serviceman was examined as a suspect by U.S.
Army detective organization.
Jun.11,1965
A small size trailer dropped from a U.S. bomber on Oyashi of Yomitan
Village during bombing exercise, killing an eleven-year-old schoolgirl.
The U.S. Army announced that it was dropped mistakenly. The compensation
paid was slightly more than $4,700.
May 20,1966
A jet fighter failed in taking off Kadena base, hit and killed a
33-year-old man walking on the road outside the base. The family was
compensated $14,000,ĦĦone fifth of the amount claimed.
May 20,1966
A taxi driver was stabbed to death in Naha City. Okinawa Prefectural
Police concluded according to the eye-witnesses that the crime was
committed by a U.S. serviceman. The accused was finally kept in custody
by U.S. Army.
Jul.22,1966
A 34-year-old woman was found murdered in Shinkaichi, Kin Town. U.S. Army
arrested a 19-year-old military deserter as a suspect.
Dec.3,1966
A man trying to arbitrate a quarrel between U.S. servicemen was shot to
death in Business Center Street of Koza City.
Jan.5.1967
An Okinawan guard was robbed of a pistol by two U.S. servicemen in the camp
of Misato Village. Two U.S. servicemen, after committing burglary and injury
in Koza City and in Naha City, were arrested by U.S. Army.
Jan.24,1967
A 32-year-old woman employee was strangled to death in her diner in
Shinkaichi, Kin Village. A 19-year-old U.S. Marine was arrested by the
U.S. Army and was sentenced to 35 years' heavy labor servitude by
court-martial.
Mar.23,1967
A 56-year-old worker was run over and killed by a U.S. Army trailer in Naha
naval port. The driver left the dead body alone .
May 4,1967
Rejected oil of U.S. Army was found discharged into four wells in Yara,
Kadena Town.
Jul.24,1967
A 31-year-old taxi driver was stabbed to death in Urasoe Village. Futenma
Police station arrested a U.S. serviceman and handed him over to U.S. Army.
Aug.2,1967
A 16-year-old high school boy running for his school activity was hit and
killed by a U.S. Army vehicle in Enobi, Gushikawa Village. AĦĦ21-year-old
U.S. serviceman driving it ran away but was arrested later. He was
sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor and discharge from
his military service.
Nov.8,1967
A four-year-old girl was run over and killed by a crane of U.S. Army in
Gushikawa Village.
Jan.30,1968
A 35-five-year-old maid was killed in a barrack of U.S. Army. A joint
investigation meeting of military and civilian police was held on April 1.
Jun.20,1968
A 23-year-old woman employee of diner was raped and heavily injured on
the beach of Ginoza Village by a MP on duty.
Nov.19,1968
A B-52 bomber crashed on Kadena Air Base, injuring four residents.
Jul.8,1969
A gas leaking accident happened on the base. Twenty-four army staff members
disposed were hospitalized. U.S. Army confessed the disposition of
poisonous gas weapons.
Mar.12,1970
Sixty-two pistols were stolen in the base of Henoko, Nago City.
May 28,1970
A 21-year-old woman employee of the army was assaulted on the way to work
by a U.S. serviceman in the army post of Yafuso, Urasoe Village. The
accused was judged 'not guilty' by court-martial due to lack of evidence .
May 30,1970
A 16-year-old high school girl was assaulted and was stabbed with a knife
to serious injury in Gushikawa Village. A 22-year-old U.S. serviceman was
arrested by Koza Police and U.S. Army. The criminal was sentenced to three
years' imprisonment. Villagers criticized it saying, "the punishment is too
light".
Dec.7,1970
On the retrial of a 21-year-old U.S. serviceman, who had been on trial by
court-martial under the suspicion of hitting a 51-year-old woman and
running away in Itoman Town since September of the previous year, was judged
not guilty. U.S. Army decided to pay $17,000 compensation.
Dec.20,1970
The traffic accident caused by a U.S. serviceman raised a disturbance among
the crowd in Koza City. 73 U.S. Army vehicles were burned.
Jan.13,1971
Due to the transportation of U.S. Army poison gas, five thousand people
living along the route evacuated.
April 23,1971
A 23-year-old woman employee of a diner was struck with a stone to
death by a U.S. serviceman in Ohyama, Ginowan City. The suspect was
arrested by U.S.Army but was judged 'not guilty' due to lack of
evidence.
May 1,1971
A 42-year-old woman was stabbed to death at her home of Kin. US-Japan
Joint investigation was pursued on the assumption that the crime was
committed by U.S. servicemen.
Oct. 2,1971
A 40-year-old taxi driver was found murdered on the farm road in Mihara,
Ishikawa City.
Apr.10,1972
A 25-year-old woman employee of a diner near Awase golf course in
Kita-Nakagusuku Village.
After the Reversion
Aug.4,1972
A 37-year-old woman employee was strangled to death by an 18-year-old
U.S. servicemanĦĦat a bar in Ojana, Ginowan City. In the following year,
the serviceman was convicted to be imprisoned for life.
Sep. 20,1972
At Camp Hansen, a 37-year-old Japanese military employee was shot to death
with a rifle by a U.S. serviceman. It was the first murder by shooting
within the base after the Reversion. The accused denied the intent to murder at
the first trial. On April '74, Naha Local Court gave a decision of "not
guilty", judging the accused to be non compos. The accused was accordingly
sent back to U.S.A. and was taken to the Naval Hospital.
Sep.26,1972
It was revealed that a U.S. serviceman who allegedly killed a 50-year-old
Japanese man by running over had been sentenced of "no guilty".
Dec.1,1972
A 19-year-old U.S. serviceman strangled a 22-year-old woman in Koza City.
The serviceman was sentenced to be imprisoned for life at the court of first
instance.
Mar.18,1973
A 43-year-old woman employee of a diner was strangled to death at
her apartment in Koza City. The city police office and the U.S. Army
jointly concluded that the murder was conducted by a U.S. serviceman.
Apr.12,1973
A 73-year-old woman picking up bullets at Blue Beach, Kin Village was
run over by a tank and killed. The U.S. Army notified the Prefectural
Office of exercising the primary jurisdiction asserting that the incident
occurred in line of duty.
Jul.10,1974
A 20-year-old man mowing in the military firing range at Iye Village w
as shot by two U.S. servicemen. He was wounded at his left hand requiring
three weeks to heel. The U.S. Army first declared the waiver of jurisdiction
regarding it as an incident off duty. But, it reversed the decision later:
the U.S. Airforce Commander at Okinawa notified the Naha District
Prosecutors Office that "U.S. side will exercise the jurisdiction because
it is a crime committed in line of duty."
Oct.23,1974
A 52-year-old woman manager of a Cafe at Henoko, Nago City was, while
sleeping at her cafe, hit to death with a cement block by a U.S. serviceman
intending robbery.
Dec. 1,1974
At Wakasa, Naha City, a 24-year-old man on his way home was shot by a
U.S. serviceman intending robbery and got injured at his right hand.
Apr.19,1975
Two junior high school girls were raped by a 21-year old U.S. serviceman
in Kin Village. This incident became an object of public concern, and the
accused was handed over to Japan side after he was indicted. He was later
sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Apr.23,1975
Sexivalent chromium ( a kind of heavy metal, a powerful oxidizer) was
detected to be discharged from Maki-minato U.S. base. Later, a testimony by
a Japanese ex-employee revealed that five people had been sacrificed.
Feb.26,1976
A 40-year-old worker at Maki-minato supply base got seriously injured
as a suspect case of poisoning by methyl bromide. Two months later a doctor
in Mainland Japan announced that the injury was caused by methyl bromide
poisoning.
Dec.29,1978
A U.S. servicemen at the exercise in the Henoko Camp, Nago City made wild
firing of machine guns toward Kyoda Village. Shot holes were detected at
private houses.
Aug.2,1979
Some bullets, suspected to be from U.S. military machine guns, were shot
into a water tank of a pigsty at Sukuda, Nago City. The U.S. Commander
expressed his regret in May.
Nov.5,1979
A U.S. army signal bomb dropped onto the garden of a private house in
Kin Village. The U.S. army announced that it was just a mischief by a U.S.
serviceman.
Oct.1,1980
An observation aircraft crashed on the runway of Futenma Marine Base,
killing one member of the crew.
Apr.21,1981
A Marine parachute exercising at Yomitan auxiliary airport fell near
Furugen Elementary School, causing a turmoil among the pupils at the
morning meeting.
Mar.8,1982
A 48-year-old jobless man was found to be killed in the graveyard in Kin
Town. Ishikawa Police Office arrested a 20-year old U.S. serviceman in the
base with the permission of the U.S. Investigation Headquarters. Naha
District Court ordered the accused in March, 1983 to pay forty million yen.
Aug.2,1982
A 33-year-old woman employee of a diner at a house building site in
Henoko, Nago City, was strangled to death by a 22-year-old U.S. serviceman.
Aug.19,1982
A U.S. military helicopter crashed in Futenma Base.
Feb.23,1983
A 40-year-old taxi driver was stabbed to death by two U.S. servicemen in
Camp Hansen, Kin Town. In November Naha District Court sentenced the two
accused to imprisonment for life.
Apr.4, 1983
A 41-year-old village resident walking out of the fence of a U.S.
military facility in Yomitan Village got fire warning shots by military
police.
May 18,1984
In Kyoda, Nago City, a dump truck was shot at the front part
by a machine gun bullet apparently from a U.S. tank.
Jan.16,1985
A 51-year-old junkman was stabbed to death while sleeping by a
20-year-old U.S. serviceman intending theft. The accused was sentenced to
imprisonment for life at Naha District Court. In January 1988, the Supreme
Court dismissed the final appeal, thus determining the sentence.
July 12, 1985
A U.S. military helicopter crashed on the mountain path near Henoko Dam,
Kunigami Village, killing all of the four crew members.
Oct.29,1985
Ishikawa Police Office arrested two U.S. servicemen in the act of raping
a woman after abducting her by a car on her way home.
Sep.27,1986
A bullet from U.S. military M16 rifle broke a window of a private house
in Igei, Kin Town.
Jul.9,1987
The water pipe from the Shiobaru Reservoir at Yakaku, Kin Town was broken
by U.S. military M16 rifle causing suspension of water supply to some
houses.
Jun.4,1988
Two men driving prefecture road No.70 at Takae, Higashi Village
complained of pain at eyes and throat. It was later attributed to the
discharge of tear gas.
Aug.12,1988
In July 1987, a Malaysian cargo ship was shot by a mock bomb off Kume
Island. The U.S. army announced that the incident was that the formation
chief mistook the ship for an island. The Eleventh Regional Maritime Safety
Headquarters sent the papers pertaining to the formation chief to the
Public Prosecutors Office.
Oct.15,1988
Several bullets, suspected to be from the U.S. exercise field, were found
one after another at a private house in Igei, Kin Town. One of the bullets
nearly shot a citizen's abdomen.
Oct.31,1988
A U.S. military helicopter crashed near the training field in Takae,
Higashi Village, killing four people.
Dec.24,1988
A tear gas bomb was thrown into a disco in Okinawa City, which
caused two hundred people fall down. Two lost consciousness. The U.S.
marine announced a suspension of using tear gas for the time being.
Mar.14, 1989
A U.S. military helicopter crashed on the sea near Iye Island, killing
three crew members.
Nov.4, 1989
American boys and so on, one after another, shot air guns.
Jun.14, 1991
A 34-year-old jobless man was stabbed to death by a 20-year-old U.S.
serviceman. The serviceman was sentenced to nine years' penal servitude.
Oct.15,1991
A U.S. serviceman fired blank shots at a private car on the Town Road
passing through Camp Hansen in Kin Town.
Jan.17,1992
Three U.S. servicemen committed robbery at a private house in Okinawa
City. Two of them kept in custody by the U.S. army escaped out of the
base. One of them was arrested later in the United States.
Oct.20, 1992
A large-size helicopter crashed in Futenma base near Futenma Dai-ni
Elementary School.
Apr. 11,1993
A 33-year-old carpenter was clubbed to death by a 18-year-old marine.
Jul.17,1993
A 25-year-old U.S. serviceman under confinement within the base as a
suspected case of raping a 19-year-old Japanese woman escaped back to
United States by a commercial aircraft. He was arrested in U.S. and was
sent back to Okinawa.
Nov.16, 1994
A U.S. military helicopter crashed in Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City,
killing and injuring five people.
May 10,1995
A 24-year-old insurance saleswoman was hit on the face with a hammer by a
20-year-old U.S. serviceman in front of her apartment house. She died.
Sep.4,1995
Three U.S. servicemen raped a 12-year-old schoolgirl.
[10/12/1995 from The Okinawa Times]