A local Okinawa resident and US Marine were lost off the Okinawa coast on March 12, after becoming trapped in the bottom of an 80-foot cliff near a popular dive site on the island. Combining efforts, airmen from Kadena Air Base and Japanese first responders helped save the two divers after a five-hour search and rescue operation. Airmen from the 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Kadena had a HH-60 Pave Hawk ready to carry an aircrew and pararescuers to join a search as the sun began to set. Using a winch, the pararescuemen were lowered into a spot in the cliffs where 20-foot waves were pounding the two divers. After several aborted attempts, the airmen lifted the two divers out and delivered them to Japanese fire and rescue crews by 1:30 a.m. the next morning. “It was nice to see how smoothly we worked together,” said 2nd Lt. Timothy James, a combat rescue officer with the 31st Rescue Squadron.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…