(Japan Coast Guard), MARINE VET REVEALS HOW HE STOPPED CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBERY WITH BAG OF GATORADES AND A SNACK. Instead of facing a court-martial, he was allowed to leave the military without receiving any punishment. Marines and other U.S. service families now have to consider if they are willing to subject their families to the same standard. Okinawa The U.S. military in Japan reported three new infections on Friday, a low figure that suggested the coronavirus outbreak among U.S. military personnel in Okinawa was plateauing.. Local Offices: Find Marine Corps Installations. Between 2004 and 2016, Camp Hansen experienced 71 accidents, including the leak of 2596 liters of fuels and other substances such as 678 liters of antifreeze. USMC Camp Schwab. A group of Marines was swimming off Sosu Beach in Okinawa in the afternoon when a likely rip current pulled three of them away from the shore, a Nakagusuku Coast Guard Office spokesperson told. Most young men are single. In April, a previous investigation revealed the damage that Kadena Air Base, the largest USAF installation in Asia, has been causing the islands drinking water supplies. ):All of my Marines on Okinawa are willing to die if it is necessary for the security of Japan. His comment is exactly right, and the concept is something service members willingly face each and every day but I cant help but think the point resonates more for Okinawa Marines in 2022 than it did for those in 2010. Cherry Point. British journalist Jon Mitchell has been investigating contamination on U.S. military bases in Japan since 2010. Ann was understandably ill at ease about the prospect. Your email address:* The installation, he says, is not adequately equipped to deal with such a conflagration and the fire-fighting capabilities at MCAS Futenma are very poor., Severns said he was unable to respond to vague and unsourced comments.. In the meantime, there is a wealth of resources and information that is available for you to browse through to familiarize yourself with the upcoming PCS move requirements, your new duty station, and the island of Okinawa. Childcare Options For Military Families. or redistributed. A LEGACY FORMS Neither theU.S. Air Force nor the Army makes their own court-martial summaries readily accessible to the public, so it is difficult to ascertain the prevalence of sexual assault of children by members of the Air Force and soldiers in Okinawa. The TRICARE West region is managed by Health Net Federal Services www.tricare-west.com Covers: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii . Still, these Marines arguably have nothing on the intoxicated 27-year-old sailor arrested in Feb. 2019 after a Japanese couple found him in their home naked and using their shower. GENERAL INFORMATION Once you arrive to Okinawa, your first major task will be to go to the Newcomers Orientation. More recently, in May, 1060 litres of fuel spilled within a storage area on Camp Schwab. Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. The initial invasion of Okinawa on 1 April 1945 was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Likewise, no reports for Camp Schwab were released for the years 2008 and 2010, nor were there any documents related to the crash of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter on Camp Hansen in August 2013. He was forced to resign. Okinawan officials on Sunday reported a total of 61 cases 38 of them at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is at the center of a relocation dispute, and another 23 at Camp Hansen since. "We started digging, then we found some barrels," Roberts tells All Things Considered guest host Tess Vigeland. An NBC News Black history special, American Vets: Benefits, Race & Inequality, will stream tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC News Now. Your last name:* It stores impressive amounts of ammunitions and spreads over 1,000,000 square feet, and is comprised . is an entity registered with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), System for Award Management (SAM). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The combination of military documentation, the Japanese lab reports and the clients medical evidence contributed to his being awarded a 100 percent disability rating after initially being denied any benefit at all. The report makes no mention that Okinawa police were notified of the American employees harassment of the maid, and the NCIS closed the case without finding the suspect. The translation work was done by a group of Japanese law students at Duke University School of Law. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In the early 1980s, the USMC discovered elevated chemical readings in storm water flowing from the base. crime is limited to 1% of all crimes on Okinawa (compared to 4% of the population). Controversially, the lectures attribute military crimes to gaijin [foreigner] power. One lecture from February 2014, which I obtained via FOIA in 2016, states, We get carried-away with our sudden gaijin power (Charisma man effect) and tend to go over-board by doing things that is [sic] not acceptable to the majority in society.. 289 Following. The earliest report is dated June 2002 and the most recent June 2016. In May, the EPA set its drinking water health advisory limit for PFOS at 70 nanograms per liter. The U.S. military presence on Okinawa is important to both the United States and regional allies and partners. This section offers the below information: IN THE KNOW: How to Apply For Off-Base Housing, IN THE KNOW: Moving to Okinawa with Pets- Required Documentation, IN THE KNOW: Moving to Okinawa with Pets- Vaccines, IN THE KNOW: Moving to Okinawa with Pets- Arrival, IN THE KNOW: Moving to Okinawa with Pets- Tips, IN THE KNOW: Buying a Vehicle from a Dealership, IN THE KNOW: Buying a Car from Private owner, Okinawa Employment Directory USFJ says there are no plans for the military to conduct checks for PFOS on Okinawa. Six of the suspects were Marines; one was a military contractor affiliated with the Marine Corps; and one, the perpetrator of the shopping mall exposure, was a sailor. U.S. Marines. "I was responsible for the 50 Okinawans and the 35 Seabees that worked for me," he says. Such loopholes have allowed the military to unilaterally determine what constitutes on duty, and they have impeded Japanese polices ability to interview suspects. However,. In the closing period 17-19 June, die-hard Japanese survivors wounded Major Earl J. Cook, CO of 1/22; Major William C. Chamberlin, S-3 of the 8th Marines; and Lieutenant Colonel E. Hunter Hurst, CO of 3/7. He even received a certificate commemorating his participation, and this ended up being a key piece of evidence in his VA Disability claim. DISCLAMER: This is an official U.S. Marine Corps page. Moreover, never go near water alone.". Under questioning by police and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, agents, the sailor confessed to the offense. Seven months after the alleged attack, the victim withdrew from participation. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 4 in the country when Butkovich was called into service by the Marines. Marine Corpstraining slides, obtained via FOIA. Okinawa, Japan. "I am so glad that they didnt lose their lives," another spokesman said. Of the 270 accidents, it appears that only 6 were reported to Japanese authorities 3 of which because the USMC required the help of local emergency services to clean up. Anywhere offense can be taken it will be used.. Earlier this month, the Board of Veterans' Appeals ruled that his cancer was connected to the chemicals at Futenma Air Base. USMC Camp Hansen. But many U.S. veterans who never fought in that war say they, too, handled toxic chemicals at military bases around the world, suffering the same health consequences. During the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971, the U.S. military used a herbicide known as Agent Orange to clear dense foliage and trees that provided enemies with places to hide. 3, April 1, 2016. In a COVID-19 environment, PCS just got more difficult, but we have lined out the step-by-step process for PCS that you need to follow to ensure a smooth PCS process. Its one thing for a Marine to deploy to a region with increasing aggression from a rising adversary; its what we sign up to do. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This world in arms is not spending money alone. Although the prefecture consists of less than1 percent of Japans total land mass, it has 70 percent of the countrys U.S. facilities; 11 of the bases in Okinawa belong to the U.S. Marine Corps. Agency Details Website: U.S. Marine Corps . After the accident, an inside source slammed the safety standards of the USMC at Futenma. Both witnesses told police the sailor ought to be severely punished. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, Maryland. Members of the Okinawa Defense Bureau witnessed the accident but apparently did not notify the Japanese government. United States Marine Corps Minot, North Dakota March 23, 1945 to September 22, 1967 . Even the two Marines who had survived so long in the shell crater on Sugar Loaf saw their luck run out in the final days. How Are Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Project Members Still Alive? The woman declined to participate in the investigation by the NCIS or Japanese police. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? Our engineers are aware of this and take it into account when designing our remediation systems.. Learning Sportsmanship and Team Spirit Through Sports. Between 2015 and 2016, marines on Okinawa targeted Japanese civilians, including children, in at least four previously unpublicized sexual offense cases, according to the NCIS files. Located smack-dab in the middle of Ginowan City, Okinawas most controversial base often dubbed the most dangerous in the world is surrounded by homes, schools and hospitals. Marine Corps Three Okinawa-based Marines accused of attempting to smuggle cannabis into Japan By Matthew M. Burke and Mari Higa Stars and Stripes December 23, 2021 Importing cannabis. One evening in March 2017, a U.S. sailor walked through the parking lot of a shopping mall in Kitanakagusuku Village, Okinawa, Japan, exposing himself to female customers. In June, 2016 an accident on MCAS Futenma resulted in the spill of 6908 liters of aviation fuel. Although the cooks. Describing the Americans actions as hideous, one of the security guards said he would not be able to forget what had happened. Phone: 800-444-5445 Tricare Regional Office West. On October 28, Defense Minister Inada Tomomi, said she would seek clarification on the policy from the U.S. military and she would press them to report spills promptly to local authorities. The incident comes a year after another Marine saved a Japanese woman who was caught in a rip current in Okinawa. This list of Marine Corps casualties - those who died or were killed - is compiled from: USMC Casualty Cards (mc), . Small arms . was founded in 1972. [] My husband passed away on February 9, 2105 from this third battle with cancer. He was not recorded on a sexual offender registry. according to the nongovernmental organization. Lt. Col. Kris Roberts served as a facilities maintenance officer at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan in the 1980s. Combing through municipal records and interviewing victims, they have uncovered how the earliest attacks started soon after the U.S. invasion of Okinawa in 1945 and have continued unabated to the present day. US Military Returns Land to Japan, but Okinawa Isnt Celebrating. When you look at these cases from an outsiders perspective, it might seem the military justice system is failing but from a military viewpoint, these cases show SOFA is working just fine, said Fukurai. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. They think if this information becomes public, it will harm U.S.-Japan relations. Hundreds of U.S. veterans who served on Okinawa during the Vietnam War believe they were sickened by exposure to military defoliants on the island; many of them claim that there was a large stockpile of Agent Orange at MSA. Todays Japan-U.S. SOFA is based on the same principle of immunity in effect, SOFA protects U.S. troops and military-related personnel from being prosecuted under Japanese law.. Nicole Rogge. Hotel, bar, and restaurant staff frequently bear the brunt of military violence. United States. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! United States Forces Japan has not yet explained whether it stands by such claims about its purported low crime rate nor has it provided more recent data. Although SOFA applies throughout Japan, Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of the U.S. presence, suffers the most, explains Takazato, and it is women who repeatedly become the victims of these failures in military and Japanese justice. In fact, this small island off the southern tip of Japan ishome to many of the U.S. bases in the Indo-Pacific region. You apply for OHA through your local housing office or commander. In April 2015, witnesses in Kin town reported a man wearing aMarine Corps uniform masturbating in a car near schools on two different days. Search for Okinawa flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. Available here. It provided military documentation that he handled the dangerous chemical barrels proof many other sick Okinawa veterans dont have. On Camp Hansen in November 2008, a marine hosed down a heavy equipment parking area, washing an estimated 4 liters of unknown POLs (pollutants) into drains which then flowed off base close to the Japanese elementary school.. 2 Lieutenant General Simon Buckner's . (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl . The following month, a Marine sexually assaulted a woman during a concert at Camp Schwab. The Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for delivering task forces on land, at sea, and in the air. The 8th Marine Regiment was formed on 9 October, 1917, at Quantico, Virginia during the build up for World War I. Since the end of the Second World War,the forward U.S. presence of military forces on Okinawahas been key to regional stability by deterring aggression and providing a quick response capability for regional combat and humanitarian operations. [2] At the time of publication of this article, the government of Japan had made no updates on the issue. In October 2017, a woman contacted the NCIS to file a complaint against a Marine who had choked and raped her. Its quite another to add concern about the safety of your family in a foreign land. Their conditions were not immediately reported. Most young women are not. At this point, according to the NCIS report, Okinawa police decided to drop the case, and the suspects command also decided not to take any further action. In presenting the clients case to the VA, his DLG attorney also refuted claims by the governments top expert on herbicides Alvin Young, nicknamed Dr. Orange. Available here. Forces Japan denied that the problem could damage the local environment. Lt. Col. Michael E. Feuquay, U.S. Marine Corps, is a Hoover National Security Affairs Fellow. -Upon arrival to the island, please check-in with your serving post office. 9. As Roberts dug them out of the ground, he came into direct contact with the barrels. U.S. Teen Employment and Volunteer Opportunities The police determined that the suspect was a petty officer second classsailor stationed on a Navy installation within the U.S. Air Forces Kadena Air Base, the largest U.S. facility in the Asia-Pacific region. Please add japantimes.co.jp and piano.io to your list of allowed sites. Our team was able to show that the clients time on Okinawa and his participation in Operation Red Hat was at least as likely as not responsible for the development of the cancer three decades later. And we ended up finding about 100 barrels just neatly placed. 1, October 5, 2015. SOFA gives the military jurisdiction over service members who commit offenses while in the performance of official duty, and it only requires suspects to be handed over to Japanese authorities after charges have been filed. Please visit the below links to start familiarizing yourself with options available to you. Typically, decisions to be a geographic bachelor that is, to leave family members in the U.S. while the service member moves to the forward location revolve around personal finance or family education considerations. One . 1, May 1, 2016. Okinawa is a paradise for U.S. service members wanting to sexually assault women. Okinawa is a great location with much to offer for both Marines and their families. Interviewed by Okinawa police andNCIS agents, he denied any involvement and attempted to provide an alibi but it did not check out. Quotes tagged as "military" Showing 1-30 of 1,033. The corporation number is #MNFFN3FK4FG8. U. S. Army Garrison Okinawa Commander, Lt. Col. Zachary B. Hohn, discusses with Okinawa Governor, Denny Tamaki new construction plans on Torii Station, Okinawa, as part of the consolidation and relocation project Japan, Jan. 31, 2019. If in the future we discover any evidence that Herbicide Orange was ever stored on, used in, or transported through Okinawa, we will be sure to share it with the Government of Japan without delay and take appropriate action.". Start with the tab below that reflects your status (unaccompanied, accompanied, civilian, sponsor). In June 2002, a spill involving 4024 liters of mixed POL and water occurred at Camp Schwabs bilge water treatment facility. In February, a Marine touched a womans buttocks at a club on Camp Hansen. According to The Japan Times, Roberts is the first veteran known to have won compensation for exposure on Futenma. If accurate, the assessment raises serious concerns for the installation particularly given the propensity for torrential precipitation in the Yambaru jungles where Schwab is situated. on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? Over the years, the VA has repeatedly cited Youngs work to deny disability compensation to vets, saving the government millions of dollars, according to a ProPublica investigation. There you will spend a day learning about Okinawa, available resources, and a multitude of pertinent information as well as take the test for your drivers license. Barstow. Although the original FOIA request sought documents from 1995 to 2016, only three reports were released for the period between 1995 and 2005. Billy Dixson said after he was recognized and received a medal for the rescue, Stars and Stripes reported. It is unclear how many of the cases involved Okinawan children or how many were, for example, military dependents. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Before you do so, there are several things you must do. Perhaps more worryingly are comments contained in a June 2009 investigation revealing serious flaws in the bases oil water separators (OWS). A U.S. Marine teaches English to an Okinawa resident during the English discussion class at the chapel on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma (MCAS), Okinawa, Japan, March 16, 2021. Market data provided by Factset. Whether it be hypersonic missile tests, island fortifications in the South China Sea, or threatening to unify Taiwan, the PRCs actions have undeniably threatened regional security. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name So, there was about six of us that had to submerge ourselves in the water to get the gate open. The case file does not mention whether Japanese police were informed of the incident. We work with military veterans from all eras and all branches of service. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. Perpetrators had not been punished under Japanese law nor had their cases appeared in the annual reports produced by the Pentagons Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office for the U.S. Congress. Hill & Ponton P.A. Okinawa Change Location 8th & I. Albany. The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill, by Lt. Col. Michael E. Feuquay, opinion contributor - 02/07/22 1:00 PM ET, by Christopher McCallion, Opinion Contributor, U.S. News & World Report responds to law, medical school departures from rankings, Democratic AGs slam DeSantis for seeking info on college students receiving gender-affirming care, California nurses slam state decision to roll back COVID-19 requirements in health care settings, Biden hosts German leader to discuss Ukraine support, Fallout from toxic Ohio spill lingers a month later, Federal agency urges railroads to review how they share hazmat info in wake of Ohio train derailment, Pelosi on DC crime bill: I wish Biden wouldve told us first, home to many of the U.S. bases in the Indo-Pacific region, the forward U.S. presence of military forces on Okinawa, Koda and other analysts believe China might attack Yonaguni and possibly other nearby islands to control approaches to Taiwan., as Chinese government vessels have been caught entering Japanese territorial waters, All of my Marines on Okinawa are willing to die if it is necessary for the security of Japan., A modest proposal to regulate assault-style weapons again, Why Ken Calvert deserves support for cutting the Pentagons civilian workforce, The Munich Security Conference was a display of the West v. the rest, The Ukraine divide threatens the GOPs unwavering legacy on defense, FBI Dir accuses China of obfuscating Covid investigation, Poll finds Ron DeSantis top choice for 2024 GOP nominee, Republicans notch key win with Bidens DC crime bill move, House Democrats rally behind Biden ahead of expected 2024 announcement, Judiciary Democrats go after GOP whistleblowers in FBI probes, Texas property tax bill excludes divorced, LGBTQ couples from getting relief, Trump asks for roughly six-month delay in New York fraud case, Michael Steele on Marjorie Taylor Greene: Just shut the hell up, Florida bill would require bloggers to register before writing about DeSantis, Liberals fume over Bidens turn against home rule in decision on DC crime bill, House Democrats blindsided as Biden changes tune on DC crime bill, Bill to make daylight saving time permanent reintroduced in Congress. "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. Unfortunately, this time feels different as I view this upcoming move through the lens of husband and father. Japanese prosecutors, who can request jurisdiction when U.S. service members commit offenses while off-duty, ceded control of the case to the military; by the time the Navy convened a court-martial, nine months had passed since the incident. On Aug. 10 the Board of Veterans Appeals ruled that retired Lt. Col. Kris Roberts, chief of maintenance at the installation in the early 1980s, had developed prostate cancer due to exposure to hazardous chemicals. The presiding judge based the decision on evidence including medical reports, statements and photographs of barrels being removed from the ground.. -Your serving post office will be based on your work location and housing location. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 3. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - Two Marines were killed and five other people were injured following a multivehicle crash Friday night on the Okinawa Expressway. Marines and Sailors reporting to Marine Corps commands - MCIPAC/IIIMEF (MCB, 1st MAW, 3rd MLG and 3rd Mar Division) By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. This was DLGs first case involving an Okinawa veteran, but the team is now working on behalf of others who also served there and developed health problems as a result. The intent of my writing is not to incite fear or call for policy change; rather, it is to share an example of the sacrifice Marines and other U.S. service members face. Ultimately, Marines and their families have a choice. The U.S. Marine Corps does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at linked locations. The regiment falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. Consider what the world of media would look like without The Intercept. Autumn of 2018 saw two more assaults. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In October, at an off-base establishment, a Marine pulled down a womans shirt to expose her breasts. In 2013, Japanese workers doing some redevelopment on a soccer park on the site of former U.S. base uncovered barrels of chemicals that had been buried. Japan to rename sex crime to highlight illegality of nonconsensual intercourse, Japan child abuse cases reach new record; revenge porn on the rise, 28-year-old woman picked to be astronaut by Japans space agency, High school student arrested after teacher stabbed at school in Saitama, In push to mend ties, South Koreas Yoon says Japan has gone from 'aggressor to partner. Mitchell is a correspondent at Okinawa Times. A statement from the U.S. Available here. Combined naval and amphibious forces included U.S. and British Fleets. Japanese base workers: 576 US service members: Classified. But that plan has stalled due to insistence that USMC operations be moved to a new base near Camp Schwab a decision opposed by the Okinawan government and the majority of Okinawans. If youre an Okinawa veteran or youre an advocate, you should not rely on just one thing to prove exposure and make your case. Mr. Mitchell serves on the Civilian Exposure Advisory Board and is also a contributor for our Civilian Exposure Okinawa military contamination coverage. U.S. Marine Corps. Home to the sprawling Central Training Area and the largest live fire land range on Okinawa, the base has been a constant cause of concern for local residents due to forest conflagrations and stray rounds. 7. However, the carefully worded ruling avoids specific reference to Agent Orange, which the Pentagon denies was stored on its Okinawa bases. 8. According to the NCIS case files, between 2017 and 2019 therewere at least seven other investigations into U.S. military personnel for sexual offenses against Japanese women in Okinawa and nonewere made public. For the United States Marine Corps, involvement in the nation's longest war began on 2 August 1954 with the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Victor J. Croizat as a liaison officer with the newly established United States Military Assistance and Advisory Group to the Republic of Vietnam. And then [I had] two strokes. Nevertheless, when the case was referred to the Japanese prosecutors office, it declined to proceed. He also admitted to masturbating inside his car at the same mall and elsewhere on four previous occasions. This can be done no earlier than 30 days prior to arrival/check-in. Takazato asserts that some of the problem lies with the Japanese judicial system, which frequently blames the victims of sexual assaults. The horror of Agent Orange and its effects on Vietnam war veterans and Vietnamese citizens is well-documented. 3. However, stability in the Asia-Pacific region is diminishing as a direct result of aggressive policy and actions of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). When you look at these cases from an outsiders perspective, it might seem the military justice system is failing but from a military viewpoint, these cases show SOFA is working just fine.. Many Okinawan women work in the service industry, often in relatively unstable jobs. Courtesy of Lt. Col. Kris Roberts "They may have problems, their children may have problems, and they may have no idea what caused them," he says. Looking back, Roberts says it might have been rust or the tell-tale marker of Agent Orange. That didnt happen. Takazato has accompanied victims of U.S. military violence to Japanese police stations where she saw for herself how officers rebuke women for where they had been or what clothes they had worn. Okinawa Marine Service Co.,Ltd. To bolster the evidence in this clients case, our DLG VA Disability team had the original Japanese government documents and lab reports about the buried barrels translated. "And I felt that I kind of let them down because I put them in this situation.". Recent reports in the U.S. media have revealed that the military may have been aware of the dangers of PFOS since 1979 and in 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned it might be carcinogenic. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The area was crowded with cars and pedestrians, and for half an hour, the 23-year-old American masturbated in front of women and approached drivers stopped at traffic lights. Civilian Exposure Podcast Season 2 Episode 5, Civilian Exposure Podcast Season 2 Episode 4. Butkovich was part of the V-12 program which also included Marine Reserves. Some of them were old, some of them were brand new, unmarked barrels and some of them were leaking.". Retired Lt. Col. Kris Roberts is among them. Photo: Photo: Toru Yamanaka/AFP via Getty Images. Contamination at MCAS Futenma has also alarmed local residents. With decades of combined experience overturning VA denials, we are confident that we can help you win the benefits you deserve. 1. In the 1970s, the base, then run by the U.S. Army and known as Machinato or Makiminato Service Area, contained an outdoor storage yard for chemicals returned from the Vietnam War. They have the mentality that they wont be punished here, and they think Okinawan women dont report sexual assaults, she said. Toll Free: 1-800-627-4637 . Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS, Environmental Protection Agency. KABUL, Afghanistan The Pentagon is moving 3,000 Marines and soldiers to Afghanistan and another 4,000 troops to the region to evacuate most of the American Embassy and U.S. citizens in Kabul,.