Y&M Magazine - US Troops in Okinawa

Home Sweet Home?: US Troops in Okinawa
by Terri Keeley 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

The treatment of women is the tip of the iceberg; the US military's arrogance and insensitivity extends to many aspects of its dealings with host countries and in Okinawa, has legal, environmental, and economic manifestations.

The military brass’s reaction to the assault illustrates the institution's callous attitude and acceptance of such conduct. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Myers, Commander of US Forces in Japan, asserted that such behavior was not characteristic of "99.99 percent of US forces." However, at a press conference in November of 1995, Admiral Richard C. Macke, Commander of US Forces in the Pacific, told a reporter, "I think that [the rape] was absolutely stupid. For the price they paid to rent the car, they could have had the girl."

Ironically, Macke's predecessor, Admiral Arthur Tappan, had been forced to retire over his mishandling of the Navy’s Tailhook scandal. The Secretary of Defense then appointed Macke to serve as his replacement. For his remarks about the Okinawan incident, Admiral Macke received a demotion and was forced to resign.

Just a Case of Bad Apples?

Even the New York Times promoted the "bad apple" theory of US servicemember behavior. On October 29, 1995, a Times editorial asserted, "American behavior in Japan has generally been good since the occupation in 1945." However, according to a Dayton Daily News review of 100,000 court martials held from 1988 to 1995, "Navy and Marine bases in Japan have had 169 courts martial for sexual assaults, the highest number of all US bases worldwide, 66 percent more cases than at the number two location, San Diego, which has more than twice the personnel." [No reports were available for the Army or Air Force.]

This disturbing statistic is probably a low estimate considering the nature of the crime and the fact that in Okinawan culture, an adult woman bringing rape charges faces unbearable shame and dishonor. Nor is such behavior a recent phenomenon. During a six month period in 1949, journalist Frank Gibney reported that GIs had raped 18 women in Okinawa.

At a press conference in November 1995, Admiral Richard C. Macke, Commander of US Forces in the Pacific, told a reporter, "I think that [the rape] was absolutely stupid. For the price they paid to rent the car, they could have had the girl."

Only after considerable public outcry, both in Japan and internationally, did the military hand over the three servicemembers involved in the 1995 rape to the Japanese government. This occurred three weeks after police had identified them. Although two of the men were sentenced to seven years and the third to six and half, such an outcome is highly unusual. Legally, the service community is shielded, as host countries often have virtually no jurisdiction to act when US servicemembers or their families commit crimes (a principle known as "extraterritoriality"). Article 17 (section 5) of the Japanese Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) states that "When US servicemen and their families commit crimes, they shall be detained by US authorities until Japanese law enforcement agencies file complaints with the prosecutor's office based on clear suspicion."

As Chalmers Johnson, author of Blowback: The Cost and Consequences of American Empire notes, the clause allows for US officials to refuse requests to furnish military suspects. In some instances, those accused are simply transferred to a new posting, often back to the US, protecting them from Japanese authorities. Following the outcry sparked by the 1995 rape, a new "side letter" was added to the SOFA. It states that a military member suspected of rape or murder may be handed over to Japanese investigators before he/she is indicted, if a request is made.

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