CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Camp Fuji Marines remembered their fellow fallen Marines in an annual fire memorial ceremony for those who died in a fire on Camp Fuji on Oct. 19, 1979. The ceremony took place at the camp's flagpole Oct. 19 at 8 a.m.
"Each year, we are honored to conduct a remembrance event to commemorate the terrible tragedy which affected so many lives of the (Battalion Landing Team 2/4) Marines and their families," said Col. Craig S. Kozeniesky, commanding officer, Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Marine Corps Bases Japan. "It's also fitting that we honor the brave Japanese firefighters and emergency services that came to the Marines' aid."
In 1979, Typhoon Tip, the strongest storm to strike mainland Japan in more than 13 years, hit Camp Fuji.
A fuel farm consisting of two rubber storage bladders kept in place by a retaining wall sat just up the hill from several huts. The rains from Typhoon Tip eroded the wall and allowed a bladder to break free; hoses sprang loose, releasing 5,000 gallons of gasoline.
A heater inside one of the huts ignited the gasoline.
Flames erupted immediately. Local firefighters were on scene within 10 minutes. Fifty-one Marines and three Japanese were injured, out of those 54, 13 died.
During the ceremony, a bell rang for each of the 13 Marines who lost their lives in that fire. Their names were: Pfc. Robert L. Brees, Pfc. Thomas J. Breunig, Lance Cpl. Willie Davis Jr., Lance Cpl. Philip E. Dupont, Pfc. Tyrone C. Elem, Lance Cpl. Ernest E. Gutierrez, Pvt. Gregory L. Hassel, Pfc. Roger A. Larson, Lance Cpl. L.C. Malveaux, Cpl. Colim Miller, Lance Cpl. Orlando E. Sandoval, Lance Cpl. Robert V. Smith Jr. and Lance Cpl. Stephen R. Turner.
"We'll always remember the sacrifice by all involved," said Kozeniesky.