It's Over 1975
This nameplate was used in 1975
North Korea Hijacs U.S. Naval Vessel 1968
This nameplate was used in 1968

This website was created and maintained from May 2020 to May 2021 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Stars and Stripes operations in the Pacific.
It will no longer be updated, but we encourage you to explore the site and view content we felt best illustrated Stars and Stripes' continued support of the Pacific theater since 1945.

From the Archives

Kadena family gets a sneaky scuba surprise while at Okinawa beach

Kadena family gets a sneaky scuba surprise while at Okinawa beach

Kadena family

Daddy is supposed to be home from Afghanistan in a few weeks. His children are enjoying the day at an Okinawa beach with their mother, Bethany Bronson, in the water close by.

A friend is recording a video that he will send, he tells the family, to Capt. Hyrum Bronson, an Air Force physician assigned to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

The friend tells one of Bronson's girls that he is going to send the video to Afghanistan where her daddy is supposed to be deployed. "What would you tell him if he were here today?" he asks.

"I will love you for always," the girl replies.

Mrs. Bronson responds in like fashion when asked the same question, then, when prompted for something more, adds, "I want your body."

The video interview is a sneaky ploy.

As the friend records, up from the water behind the Bronson family, a man wearing a camouflage uniform with scuba gear arises.

When Mrs. Bronson turns to see who is there, she gasps when he takes off his mask.

"Are you freakin' kidding me?" she says in shocked surprise.

"Mrs. Bronson," he says, "your husband is here, reporting for duty."

Then the hugs and kisses commence.

Watch the heartwarming YouTube video.