Wearing a patriotic outfit, Lt. Col. Nicklaus Franck, left, commander of U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan, gets food June 29 at the Camp Zama Community Club during a reception. (U.S. Army Garrison Japan Visual Information Division)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – The commander of U.S. Army Japan hosted an annual Independence Day reception June 29 during Camp Zama’s open-post event.
Maj. Gen. David Womack welcomed more than 70 guests, asking them to join the U.S. Army in Japan attendees in the Camp Zama Community Club for a “celebration of democracy.”
“This is a celebration of democracy, and it manifests itself here with our allies,” Womack said.
He personally thanked the senior Japan Ground Self-Defense Force leaders in attendance, stressing, “We count ourselves lucky for having the best allies in the world.”
Womack also recognized Mayor Kentaro Motomura, from Sagamihara City, and Mayor Mito Sato, from Zama City, for their continued support, friendship and regular engagement with the command.
“I’m so thankful that we get to live in a community that is supported by incredible leadership … and our families, Soldiers and servicemembers get to live in and amongst this incredible culture,” Womack said to the mayors. “We are so grateful that we have your support.”
Guests included members of the JGSDF, the South Kanto Defense Bureau, Zama Defense Office, Kanagawa Prefectural government, Yokohama City government, the Japan-America Society of Central Kanagawa, the Japan Defense Society, the U.S. Embassy, and defense attaches from allied nations’ embassies in Japan.
Womack spoke briefly of the importance of the day to those who have chosen to don their nation’s uniform.
“Every American Soldier in here takes an oath — an oath to the Constitution of the United States,” Womack said. “That is a big deal because it’s swearing your allegiance to the ideal of democracy.”
And getting the chance to celebrate democracy at Camp Zama is something that won’t soon be forgotten, he said.
“There is no greater place to celebrate democracy than in Japan with our friends and allies, together with those who give so much … to make it possible.”
