Hiji Falls (marine death)
by steven austinI was stationed on Kadena AFB in the early 1990s. (I think it was 93) My two sons and I were camping on Okuma and we decided to hike to Hiji Falls. When we arrived at the falls several people were looking for a marine who jumped of the top but never came up. I jumped into the water to look for him but nothing was visible because all the bubbles in the water from the falls. Finally I climbed behind the water fall and jumped in and let the water push me down. It pushed me all the way down and on top of him. All I could see was his thigh. I grabbed his foot and walked on the bottom until I was not directly under the falls and pulled him up on that center rock. His head was badly gashed on the back where he hit unknowingly to others on his jump down. The water was very cold and I thought he might still be alive. I gave him mouth to mouth for a few minutes in hope that this young marine would have a chance. Well I wasn’t able to save him and helped the Okinawa police carry him out. My question is a challenge to any marine that might know this young mans name or a way I can find it. SASWAY1963@AOL.COM
May 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I had a few close calls when I was at Kadena ( 86 to 88 ). I was pretty “gung-ho’” for an Air Force guy .But nothing like those Marines. They flew with reckless abandoment into evrything they did. Your actions were pretty heroic, I’m sure it was a terrible day for you and your sons. Sounds like you did everything you could to try and save that boy. The world needs more people like you that are willing to help a stranger.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:47 am
I was station in Okinawa from 1992-1995 and remeber hearing about that particular incident. Sadly I don’t know who he was or what unit he belonged to. But I truely miss that island I had the best times of my military career on Okinawa. Hope to go back some day and walk around the isalnd again.