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NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan – For some Sailors coming to
Japan climbing Mount Fuji, the highest peak on the island of Honshu,
is near the top of a list of things to do.
Beginning in early
November 2013, Liberty Center Coordinators from all around Japan
came together and began planning for their most ambitious trip yet;
a climb to the summit of Mount Fuji.
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August 2, 2014 - Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sarah Villegas and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeremy Graham, both of Commander, Fleet Activities Sasabo, begin their climb up Mount Fuji as part of the bi-annual All-Japan Liberty climb. The initiative aims to build camaraderie and a sense of community for junior Sailors stationed in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan G. Greene)
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“For me, I couldn't be more excited about getting to host
this trip,” said Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Liberty
Center Event Coordinator Jay Mozilo. “This is the second
trip and because the first was such a success, we've decided
to go ahead and try it again. This trip we had around 150
Sailors total from seven different installations, and with
such a large number of participants, planning for lodging,
feeding and moving that many bodies causes quite the
logistical headache.”
Fortunately for Mozilo he
wasn't alone, with an army of more than 25 volunteers,
Liberty Centers all around Japan have worked tirelessly to
ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip for everyone.
“I
was really excited to come to Okinawa and to see all that
Japan had to offer,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Jazmyn
Hollis, of Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa Naval Station
White Beach. “But, I was upset to find out that because of
the liberty policy, getting out to see much of the country
wouldn't really be possible. That's why I jumped at the
chance to climb Fuji, it's been my dream.”
At 3:30
a.m. Aug. 2, 2014 the Sailors and Marines who were taking
part in the largest pan-Japanese Liberty event left from NAF
Atsugi and Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) and
made their way up to the fifth station to begin their hike
up Mount Fuji.
“I honestly slept the whole way here,
but now that I'm standing here looking up, I'm kind of
nervous,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman
Justin Gilmore, of NAF Atsugi. “I really wasn't thinking of
just how big Fuji is. Now that I'm here, it's pretty
imposing.”
Gilmore wasn't the only one feeling the pre-climb
jitters, several in the crowd discussed the choice of
returning to the busses and giving up the climb.
When
it came time to start the climb at least one member of the
climbing team had chosen to sit it out and instead chose to
wait for their companions at the 5th Station.
For the
rest of the team, the climb began with relative ease,
quickly climbing to above 2,400 meters.
For the
roughly 150 Sailors who took part in the climb, almost all
made it to the mountain summit and earned their coveted red
stamp.
Airman Cole Voeller,
of Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, stops to take a picture during
the second bi-annual All-Japan Liberty climb up Mount Fuji on August
2, 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist
3rd Class Ryan G. Greene) |
“This has been such a crazy experience,” said
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Eric Mosey, of Branch Health
Clinic Sasabo. “I did not anticipate that summiting Mount
Fuji was going to be so difficult, especially around 8th
Station. But, it was an absolute blast and I cannot wait to
do this again next year.”
From Sailors who tried to
leapfrog up the mountain and those who slid face first down
the mountainside, few came off Fuji with anything on their
minds other than when they could do it again.
“This
was amazing, it was a perfect day and I'm honestly so glad
that I decided to climb Fuji,” said Airman Cole Voeller, of
NAF Atsugi. “I wish we had done these every year, I'll only
be here for one more year and I'd love to go again with all
the friends I've made from around Japan.”
By U.S. Navy MCS3C Ryan G. Greene
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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