VOLUME 7 NO. 18 SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 1, 2020 SUBMIT STORIES TO: [email protected] STRIPESJAPAN.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC FREE INSIDE INFO ChiHon from Korea ZAMA BIDS FAREWELL TO MILITARY WORKING DOG PAGES 2-3 BELOVED YOKOTA CASHIER DEPARTS COMMISSARY Shoji PAGE 4 from Okinawa Hiro from Yokosuka CELEBRATE THE RISE OF JAPAN’S RAILWAYS ON OCT. 14 PAGES 6-7 COVID-19 has changed everything, but Stripes is still here for you JAPANESE DISHES YOU MUST TRY AT BY DENISSE RAUDA, butter — but how do we write about plac- LEAST ONCE! STRIPES JAPAN PAGES 12-13 es we can no longer visit or are no longer he Stripes community paper office safe to visit? It’s easy — we don’t. has been empty since April. Yet, Like you, we’re no longer dining out at T the designers who layout the ar- restaurants. We’ve traded in our cubicles, LIKE US ON ticles in the newspaper, the team who up- travel assignments, and restaurant re- FACEBOOK dates the websites, and your writing team views for workstations at home, recipes are still as busy as ever. in the kitchen with our families, and get- Like you, our daily life and our daily ting creative with bringing you a break work life have changed. Though our writ- from the hard news we’re constantly get- ing team, spread out in Okinawa, Korea ting bombarded with. and in Japan, is used to working togeth- We’re looking for ways to keep you (and er, but apart, what we write about had to ourselves, too) entertained. Some of us change quickly and drastically. Travel have taken our acting and camera skills and restaurant reviews are our bread and SEE COVID-19 ON PAGE 8 FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC 2 STRIPES JAPAN A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 1, 2020 Max D. Lederer Jr. Publisher Lt. Col. Richard E. McClintic Commander Joshua M Lashbrook Chief of Staff STORY AND PHOTOS BY WINIFRED BROWN, Chris Verigan US ARMY GARRISON Engagement Director Marie Woods CAMP ZAMA – The soldiers of the 901st Military Po- Publishing and Media Design Director lice Detachment (Military Working Dog) held a re- Chris Carlson Publishing and Media Design Manager tirement ceremony for Sgt. 1st Class Vito here Sept. Eric Lee 17, praising him for his nearly nine years of dedi- Advertising and Circulation Manager Zama bids catedfarewell service to the Army as a military to working dog. Monte Dauphin Vito, a Belgian Malinois who served as a Patrol Japan Area Manager Kentaro Shimura Explosive Detector Dog and deployed to Qatar and Production Manager Iraq, will spend the rest of his days at “Fort Couch”— Rie Miyoshi Vito, military slangworking for a place to relax—in Custer, dog South Dakota. Engagement Manager “He’s definitely earned it,” said Capt. Amie Young, Denisse Rauda Publishing and Media Design Editor the detachment’s commander, at the ceremony. “I’m Publishing and Media Design Writers glad that he made it back from deployment OK and ChiHon Kim he was able to make it back and get retired. He’s a Shoji Kudaka Takahiro Takiguchi very sweet dog and definitely made his mark and did Layout Designers his job in the Army for several years.” Mamoru Inoue Spc. Jericho Arengo, Vito’s handler for more than Yukiyo Oda Yuko Okazaki two years, said his stepfather and mother, the “com- Kayoko Shimoda manders” at Vito’s new home, are adopting him, and Multimedia Consultants Max Genao Doug Johnson he looks forward to seeing Vito again when he is Brian Jones Jason Lee home on leave. Hans Simpson Chae Pang Yi Gianni Youn Robert Zuckerman Fort Couch is a coveted assignment among all Graphic Designers military working dogs, Arengo said, including Vito. Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji “He’s retiring, and he loves naps, and therefore a Sales Support couch is a perfect place for any dog,” he said. Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro Vito should have plenty of years left to enjoy his Yusuke Sato Saori Tamanaha retirement, Arengo said. Toshie Yoshimizu Un Chong Yu “As an older dog, you would think that he would For feedback and inquiries, contact [email protected] slow down, and you’ll see every now and again that To place an ad, call DSN 227-7370 age is coming up to him, but there are some days stripesjapan.com/contact Spc. Jericho Arengo pets Vito at his retirement ceremony on Sept. 17. where you wouldn’t think he’s 11 years old,” SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 1, 2020 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC STRIPES JAPAN 3 Arengo, left, and Staff Sgt. Antonio Razo with Vito. Arengo relaxes with Vito. Vito relaxes after his retirement ceremony. Arengo said. “He acts like to duty and professionalism a puppy, running around, contributed significantly to the still chasing tennis balls, sprint- detachment’s overall success. ing as fast as he can.” His performance is in keeping Arengo said he has enjoyed with the finest traditions of the working with Vito while they Military Police Corps and re- were stationed together at flect great credit upon himself, Camp Zama, and considers him- the 901st Military Police De- self fortunate to have deployed tachment, U.S. Army Garrison to Iraq with him. Unfortunately, Japan and the U.S. Army.” however, Vito’s After he re- back gave out dur- ceived the medal, ing the deploy- Vito barked as ev- ment. “He’s a very eryone clapped. Arengo, who “We had to come sweet dog and back from our de- joined the Army ployment early, definitely made about three years and that’s what his mark and did ago and has been a military work- made the vets de- his job in the cide to retire him,” ing dog handler Arengo said. Army for several for more than two, thanked his fellow In addition to years.” soldiers for their soldiers from the support. 901st MP Det., Lt. – Capt. Amie Young “I was very Col. Demetrick fortunate for all Thomas and Com- of your advice on mand Sgt. Maj. Ed- how to be better gar Rodriguez, command team with Vito and also for giving me of the 35th Combat Sustainment the trust with Vito in going to Support Battalion, as well as Iraq,” Arengo said. “I couldn’t soldiers from the Camp Zama ask for a better team.” Veterinary Treatment Facility, Sgt. 1st Class Luis Berber, attended. the detachment’s kennel mas- Vito received the Army Com- ter, told the audience that Vito mendation Medal during the has had a good career in the ceremony, signed by Col. Thom- Army, and he wishes him all the as Matelski, commander, U.S. best in his remaining years. Army Garrison Japan. “Thank you, Vito,” Berber In part, the certificate read: said. “Thank you for all you’ve “Sgt. 1st Class Vito’s dedication done.” 4 STRIPES JAPAN A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 1, 2020 BY THERON GODBOLD, “I just said something to this little girl, and STARS AND STRIPES she took a liking to me,” he recalled fondly. “Af- ter that, every time the family would come into or the past six years, retired gunnery ser- the commissary, she would look for me and we geant Bruce Merritt brought smiles to chil- just built a bond.” Fdren and their parents visiting Yokota Air In 2015, Merritt saw that the commissary Base’s Commissary. Sept. 16 was the 61-year-old didn’t have anything special set up for April’s cashier’s final day checking groceries, much to Month of the Military Child, so he made room the chagrin of commissary patrons. in his checkout line for a little helper. “Mr. Bruce was the highlight of our commis- “This little girl came in with her family and sary trips,” said Yokota spouse Patricia Brandon. she was kind of upset, so I asked the family if I “HeB alwayseloved made us smile and took Yokota care of us, could have her cashierhelp scan the items,” he said. “It we will definitely miss seeing him at the commis- was the happiest I had ever seen the little girl.” sary.” The child’s mother took a video Merritt, who was quick with EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM: and posted it to a local Facebook smiles departsand kind words, had to commissarygroup. After that, Merritt said he leave his job at the commissary often noticed that his line would due to the Department of De- be the longest because kids want- fense’s Five-Year Rule. Estab- ed help him ring up the groceries lished in 1966, the rule limits civilian DOD em- or just talk to him. ployees hired in the United States to five years “Many military kids don’t have relatives or of continuous overseas service before they must loved ones near, and he became the surrogate return to the U.S. ‘Commissary Grandpa’ to them all,” said Jaclyn Merritt came to Yokota in July 2014 because Escalera. “He was someone who took the time to the C-130’s reminded him of his younger broth- teach them and show them that they are impor- er, who had died in a plane crash. tant.” “I chose Yokota because of that airplane, Merritt isn’t done with Yokota. He might not the C-130, I just feel like every time I see that be able to work for the commissary anymore as a plane,” the Lynch Station, Va., native said. “I’m DOD civilian, but he is currently looking for a job closer to my brother.” on base as a contractor or as a non-appropriated During his first year at the commissary, Mer- funds employee.