Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy

In this episode of the DAV podcast, host Matt Saintsing interviews Chas Henry, author of "Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy." The discussion centers on the devastating fire at Camp Fuji, Japan, in 1979, which killed 13 Marines and injured 60 more. Henry, a Marine Corps veteran and had previously been stationed at the same camp, explains how his personal connection to the site and the shocking discovery that many Marines were unaware of the tragedy inspired him to write the book. He details the events of the fire, which was caused by a super typhoon that breached a berm, allowing 5,500 gallons of gasoline to flow into the camp and ignite. The conversation also explores the harrowing experiences of the survivors, the inadequacy of the camp's fire prevention measures, and the institutional response from the Marine Corps, which, according to Henry, largely suppressed information about the event in its aftermath.