U.S. airmen swept out to sea by typhoon identified

Pretty sad. They did no tknow the beach and how the swell hits surprisingly large and in sets. Even a good swimmer would have a hard time in that. RIP

Base officials have said the airmen were on temporary duty at Kadena Air Base in Japan, and were visiting the coast when waves carried them into the ocean.

Okinawa coast is not safe for US service men. Even locals are scary about going there if there is the monsoon in Philippines or Taiwan. If Taiwan and Philippines sneeze, Okinawa will get the flu. If Japan is sick, Okinawa is still healthy.

Kadena base should relocate to other part of Japan. When I was visiting in US, one victim was sucked by Tornado and his body was never recovered. According his wife, he was sitting near her and suddenly gone with the wind.

So much for thinking they were young inexperienced kids. These three were as senior in the enlisted ranks as it gets. You would think that at that age and with that much life experience they would have had enough sense. How unfortunate.

This is not the first time this has happened to US airmen, they must be from the west or northeast of USA because people from the south of the USA have to deal with hurricanes and tornados they have a healthy respect for severe weather.

Okinawa coast is not safe for US service men. Even locals are scary about going there if there is the monsoon in Philippines or Taiwan.

Then it sounds like the more accurate statement would be that the shores of Okinawa are not safe for ANYONE, not just U.S. Servicemen, during a storm.

Kadena base should relocate to other part of Japan. When I was visiting in US, one victim was sucked by Tornado and his body was never recovered. According his wife, he was sitting near her and suddenly gone with the wind.

??? What does a tornado in the United States have to do with an Air Force base being relocated?

This is not the first time this has happened to US airmen, they must be from the west or northeast of USA because people from the south of the USA have to deal with hurricanes and tornados they have a healthy respect for severe weather.

I guess you've never heard of a "nor'easter"? Those in the Northeast also have a healthy respect for the ocean during a storm. The Left Coast? Well, we don't call California "The Granola State" for nothing. (full of flakes and nuts) :-)

These three young men may not have been inexperienced with jet engines, but we're certainly inexperienced with the sea. As a life long sailor and waterman, I can say that large waves can and often do sweep the unprepared out to a watery grave. Even seemingly small waves can be fatal to the uninformed. RIP young airmen.

Exactly how close to the ocean were these airmen? If they were close enough to allow waves to splash over them then they were stupid enough to die for what they did.

A Senior Master Sgt's average age is 41.4, a Master Sgt 38.3 and a Staff Sgt... well, you get the idea. These were NOT young inexperienced men so as to why they didn't figure that hurricane force winds, next to the largest body of water on the planet would NOT be dangerous, week, one can only conclude a lack of common sense. An accident that should NOT have happened.

Exactly how close to the ocean were these airmen?

Approximately 1.3 million people live on Okinawa, 3 get washed away by the waves. 3 people who were deemed responsible enough to be a part of the US defense force. Condolences to the families, but sorry, Darwin theory wins again.

An aunt of one of the victims wrote in a previous column that only one of the men got too close, then the others tried to rescue him (I guess there were other witnesses too). Sounds like a pretty credible scenario. It happens frequently in drowning deaths - sometimes the original victim survives and the rescuer(s) die. Lucky the search helicopter didn't go down in high winds.

These boards make it sound as though not one of you have ever taken a risk as a young person. Maybe not in a typhoon, but you were made aware of what could happen. Many young people see themselves as indestructible. These young men did not see the typhoon as more than a mere storm, I'm sure.

There were 6 men on the shore that day. Josh's buddy was washed under and Joshua risked (and ended) his life for that friend. Isn't that what true heroism is - Risking your own life for the life of your fellow man?

His family is in anguish, he was top of the line, and I know his mother is extremely proud of him, as we all are. Does that mean we think he did the right thing? That is not for us to decide. He made that decision himself, and I am sure he would make the same one again.

By the way, Josh is no longer missing. Staff Sgt Joshua Schoenhoff was found. He did not make it. Dear Joshua, R.I.P.

I am so sorry for your loss, Callie. Going out to help someone in trouble on the water was a very brave thing to do. I pray you and your family find some comfort in your faith. God bless.

Someone got too close to the water, got swept in... other men tried to rescue that man and they all died.

It's so sad... such Heros