Former deputy commander of U.S.-led multinational forces in Iraq assigned to be U.S. Army commander in Japan

Japan Press Weekly

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Former deputy commander of U.S.-led multinational forces in Iraq assigned to be U.S. Army commander in Japan

Brig. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski has been assigned as the Commander of the U.S. Army in Japan and deputy commander of the 1^st Corps (Forward) headquartered at U.S. Army Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Judging from the fact that he was in command of the Iraq War, many people are concerned that the base will increase its ability to command combat operations in wars.

Wiercinski served as the deputy commander of the Multi-National Division - North in Iraq (July 2006- December 2007). Last January, he was named U.S. Army Pacific deputy commander, and late last June he was appointed to commanding general, U.S. Army Japan.

The U.S. Army, Pacific last December carried out a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in order to enhance operational capabilities whilst the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division has been deployed in Iraq. This CPX was part of a U.S.-Japan joint exercises called “Yama Sakura 53,” which was carried out in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, in which the 1^st Corps command (Forward) took part for the first time.

Lt. G. Mixon, who assumed commanding responsibility for the U.S. Army, Pacific, recently, said in the May 19 issue of the Stars and Stripes (the U.S. forces’ semi-organ newspaper), “Soldiers based in Japan, Hawaii and Alaska will begin working more closely with American troops on the Korean Peninsula at some point in the next two years.” The comments were made during a recent stopover in Japan and he added that his command “would take on additional responsibilities by working in support of U.S. Forces Korea and the 8th Army as part of transformation.”

In December 2007, the U.S. Army established its 1^st Corps (Forward) headquarters at Camp Zama. It has been made known that a combat simulation center will be built at the U.S. Army Sagami Depot in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa by September 2010.

“They have explained nothing to citizens about what will happen at Camp Zama,” said Suganuma Mikio, secretary general of the citizens’ group opposing the transfer of the U.S. Army 1^st Corps (Forward) to Camp Zama. “Citizens are determined to foil the plan to perpetuate the base that will play further dangerous roles,” he added.

Former deputy commanders of the U.S. Forces in the Pacific have also assumed posts at other U.S. Army aerial commands in the region. They include the commander of the U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo as well as the U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet, home ported at the U.S. Naval Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa. - Akahata, July 22, 2008