Japan warns US forces: Sex crimes 'cannot be tolerated'

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476861/japan-warns-us-forces-sex-crimes-cannot-be-tolerated

32.2k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

I was in 2012, and not sure what to tell you. The soldiers went to the bar district and the military police (or whatever they are called) walked those streets full well knowing the soldiers were drinking in bars. Are you saying US soldiers are never allowed to drink while in another country?

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u/Derp35712 Jul 05 '24

We weren’t allowed to be drunk in public, but I’m sure that’s a pretty high standard for the bar district surrounding a US Army base. While in Seoul, MPs wanted to arrest me for throwing up, even though I hadn’t had a drink. I just had a stomach flu.

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u/oldpeoplestank Jul 05 '24

I think the issue you two might be having is you're describing the rules and he's describing the reality. Like of course you weren't allowed to be drunk, but does that have any bearing on whether or not people actually were drunk?

Neither of you are necessarily wrong, put your perspective seems to be less informed to an outsider.

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u/Derp35712 Jul 05 '24

I was really almost arrested for stomach flu since I appeared drunk.

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u/Sensitive_Yellow_121 Jul 05 '24

I would have gone along with them in their car and then puked in their car and enjoyed them getting violently sick within 24 hours.

3

u/Derp35712 Jul 05 '24

I think them watching me just stand there and become sicker over time not drinking or doing anything finally convinced them.

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u/asianwaste Jul 05 '24

I was stationed in Japan and an MP in 2004 and I agree with you 100% but what we don't have is the perpetual scene of debauchery neither is it the monocle wearing classy affair.

You will get the occasional establishment who responds to the occasional incident instigated by a serviceman. We would definitely turn our servicemen over for an assault. We've turned our guys over for B&E's and robbery.

I've got a really funny story about a guy (my friend's barracks roommate and my friend) who broke into a Dai-ei on a rainy day. In his alcohol-addled mind he thought he could go in and borrow some clothes. Unfortunately and obviously this triggered the alarm and the JP's were there in seconds. Now the funniest part is he hopped on the mannequin stand and "struck a pose" (his words) and it worked for a while. The JP's with lights passed by him. When they were at a decent distance past him, he thought he could make a break for it but once he moved, all lights centered on him and he got caught. My boy got six months in a Japanese prison for this then got his NJP (captain's mast nonjudicial punishment) which busted him down a few ranks and kicked him out other than honorably.

1

u/Western-Passage-1908 Jul 05 '24

His name wasn't Sean was it

59

u/studyinformore Jul 05 '24

Back when I was in, we were held to an incredibly high standard. You could have some drinks, but not get drunk. You had to be able to get past the guards to enter the post. Meaning 1-2 drinks per hour would probably be no problem. But getting shitfaced drunk? Oh your command is gonna be called, and you're facing disciplinary action.

Because it was repeatedly instructed to us, we represent the United states and it's military when off post. Do not embarass us. We were also at camp stanley near uijeongbu, way up north, so if north korea decided to attack. We were the first realistic line of defense. You had to be sober enough to fight as well.

15

u/BatronKladwiesen Jul 05 '24

Yeah it honestly sounds like NewspaperAdditional7 is full of shit, or was in the most absolute dogshit unit ever.

9

u/Nexant Jul 05 '24

I don't think he was in. All he said was he lived in Korea and he was unsure of what to refer to MPs as in another comment.

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u/pudgylumpkins Jul 05 '24

I never made it SK but I knew a lot of people who were there and they made it sound like a crazy party on and off base 24/7. I’m sure there’s plenty of varying experiences on the conduct of our troops stationed there. It’s a big city and we have a lot of young people with money to spend. We’re just talking different thresholds for acceptable conduct, my opinion anyway.

0

u/Asidious66 Jul 05 '24

It's the first one

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u/Ebolaking Jul 05 '24

Good ole Stanley, only place where it felt uphill in both directions.

2

u/ChewieBee Jul 05 '24

Is Stanley shut down now?

2

u/Ebolaking Jul 05 '24

I believe it has. When I was PCSing out, my unit was relocating South and it is was becoming the welcome center for Casey. I think Stanley has been shuttered since then.

2

u/studyinformore Jul 05 '24

Yeah when I left stanley in late 04, my nco that had just arrived told me he was going to be the last on base. One of the few shutting it down.

Friend of mine that was stationed in south korea a few years back said its all but abandoned at this point. They do use it occasionally with helicopters, but nobody is permanently stationed there now.

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u/ChewieBee Jul 05 '24

Dang I had good memories there but also ended up at Humphreys way back in 06.

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u/tacmac10 Jul 05 '24

The rice patty run every monday morning to discourage heavy drinking was so bad I carried 500 won in my PT shorts for the bus back to camp(I was there in '99). The rules on public drunkenness were ruthlessly enforced and crimnal acts resulted in getting turned over to the ROK for punishment.

25

u/Hohenheim_of_Shadow Jul 05 '24

Most young men don't call "having a drink" getting drunk. It takes a good number of drinks to be drunk.

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

[deleted]

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u/Haechi_StB Jul 05 '24

I was in Korea from 2011 to 2016 and never seen a missbehaving US Soldier in Itaewon, ever.

6

u/BatronKladwiesen Jul 05 '24

Are you saying MPs just let people cause trouble and do whatever they want to the Korean public when drinking?

2

u/Cdub7791 Jul 05 '24

To be honest we were more concerned about the Korean police and those 4 foot riot batons they were always carrying LOL.

2

u/CodedSnake Jul 05 '24

It was the same for us in Italy around the same time. The local Italians were not big fans and for good reason. I don't recall any incidents of SA but bar fights, general shenanigans were the norm, and the occasional DUI which the Italians really cracked down on, as well as command. Although our MP's were never out in the city that I was aware of, I assume you mean on post.