Okinawan Cook helps the Marines through food services

We asked Mr. Taishi Oyakawa, a master labor contractor (MLC), what he does for the Marine Corps and what he enjoys most about working with service members and supervising other MLCs at Mess Hall 488, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.

“We [as MLCs] do our jobs as cooks and we help the Marines through our food services,” he said.

“This is a really important job [as an MLC, since] we get to connect together and experience friendship. ‘Semper Fi,’ you know," he said.

“Working at the chow hall is my final home. I would definitely recommend working on the base, I’m still so happy to work on base after 25 years,” he said.

Oyakawa is a native of Okinawa City, and has worked at Mess Hall 488 for five years, but has worked across Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler for 25 years. He currently serves as a supervisor of the 44 MLCs at Mess Hall 488.