Waverly Memorial Day speaker brings awareness to Camp Fuji tragedy
Legion Post 305 will host a Memorial Day Service in Waverly on May 25 at Veterans Memorial Park, 502 Atlantic Ave., from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The service will feature an honored guest speaker, broadcast journalist and author Chas Henry, a combat veteran of the 1991 Gulf War.
Captain Henry is the author of “Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy,” a book that investigates a tragic event, which occurred at Camp Fuji on Oct. 19, 1979, and its impact on those who experienced it first-hand.
The Camp Fuji fire remains one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in United States Marine Corps history — a tragedy fueled by extreme weather, fire, and extraordinary acts of courage.
The catastrophe unfolded at Camp Fuji, a U.S. Marine Corps training facility located near the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, Fourth Marines, based on Okinawa, were participating in a training exercise when Super Typhoon Tip struck the region. The storm, recognized as one of the largest and most intense tropical cyclones ever recorded, brought torrential rain and powerful winds that battered the encampment throughout the night.
As conditions worsened, a fuel farm positioned uphill from the Marines’ temporary living quarters began to fail. Approximately 5,500 gallons of gasoline overflowed from ruptured fuel bladders and surged downhill toward rows of corrugated steel huts where Marines had taken shelter from the storm.
Shortly after midnight, the gasoline ignited. Flames rapidly engulfed the huts, trapping many Marines inside. Survivors later described walls of fire racing through the camp as explosions and intense heat turned the area into chaos within seconds.
From a total of 73 injured in the incident, 13 would die of their severe burns. Many victims sustained life-altering wounds that required years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Several Marines risked their own lives to rescue fellow servicemen from the burning huts, repeatedly entering the flames despite exploding fuel and collapsing structures.
The disaster prompted one of the largest emergency medical evacuations in Marine Corps history at the time. Burn victims were transported to hospitals in Japan and later transferred to military medical facilities in the United States for long-term treatment. Medical personnel worked around the clock to stabilize survivors suffering from extensive burns and smoke inhalation.
Investigations following the fire pointed to a combination of extreme weather conditions, fuel storage vulnerabilities, and camp layout issues that contributed to the scale of the disaster. In the years that followed, the Marine Corps implemented changes to fuel storage procedures, emergency preparedness, and field encampment safety standards to help prevent similar tragedies.
The Camp Fuji fire is remembered not only for the devastating loss of life, but also for the resilience and heroism displayed by Marines who fought to save their fellow servicemen during one of the darkest nights in Corps history.
About the book:
“Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy” by author Chas Henry examines the events that led up to the horrific Camp Fuji fire and the heroic efforts that followed.
During the storm caused by Super Typhoon Tip — approximately 5,500 gallons of gasoline were swept into corrugated steel huts occupied by U.S. Marines. The fuel ignited, leaving 73 injured, of whom 13 Marines died.
Henry spent four years researching the disaster. His investigation includes interviews, military records, and firsthand accounts from survivors and rescuers. Henry trained at Camp Fuji less than two years before the tragedy occurred, giving him a personal connection to the story.
The book details the timeline of the fire along with the heroism, sacrifice, and long-lasting impact on those involved. The book includes accounts from burn victims, medical personnel, and fellow Marines who responded during the disaster.
Military leaders and historians have praised the book for shedding light on an event that many believe has been largely forgotten in Marine Corps history. Retired General Anthony Zinni described the work as “a brilliant account of a tragic chapter in the history of our Corps,” while former Marine, Navy Secretary, U.S. Senator, and author James Webb stated, “The complexity of this story makes it exceedingly difficult to tell. Till now, it has been little remembered and infrequently taught in our military academy’s.”
The book received positive reviews from readers and historians for its detailed reporting and emotional storytelling. Reviewers noted the book’s ability to combine investigative journalism with personal stories of resilience and camaraderie among Marines during the aftermath of the tragedy.
