Okinawa is the small Island in Japan, with an area of roughly 640 kilometers. Naha is the capital city of the Okinawa Prefecture and the biggest city and home to 60% of the population. Okinawa has been a critical strategic location for the United States Armed Forces. At the end of World War II, more than 180,000 U.S. army and marine corps entered Okinawa from the Pacific. The island currently hosts around 26,000 US military personnel.

An American photographer took these stunning color pictures while he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. These photographs capture everyday life of residents of Okinawa.