Alcohol ban for US troops in Japan

This happens all too often. High visibility cases jeopardize our SOFA and so much more. There was the rape case in 95, and periodic alcohol related incidents. Results range from restricted areas to Cinderella Liberty to no liberty and all things in between. As an acting Company Commander in 95 I had to read a kid his rights and confine him to barracks one Sunday morning. Him and 8 others decided to go gangster on an Airman from Kadena. They robbed and beat him up. The Kadena CG was highly pissed and same rank (BG) as FSSG CG. After they talked things happened very quickly. We had his gear inventoried and in Hansen Brig by mid-afternoon Monday. He remained there pending court-martial until I rotated, and I'd guess he got some hard time. His Mom bugged the crap out of me by calling from Dallas several times a week. The time difference meant me getting woke up at all hours. I kept telling her I couldn't discuss anything and she should go through the channels for info, but she was upset that her sweet son was getting juiced. Seems the outcome then was making Gate 2 and BC Street off-limits, and Cinderella Liberty for USMC for awhile. The rape case involved one sailor and 2 Marines and a 12 year old Okinawan schoolgirl, and was an international incident. Tensions were already high, and then these 9 knuckleheads showed out, so they were really screwed.