Operation Tomodachi

Sailors unload humanitarian assistance supplies in a hangar at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The supplies were donated by area Japanese townships and were taken to the base for distribution to areas affected by a More

Capt. Eric Gardner, left, commanding officer of Naval Air Facility Atsugi, presents Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi an Operation Tomodachi patch. Gardner visited the mayor to discuss the role of Naval Air Facilit More

Senior Airman Ryan Tiner, 621st Contingency Response Wing aerial porter deployd from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., prepares a power generator to be loaded on board a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to H More

Navy Diver 2nd Class Taylor Nevius drives a sledgehammer into a bumper, while performing a CrossFit Exercise aboard USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50). The ship is currently in Onagawa after city representatives invite More

Spc. Eddie Sneed with the 296th Army Band, U.S. Army Japan, gives a backpack to a child, one of many Japanese citizens affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Army Band is touring around Sendai Ci More

Members of the Los Angeles Search and Rescue team, Task Force 2 sleep on board a C-17 Globemaster III while en route to Japan during an emergency response on March 12, 2011. Aircrew from the 4th Airlift Squadro More

Base residents listen as Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, briefs them on the current conditions of the base March 12. The base lost power after they felt the effects of an 8.9 magnitude eart More

Airman unload supplies from a KC-130 here March 12 during a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission in response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11. III Marine Expeditionary Force ( More

Marines assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force load humanitarian assistance supplies and personnel aboard C-130 aircraft bound for mainland Japan at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as part of Operation Tom More

Tech. Sgt. Andrew Dunn, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-17 crew chief, conducts a pre-flight maintenance inspection before departing on a humanitarian mission to Japan on March 12, at Joint Base Pearl Harb More

Airmen load a pallet on to a C-17 Globemaster III at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., March 12, in support of Operation Tomodachi. The supplies were en route to Japan for earthquake relief efforts. (U.S. Air Fo More

Marines and sailors disembark from a KC-130 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 12, during a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission in response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11. Th More

III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and sailors disembark from a KC-130J Hercules aircraft here March 12, 2011, during a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission in response to the 8.9 magnitude earth More

Members of the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron wait to receive briefings after arriving at Misawa Air Base March 13, 2011 in support of Operation Tomodachi. Several search and rescue teams are also scheduled to ar More

Meals Ready-To-Eat are prepared to be transported to a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary For More

An aerial view of damage to Wakuya, Japan, after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in northern Japan. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are condu More

A U.S. Air Force C-17 III Globemaster sits on the flight line ready to off load earthquake relief supplies on March 13, 2011, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, for Operation Tomodachi.

A joint-service American survey team flies over the wreckage at Sendai Airport, March 13, two days after the massive earthquake and tsunami ravaged the eastern coast of Japan's main island of Honshu.

III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and sailors disembark from a KC-130J Hercules aircraft here March 12, 2011, during a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission in response to the 8.9 magnitude earth More

A U.S. Air Force C-17 III Globemaster sits on the flight line ready to off load earthquake relief supplies on March 13, 2011 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, for Operation Tomodachi.

Lance Cpl. Adam Kabrick, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, guides a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, or “7-ton,” onto the Westpac Express, high-speed More

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-70B helicopter lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan is off the coastline of Japan to provide disaster relief and humanitarian More

Marines with 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF (Forward) load a KC-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft here March 14, during humanitarian assistance operati More

Lance Cpl. Brandon McCormick, left, and Sgt. Tony Hinds set up a satellite system here March 14 as part of Operation Tomodachi. Personnel with III Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) established a humanitarian More

Marines with 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF (Forward) load a KC-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft here March 14, during humanitarian assistance operati More

An SH-60F Sea Hawk assigned to the Black Knights of Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 stages to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan Sea Hawk helicopters ar More

The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos pulls alongside the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge to conduct a replenishment at sea. Blue Ridge is en route to Japan to support ear More

A Marine with the Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, enters the Consolidated Issue Facility here after working hours March 15. Marines are being issued add More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Zack DelCorte, a Naval air crewman assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, currently embarked with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), ha More

Sailors load bottled water on an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan is off the coast of More

Pfc. Willie Jones, left, a heavy equipment mechanic from Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, checks out gear from the Consolidated Issue Facility here March More

Displaced Japanese citizens gather around an electric heater in an elementary school gymnasium in a coastal city of northern Japan in the wake of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Ships and a More

A Japan Self-Defense Force armored vehicle is craned aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Tortuga loaded humanitarian supplies and more than 20 vehicles to support Operation Tomodachi, More

Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) watch as an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter transports humanitarian assistance supplies from the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition sh More

Lance Cpl. Landon Strange, crew chief for a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, removes p More

A naval air crewman assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 43 embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) provides fuel to a Japanese man for his kerosene heater. Preble is co More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Zack DelCorte, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, hands bottled water to a Japanese citizen. Sh More

A KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force takes off en route to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, on mainland Japan March 16. The aircraf More

Members from III Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Army Japan, U.S. Army and 1st Corps (Forward) wait on the flight line here for 25,000 bottles of water to be delivered by a U.S. Air Force MC-130T carg More

Sgt. John Smith, an embarkation chief with Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, tightens a strap to hold down bottled water and Chemical Biological Radiologi More

Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force load a palette of bottled water and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear gear into a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to be transported to Atsugi, Japan in support More

Members of the Fairfax County, Va., Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue search structures and debris on March 16, 2011 in Ofunato, Japan. A 9.0 earthquake hit Japan on March 11 that caused a tsunami that destr More

Marines assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, board a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to provide assistance to areas in Japan affected by a 9.0 magnitud More

Senior Bradley Collier and Staff Sgt. Amber Anderson both from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron, drive toward an MC-130P.

Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force tighten straps on a palette of bottled water bound for mainland Japan from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 16. Marines from More

Landing Craft Utility 1627 transports Japan Ground Self-Defense Force trucks to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga. Tortuga is transporting the equipment to support Operation Tomodachi, a humanitaria More

Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldiers and III Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Marines team up to offload about 25,000 bottles of water from a U.S. Air Force MC-130T cargo plane during Operation Tomodach More

Grocery carts at the Camp Courtney commissary quickly filled March 18 as costumers donated canned foods and other items for the victims of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which struck mainland Japan Ma More

Residents of Misawa Air Base both civilian and military volunteer to help aid the Hachinohe recovery efforts March 17. The 9.1 earthquake caused a massive tsunami to wash through the town of Hachinohe, Japan. More

Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin load humanitarian assistance supplies donated by ship's personnel onto helicopters for delivery to areas affected by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequ More

Lance Cpl. Justin R. Triplett, a load master with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force helps load a KC-130J Super Her More

A Sailor signals the Marine pilots of a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as it takes off during flight operations March 17. The 31st More

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is underway off the coast of Japan conducting humanitarian assistance missions supporting Operation Tomodachi. (Photo by: Petty Officer 1st Class Jay Okonek)

A KC130-J Super Hercules cargo aircraft takes off here March 18 en route to mainland Japan. The aircraft will deliver supplies, equipment and personnel in support of Operation Tomodachi. III MEF Marines and sai More

Senior Chief Petty Officer Francisco Garcia inspects the propellers on an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to the Vanguards of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 aboard the amphibious dock landing More

An aerial view of Minato, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ethan Johnson)

Sailors load food and humanitarian supplies aboard an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reaga More

Lt. Cmdr. Derek Peterson, left, from Cocoa, Fla., a U.S. 7th Fleet salvage officer, views photos of damage caused by a tsunami to the port in Hachinohe. Peterson is meeting with city officials to offer U.S. Nav More

OMINATO Bay, Japan (Mar. 18, 2011) Sailors assigned to the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and crewmen from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS)14 Detachment 1 watch as an HM-53E Sea Dragon prepares a More

Staff Sgt. Rolando Rivera, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron, taxis in a Royal Australian air force C-17 Globemaster III from the 36th Squadron here March 18. The RAAF transported the Japan Ground Self Defense More

Cmdr. Doug Huggins, air operations deputy officer for Atsugi Air Station answers questions to military families about plans for a voluntary authorized departure here March 18. The commander held two town hall b More

Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Martin, engineman, left, uses an IM-271/PD Radiacmeter to detect possible surface contaminates on Airman Eddie Sanchez, aviation boatswain's mate (fuel), aboard the aircraft carr More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Mar. 18, 2011) The guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilber (DDG 54) is underway off the coast of Japan providing humanitarian assistance to Japan as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi. More

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit load humanitarian assistance supplies onto a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex. Ess More

Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald and members of the Japan coast guard from a Japan coast guard vessel, right, conduct operations off the coast of Miyagi Prefec More

An HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, delivers humanitarian supplies to residents in norther More

U.S. Navy dependents voluntarily returning to the United States spend the afternoon waiting in line to register for travel out of Yokosuka.

An aerial view of damage to northern Honshu, Japan, after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area. (Photo by: Petty Officer 1st Class Jay Okonek)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Mar. 18, 2011) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is underway off the coast of Japan conducting humanitarian assistance missions suporting Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Navy photo by N More

An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Black Eagles of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 catapults off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. The Hawkeye provides aerial observation and damage as More

Scott Kopelwitz, chief mineman, from New Philadelphia, Ohio, pushes a barrel out of the tree line at Misawa Fishing Port. Service members, civilian employees, and family members from Misawa Air Base joined with More

A landing craft utility debarks the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex to survey landing sites near Akita, Japan. Essex, the amphibious dock landing ships USS Harpers Ferry and USS Germantown, More

Maj. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, commanding general, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, traveled to Matsushima Air Base, Sendai Airport, and Camp Sendai to survey the damage done to the areas affec More

Cpl. Rolf Zelonis, crew chief for the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, pre-flights the heli More

An SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 prepares to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to transport food and humanitarian assistance More

The Information Cell conducts a bilateral meeting March 19 here. Service members with United States Forces Japan and Japanese North East Army coordinate information for planning humanitarian assistance and disa More

Airmen and sailors help to clean up trash and debris at the Misawa City fishing port March 19. Misawa residents have been volunteering their time to help out the local community since March 14.

Sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan load humanitarian assistance supplies onto an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Anti-Submarine Squadron 4. Ronald Rea More

Members from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron pushes a pallet full of supplies onto a C-17 Globemaster III here March 20. The supplies were sent to Sendai Airport to be used for humanitarian assistance bringing More

Sailors stage pallets of relief supplies aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) for transfer during a replenishment at sea. Blue Ridge is providing disaster relief and humanitarian assis More

Naval Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Dowd, air crewman, from Phoenix, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4, speaks with Japanese citizens to identify areas affected by the earth More

A C-2A Greyhound assigned to the Providers of Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron 30 prepares to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan is operating off the coast of Japan to pr More

A C-2A Greyhound assigned to the Providers of Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron (VRC) 30 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). C-2A Greyhounds are being used to transport food, wa More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Landers, aviation boatswain's mate (handling) of El Paso, Texas, assigned to Naval Air Facility Misawa, directs a CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter, from Marine Medium Helicopter Squad More

Sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) load boxes of Meals Ready-to-Eat onto an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter from the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 14 More

A girl smiles as residents gathered at a school in Northern Japan assist Marines from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265 with moving a box containing food, water and clothing. The Marine Corps Air Sta More

Airman 1st Class Hayden Boeglin, 730th Air Mobility Squadron, strips off a chain from supplies to be loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III on March 20, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The supplies were delivered to Sen More

Seaman Kameron Maison, left, Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Iverson, a culinary specialist, Airman Brandon Frasier, an aviation ordnanceman, and Seaman Nicholas Constable stage pallets of relief supplies aboard t More

Sailors and Marines load humanitarian supplies onto an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reag More

KC-130J cargo aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Sendai Airport March 20. The aircraft are the fir More

Marines and Japanese citizens form a chain near an evacuation center in northern Japan to move relief supplies from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 26 More

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service members and III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines team up to offload about 25,000 bottles of water from a the back of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter during Operation Tom More

A CH-46E Sea Knight belonging to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okina More

Members of the French Civil Security Firefighting Squad move a downed tree while participating at a clean-up project at a Misawa beach area. Service members, civilian employees, and family members from Misawa A More

Military dependents stationed here checked out of housing and the base personnel office before leaving the island of Hoshu, Japan as part of the authorized voluntary departure March 21. Due to damage as a resul More

An aerial view of Oshima-Mura, Japan, 11 days after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are operating off the coast of Japan providi More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Mar. 21, 2011) CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters take off from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) with humanitarian assistance supplies in support of Operation Tomodachi. More

Col. Guillermo Tellez, 35th Medical Group commander, says goodbye to Maurer Bruno, Swiss Search and Rescue team volunteer, on the flightline March 21. Bruno has been supporting search and recovery efforts for t More

Sailors signal to each other while fueling an SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). Fitzgerald is at sea east of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, to More

Samantha Browning, right, and Hailey Fredrick, both 10-years old, raise the American flag at Sollars Elementary School, March 21. Base schools are back in session with all bus routes running and classes startin More