Chronology of Operation TomodachiChronology of Operation Tomodachi March 11–April 8, 2011 On March...

Chronology of Operation Tomodachi March 11–April 8, 2011

On March 11, 2011, at 14:46 Japan Standard Time, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred 81 miles to the east of Sendai, Japan. Over the course of the crisis, the United States and Japanese governments engaged in far-reaching cooperation, providing relief and aid to the affected areas of northeast Japan. The heart of the U.S.-Japan alliance, since the establishment of the alliance in 1951 with the Mutual Security Treaty, resides in the collaborative work undertaken by the U.S. military and the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF). Operation Tomodachi (トモダチ作戦) was the U.S. Armed Forces operation that supported Japan in disaster relief following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Tomodachi is the Japanese word for “friend,” indicating the deep nature of the relationship.

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) began tracking developments in Japan shortly after news of the earthquake and tsunami reached the United States. In the following weeks, Operation Tomodachi was chronicled on the NBR website. The resulting chronology, which details the successful execution of Operation Tomodachi, is provided below.

Original chronology by Ryan Zielonka; revisions by Daniel Taninecz Miller and Jonathan Walton. Photo credit: A U.S. Navy air crewman from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 surveys affected areas, March 21, 2011.

TIMELINE

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THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ASIAN RESEARCH • Chronology of Operation Tomodachi

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Friday, March 11, 2011

• CH-46ESeaKnighthelicopterswithMarineMediumHelicopterSquadron265,IIIMEF,departMarineCorpsAirStationFutenmaforNavalAirFacilityAtsugionHonshu.

• TheUSSRonald ReaganCarrierStrikeGroup(consistingoftheUSSChancellorsville,theUSSPreble,andtheUSNSBridge)departsfortheJapaneseislandofHonshu.

• TheUSSRonald Reagan,stationedoffthecoastofJapan,workstogetherwiththeJSDFtoproviderefuelingsupportandtransportforJSDFtroops.

• TheUSSMcCampbellandUSSCurtis Wilbur,stationedatseanearJapan,preparetomoveintopositiontoaidinat-searescueeffortswithJapaneseauthorities.

• TheUSSTortuga,stationedinJapan,departsforKoreatopickupheavy-lifthelicopterstoassistinreliefefforts.

• TheUSSEssex,havingjustarrivedinMalaysia,departsforJapan.

• TheUSSBlue Ridge,theU.S.SeventhFleetcommandship,departsSingaporeforJapancarryingreliefandhumanitarianequipmentloadedatport.

• TheUSSHarpers FerryandtheUSSGermantownredirectfromlocationsinSoutheastAsiatoJapan.

• U.S.ForcesJapan,basedatYokotaAirBasenearTokyo,coordinateshumanitarianassistance.

• U.S.AirForceandMarinehelicopterandtransportaircraftaremovedfromOkinawatoU.S.militarybasesonHonshu.

• The31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitandAmphibiousSquadron11embarkforthecoastofJapan.

• C-130aircraftofIIIMarineExpeditionaryForcearesenttotheaffectedregionofJapan.

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter takes off from the USS Ronald Reagan.


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• TheU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID)dispatchestwourbansearch-and-rescueteamstoJapan.

• U.S.non-governmentalaidorganizationsbegincoordinatingwithcivilsocietygroupsinJapantohelpwithdisasterrelief.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

• TheUSSRonald Reagan CarrierStrikeGroup(consistingoftheUSSChancellorsville,theUSSPreble,andtheUSNSBridge)arrivesinJapan.

• TwoSH-60SeahawkhelicoptersfromtheU.S.NavalAirFacilityAtsugideliver1,500poundsofriceandbreadtotheaffectedregion.

Monday, March 14, 2011

• TheUSSRonald Reagan andtheCarrierStrikeGroup(USSChancellorsville,USSPreble,USNSBridge)movedownwindfromFukushima inresponse toradiologicalconcernsemanatingfromthedamagedFukushimanuclearplants.Theyareabout180nauticalmilesawayfromtheFukushimanuclearcomplex.

• TheUSSFitzgerald,USSJohn S. McCain,USSMcCampbellandUSSCurtis WilburoperateinthenearbyvicinityoftheUSSRonald ReaganCarrierStrikeGroup.

• TheUSSMustin(DDG89)operatesinseassouthofthedisastersite.

• 50,000U.S.militarypersonnelareoperatinginJapanprovidingdisasterrelief.

• EightofthethirteenU.S.militaryshipsmobilizedonMarch11operateoffthecoastofHonshu,withmoreenroute:theUSSTortuga(threedaysout),USSEssex(twodaysout),theUSSBlue Ridge(twodaysout),theUSSHarpers Ferry(twodaysout),andtheUSSGermantown(twodaysout).

• P-3Orionaircraftflysurveymissionsoftheaffectedarea.

• Airoperationsconsistingof10helicoptersfromtheNavalStationinAtsugiandtheUSSRonald ReaganflyreliefmissionsintheMinatoregion.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

• AjointJSDF/U.S.militaryhelicopteroperationtopourwateroverthedamagedFukushimanuclearplantsiscalledoffinresponsetothegrowingradiationhazard.

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville underway off the coast of Japan.


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• FourteenU.S.Navyshipsandtheiraircraft,and17,000sailorsandMarinesprovidehumanitarianassistanceanddisasterrelieftoJapan.

• Themilitaryeffortincludes113helicoptersortiesand125fixed-wingsorties,movingpeopleandsupplies,helpinginsearchandrescueefforts,anddelivering129,000gallonsofwaterand4,200poundsoffood.

• TheUSSTortuga,with300JSDFpersonneland90vehiclesonboard,isexpectedtoarriveneartheaffectedareainonedayandbeginoperations.

• TheUSSBlue Ridgeisexpectedtoarriveinoneday.

• TheUSSHarpers Ferry,theUSSEssex,andtheUSSGermantown,transitandbegintooperateonthewesternsideofHonshuawayfromtheradiationhazardcausedbytheFukushimanuclearplantsandtheat-seadebrisfieldontheeasternsideofHonshu.

• TheUSNSSafeguarddelivershigh-pressurewaterpumpstoYokotaAirBasefortransfertotheJapanesegovernmentforuseattheFukushimapowerplant.

• U.S.AirForceC-17sandC-130sdeliver19generatorstoMisawaAirBaseforthebase’spowersystemandresupplypalletstoYokotaAirBase.

• TheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,JapanDistrict,providesanadministrationsystemtohelptheU.S.ArmyJapandisasterassessmentteamwithdebris-removalefforts.

• TheUSSRonald Reagan and theUSSRonald ReaganCarrier StrikeGrouprepositiontothenorthbutcontinuetooperateintheaffectedarea.

• The31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitbeginspreparationsforclean-upattheSendaiairport.

• TheU.S.MilitaryprovidestwofiretrucksforusebyJapaneseauthorities.

A member of a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force searches structures and debris in Kamaishi, March 16, 2011.


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• AsquadronfromMarineCorpsAirStationYumainArizonaiscalledupontoprovidereliefefforts.

• TheU.S.AirForce’sAirMobilityCommandforcesareplacedonalerttosupportreliefoperationsinJapan.

• Forcesfromthe615thContingencyResponseWingatTravisAirForceBase,CaliforniaareputonalertshouldadditionalneedsariseinJapan.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

• 15U.S.shipsandthousandsofnaval,groundandairforcepersonnelworktohelpJapandealwiththedamagednuclearreactorsandthehumanitariancrisiscausedbytheearthquakeandtsunami.

• AdmiralRobertWillard,commanderofU.S.militaryforcesinthePacific,callsthecurrentjointreliefefforta“naturalfit”,butacknowledgesthatthetripledisasters—theearthquake,tsunami,andmeltdownthreat—gobeyondanythingthetwomilitarieshaveeverpracticeddealingwith.

• UnmanneddronesmonitorradioactivitylevelsoverthedamagedFukushimanuclearpowerplant.

• GroundSelfDefenseForcesmitigatethedevelopingsituationsurroundingtheFukushimanuclearpowerplantwithaidfromU.S.armedforces.

• AU.S.GlobalHawkdroneandU2spyplanemeasuretheradiologicalthreatcausedbythecompromisedFukushimanuclearpowerplant.

• Anine-memberU.S.militaryteamarrivesinJapanfromU.SNorthernCommandto conduct a broad assessmentof thedisaster area, including thedamagedFukushimanuclearpowerplant.

• 450radiologicalanddisaster-managementexpertspreparetoofferassistanceafteraninitialassessmentbythenine-memberteam.

• CommanderNavalForces Japan(CNFJ)RegionalFireDepartment sendsaMorita1,000gallonstructuralengine(firefighting)toFukushimaCitylocatedinthenorthernregionofHonshu,Japan.

Debris and wreckage is piled up in Unosumai, March 17, 2011.


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• TheU.S.Navyprovidesfivehigh-capacitypumpingsystemstoJapan’sElectricalandMechanicalEngineeringGroupNuclearAssetManagementDepartmenttohelpcoolthecoreofthedamagedNo.3reactorattheFukushimanuclearpowerplant.

• DefenseSecretaryRobertM.Gatesauthorizesupto$35millionininitialDefenseDepartmentfundsforhumanitarianaidtoJapan.

• AU.S.Armygroundcommandercreatesa“jointtaskforce”withleadersoftheJapaneseSelf-DefenseForce.

• TheUSSBlue Ridge arrivesinJapan.

• TheUSSTortugaarrivesintheaffectedareasandbeginstoassistinthereliefeffort,delivering93vehiclesand273JapanesesoldiersashorebylandingcraftnearOminatoinnorthernJapan.Theshipisbringing5,000bottlesofwaterand5,000mealstoMisawaforfurtherdistribution.

• TheamphibiousdocklandingshipUSSGermantown intheSeaofJapanreceived85palletsoffoodandfuelfromvariousrelieforganizations.


• 4,000additionalmarinesandsailorswiththe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitandAmphibiousSquadron11arriveoffthecoastofwesternJapan.

• MorethanonedozenaircraftrelocatetoNavalAirFacilityMisawainnorthernJapanfromNavalAirFacilityAtsugiandKadenaAirBaseinsouthernJapan.Atotalof13helicoptersandabout500sailorsrepositiontoMisawa,doublingthebase’spopulation.

• ShipsfromtheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGrouparriveoffthecoastofwesternJapanwithmorethan150amphibiousvehiclesand25aircraft.

U.S. Navy personnel check sprinklers during a radiation scrub on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan.


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• Lt.Cmdr.DerekPeterson,U.S.7thFleetsalvageofficer,visitsHachinohe,Japan,andmeetswithcityofficialstodiscussthesalvagecapabilitiestheU.S.NavycanprovideinsupportofOperationTomodachi.

• AircraftassignedtoCarrierAirWing(CVW)5continuetoarriveatAndersonAirForceBaseaspartoftheNavy’sforcepostureadjustmentforOperationTomodachi.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

• Atpresentapproximately17,000U.S.militarypersonneland100plusaircraftareinvolvedorpreparedtoassistinreliefoperationsinJapan.

• SailorsandMarinesaboardtheaircraftcarrierUSSRonald Reagan (CVN76)collectdonationstosupplydisplacedJapanesecitizenswithessentialgoodsforsurvival.

• USSMcCampbell(DDG85)continuesitsHumanitarianAidandDisasterReliefoperationsofftheeastcoastoftheIwatePrefecture.


• The31stMarineExpeditionaryUnit(MEU)andAmphibiousSquadron11,withacombinedtotalofmorethan4,000MarinesandSailors,transittotheeastcoastofmainlandJapan.The31stMEUincludesmorethan2,200MarinesandSailorsandiscomprisedoffourelements:theCommandElement;BattalionLandingTeam2ndBattalion,5thMarines;MarineMediumHelicopterSquadron262(Reinforced)andCLB-31.The31stMEUprovidesaforward-deployed,flexible,sea-based force capable of supporting the ongoing Japanese humanitarianassistanceanddisasterreliefoperationsasdirected.

• USSEssex(LHD2),USSHarpers Ferry (LSD49)andUSSGermantown(LSD42)withtheembarked31stMEUarriveoffthecoastnearHachinohecity,preparingtoassisthumanitarianaideffortsalongtheaffectednortheasterncoast.

• HelicopterswithMarineMediumHelicopterSquadron262(Reinforced),31stMEU,flyfromUSSEssex(LHD2)asitdrawsneartheeasterncoastline.Thehelicoptercrewsdeliverhumanitarianaidsupplies,includingblanketsandfreshwater,toMiyakocity.

• The31stMEUsurveyareasaroundthenortheasttownsofOfunato,KamaishiandMiyakoinordertoassessdisasterreliefneededinthoseareas.

• Thesix-manforwardcommandelementofthe31stMEUisnowinSendai,Japan,inordertocoordinatedisasteraidplanningwithofficialsalreadyonscene.


• TheAmericanRedCross,TheSalvationArmy,theInternationalMedicalCorpsandothernonprofitsarepursuingmobiledonationeffortswithgroupssuchastheGiveFoundation,theMobileGivingFoundation,andMobileCausetoprovideaidtoJapan.

• AT&TandothercarriersareofferingconditionalfreephonecallsfromtheUnitedStatesandPuertoRicotoJapanuntilMarch31,2011


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• IchiroSuzuki,aJapanesebaseballsuperstarwiththeSeattleMariners,hasdonated¥100million($1.24million)totheJapaneseRedCrosstowardthereliefeffort.

• DisasterreliefcharityShelterBoxisprovidingemergencyaccommodationforupto10,000people,includingaccommodationfor1000refugeesinthetownsMiyako,Yamada,Kamaishi,RikuzentakataandOfunato.

• TheStateDepartmenthasmoveditsembassyoperationsduringthecrisis,setupcontactinformationsystemsandissuedtraveladvisories.

• AircraftassignedtoCarrierAirWing5havebeenarrivingatAndersonAirForceBaseaspartoftheNavy’sforcepostureadjustmentforOperationTomodachi.

• MembersofaradiologicalassistanceteamareworkingtomonitorcrewmembersatriskforexposuretoradioactivityontheUSSEssex,USSHarpers Ferry,andUSSGermantown.

• USSGeorge WashingtonleftYokosukaandisscheduledtoremaininlocalwatersoffJapan.

• ShipsoftheEssexAmphibiousReadyGroup(ARG)andembarkedMarinesofthe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitarriveoffthenortheastcoastofJapan’sHonshuisland.TheEssexARGiscomprisedoftheUSSEssex,USSHarpers Ferry,USSGermantownandUSSTortuga.

• TwoUH-1NHuey helicopters from the 31stMEU conduct surveys of theHachinohecoastline.

• AfterverticalreplenishmentwithUSNSMatthew C. Perry,theUSSEssexlaunchesfourCH-46SeaKnighthelicoptersfromthe31stMEUtodeliver800gallonsofpotablewaterand768blanketsashore.

• USSTortugaisoffthecoastofHachinoheservingasafloatingforwardservicebaseforhelicopteroperations.TwoMH-53sfromHM-14pick-upanddeliver15tonsofsuppliesfromMisawaAirBasetoYamagataStation.ItisexpectedtoconductareplenishmentwithUSNSMatthew Perry,whichiscarrying189palletsofhumanitariansupplieswhichitplanstodelivertotheEssexARGandReaganStrikeGroupoverthenextseveraldays.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

• ThecommanderofU.S.PacificCommand,AdmiralRobertWillard,andhiswifeDonnaarrivedinJapanonSaturday,March19.AdmiralWillardpurposewastoreinforceAmerica’ssupportforJapan,overseedisasterreliefefforts,interfacewithU.S.AmbassadorJohnV.Roos,andvisitU.S.forcesandtheirdependents.OnMarch22,AdmiralWillardvisitedthedisasterarea.

• AdmiralWillardaddressesthecommunityinYokosukaonthecurrentsituationwiththeFukushimanuclear-powerplants,voluntarydepartureofdependents,andthanksfamiliesfortheirsupporttosailorsengagedinOperationTomodachi.

• More than100U.S. sailors,marines and civilians throughoutNavyRegionNorthwestworkwiththeirArmyandAirForcecounterparts,otheragenciesandvolunteersfromtheUSOandAmericanRedCrossinSeattle.Teamsareprovidingassistancetothemorethan120familymemberswhoarrivedinSeattlefromJapanaspartofOperationTomodachi.Thousandsmoreareexpectedtoarriveoverthecomingdays.


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• TheNationalGuardisincreasingitspersonnelandequipmentinsupportofOperationTomodachi.TheMississippiAirNationalGuard’s172ndAirliftWingdeployedaC-17GlobemasterIII,March20.TheC-17willbeassistingwithcargoandpersonnelmovement.TheAlabamaArmyNationalGuardisdeployingpersonnelandresources fromthe167thTheaterSustainmentCommand toDenverInternationalAirporttoday.

• Withconcernsofpossibleradiologicalcontamination,theGuamNationalGuardredeploysthe94thCivilSupportTeamtotheGuamMainFacilityPostOfficeandGuamInternationalAirporttoscreenparcelsandcargoarrivingfromJapan.


• ViceAdmiralScottVanBuskirk,Commander,U.S.7thFleet,statesthat,“Thisiswithoutadoubtthemostcomplexhumanitarianmissioneverconducted.Itisnotonedisaster,butthree:anearthquake,atsunami,andacrisisatanuclearpowerplant,madeevenmorecomplicatedbyheavyweatherthathampersvisibility.”

• FromtheUnitedStatesthereareatpresent20ships,140aircraftandmorethan19,000SailorsandMarinesworkinginsupportoftheJSDF,deliveringreliefsuppliesashore,surveyingandclearingports,providinglogisticalsupporttorescuers,andconductingaerialsearchesandsurveys.

• Japanhasmobilizedmorethan100,000personnel,includingitsentireSelfDefenseFleet,insupportofdisasterrelief.

• Todate,theU.S.AirForcehasflownmorethan230missionsandtransportedmorethan3.2millionpoundsofsuppliesandequipmentinsupportofOperationTomodachi.

U.S. Navy airman loads supplies into a helicopter aboard the USS Ronald Reagan.


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• EightMarines with the 31stMarine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors fromAmphibiousSquadron11performabeachlandingsurveyatapossiblesiteforHumanitarianAssistanceandDisasterRelief(HADR)operationsinsupportofOperationTomodachi.TheteamincludedbeachmasterswithPHIBRON-11andsurveyorswithCombatLogisticsBattalion31attachedtothe31stMEU.

• USSMcCampbelldeliverssuppliestocontinueHumanitarianAssistanceandDisasterRelief(HADR)operationsofftheeasterncoastofJapan.Sailorsmovetonsofmaterialtocivilianpopulations,andoverthecourseoftwohoursdeliver45palletsoffoodandothergoodsashore.

• HelicopterAnti-SubmarineSquadronLight51Detachment5(the“Warlords”)embarkedonboardMcCampbelltotransferneededsuppliestoshorebasedoninformationgatheredduringpreviousdropsatestablishedshelters.

• USSEssex,USSHarpers FerryandUSSGermantownwiththeembarked31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitarecurrentlyoperatingoffthecoastofHachinoheinnortheasternJapaninsupportofOperationTomodachi.


• U.S.7thFleetforceshavedeliveredsofar438,645lbs.ofhumanitarianassistanceanddisasterreliefsuppliestosurvivorsofthetsunamiandearthquake.

• Commander,FleetActivitiesYokosuka(CFAY)beginstransferringfreshwatertotwofuelbarges,whichwillbeusedtosupportcoolingeffortsattheFukushimaDaiichinuclearpowerplant.Atotalof1.89millionliters(500,000gallons)arebeingdistributedbetweenthebarges.

• U.S.NavySeventhFleetforcescontinuesustainmentof lifeefforts.Thefleetconducts22aidflightsforHumanitarianAssistanceandDisasterReliefsupplydeliveries.

• CommanderTaskForce76conductsdivingoperationsinHachinoheinvestigatingtheharborareaandtheLiquidNaturalGaspier.

• USNSSafeguardwiththeembarkedMobileDivingSalvageUnitOnearrivesinHachinohetoassistwithclearingdebrisfromtheharbor.TheUSNSSafeguardandUSSTortugawillworkwithJapanMaritimeSelfDefenseForceandlocalauthoritiestocleartheportsatHachinohe,Miyako,Kamaishi,Ofonato,andSendai.

• TheSeventhFleetcontinuestoalignitseffortsinsupportoftheJSDF.Tocoordinatedeliveryofreliefsuppliesbetweentheforces,athreemanliaisonofficerteamfromthe31stMaritimeExpeditionaryUnit(MEU)willjointhe4thDivisionJapanGroundSelfDefenseForce,whileasimilarteamofliaisonofficersfromthe4thDivisionJGSDFwilljointhe31stMEU.

• USNSCarl Brashear conducts replenishmentwith theUSSRonald Reagan,transferringfuel,shipboardsuppliesand160PalletsofHADRsupplies.TheBrashearprovides30palletsofHADRsuppliestotheUSSFitzgeraldand15palletstotheUSSCowpensintheReaganStrikeGroup.

• USSCurtis Wilbur returnstoYokosukaforresupply.

• USNSRappahannock andUSNSMathew Perrydistribute all available reliefsupplies,shipboardstores,andfuel,andareenroutetoSasebotoreplenish.


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• AP-3“Orion”aircraftfromMisawatakesElectroOpticalimagesofareasinandaroundHachinohe,Kuji,Shimanokoshi,Omoto,Taro,Miyako,KamaishiandOfunato,locatingthreenewlandingzoneswithgroupsofdisplacedpeople.AllimageryfromtheseflightsissharedwiththeJSDF.

• TwoU.S.Navybarges,eachabletohold350,000gallonsoffreshwater,arebeingpreparedandfilledatYokosukaforpossibletransporttotheFukushimaDaiichinuclearplant.

• USSBlue Ridge,flagshipfortheUnitedStatesSeventhFleet,arrivesinWhiteBeach,Okinawa,toloadsuppliesandadditionalpersonnel.


• The31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitcontinuesreliefeffortsoffthenortheastcoastofHonshuinsupportofOperationTomodachi.TheMEUhasdeliveredmorethan50,000poundsofsuppliesviahelicoptertoaffectedareasincluding;Myako,Hamanaki,YamadaandOshimaIsland.

• Heavyandmediumlifthelicoptersofthe31stMEU,operatingfromUSSEssex,transfer neededmaterials from primary distribution points at undamagedfacilitiestosecondary,smallerhubsinthedisasterareainordertogetreliefaidclosertothoseinneed.

• AmedicalteamfromUSSEssexfliestotheJSDFhelicoptercarrierHyugatomeetupwithJapanesemedicalpersonnel,andthenmovedashoretodeterminepotentialmedicalneedsandareaswherethe31stMEUmedicalstaffcouldprovideassistance.

• USSBlue RidgeflagshipfortheUnitedStatesSeventhFleet,departsWhiteBeach,Okinawa,afteronloadingsuppliesandadditionalpersonneltoaugmentthestaffduringthecrisis.SeventhFleetcommanderViceAdm.ScottVanBuskirkreturnstotheflagshiptodayafteraone-daytriptoYokosukatomeetwithhisJMSDFcounterparts.

• AP-3“Orion”fromVP-4andassignedtoCTF-72conductsareconnaissanceflighttosurveyportsandroadsinMukai,Toni,Kuji,andOfunato.Duringtheflightthecrewspottedthewords“HELPWATER”formedinthesnowofabaseballfieldlocatedbesideanelementaryschool.TheyquicklyrelayedtheinformationtotheJSDF,andensuredthatthesitewasbeingservicedbytheJGSDF.

USS Essex and JS Hyuga.


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Saturday, March 26, 2011

• TheaircraftcarrierUSSGeorge WashingtonconductsaverticalreplenishmentatseaandreceivessuppliesfromthefastcombatsupportshipUSNSBridge.

• Weatherseverelyimpactssupportoperations,with40+mphwinds,heavysnowandiceaccumulationonrotorandfixedwingaircraftexperiencedacrosstheentireareaofoperation.Helicopterswereunabletomakeanydeliveriesofreliefsuppliestoday.

• CommanderTaskForce76continuesharborclearanceoperationsinHachinohetoday.USNSSafeguardwiththeembarkeddiversofMobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2,workwithJapaneseMaritimeSelfDefenseForceandcommercialdiverstoopenadditionalareasoftheharborforoperations.

• USNSCarl Brashearconductsat-seareplenishmentoffuelandhumanitariansupplieswiththeUSSEssexamphibiousreadygroup,whichincludesUSSHarpers Ferry,USSGermantown andUSSTortuga.USNSPecos conductsadditionalreplenishmenteffortswithUSSChancellorsville,USSShiloh,USSPrebleandUSSMustin.

• TheUSSCurtis WilburreturnstoYokosukaforresupply,makingitthefirstU.S.NavyshiptoreturntoYokosukasinceMarch22.


• Twobargescontaining500,000gallonsoffreshwaterfromCommander,FacilitiesActivitiesYokosuka(CFAY)areenroutetotheportofOnahanatoassistwiththecoolingofthecrippledFukushimaDaiichinuclearpowerplant.ThefirstbargearrivedduringtheeveninghoursescortedbytheJMSDFship,JSHiuchiandthesecondbargewillarrivetomorrowafternoonescortedbytheJSAmakusa.

U.S. Marine officer meets with Japanese refugees in a school being used as a shelter.


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• TheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadinessGroupconductsanamphibiousresupplyofOshimaIsland.TheearthquakeandresultingtsunamionMarch11severedutilitiesanddestroyedferryservice, leavingthe island largelywithoutbasicutilitiesoranyformofresupplycapability.

• A Navy P-3 “Orion” aircraft assists the mission in Oshima, scanning forobstructionsinthewaterandcoordinatingwiththeLCUsduringthetransitfromKesenummatoOshima.TheaircraftcapturesimagesofadditionaloutlyingislandsandpassesthatinformationtotheJSDFforreview.

• RearAdm.HiroyukiKasui,commanderofJapan’sCommunicationsControlCenter1,arrivesonUSSEssextoreviewhumanitarianassistancedisasterreliefoperationsandtothankU.SNavySailorsfortheirassistance.

• USNSRappahannockpicksup312palletsofwaterfromtheportofGwangyang,SouthKorea.ThewaterwillbemovedtoSaseboforreleasetoFleetIndustrialSupplyCenter–SaseboDetachmentwhowillsupportongoingreliefefforts.

• TheFlyingTigersofHMM-262helicoptersquadronaboardtheUSSEssexmoveonetonofreliefsuppliesfromEssextoJSHyugaforfurtherdistributionbyJMSDFpersonnel.

• USNSSafeguard withtheembarkeddiversofMobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2,workcloselywithJapaneseMaritimeSelfDefenseForceandcommercialdiverstoopentheliquefiednaturalgas(LNG)pierandadditionalareasoftheHachinoheharborforoperations.

• ALNGtankerdocksatHachinoheporttodelivermuchneededfuelforthethousandsofdisplacedpersonnelstilllivinginshelterswithoutelectricityorheat.

• Navy teams areworkingwith the JSDF and local authorities to coordinatesimilareffortsintheportsofMiyako,KamaishiandOfunato.USNSSafeguardisscheduledtotransittoMiyakotomorrow.

• USSPrebleconductsreplenishmentat-seatodaywiththeUSNSPecostoonloadadditionalfuelandshipsstoresdepletedwhilesupportingOperationTomodachi.

• USSBlue Ridge,flagshipfortheUnitedStatesSeventhFleet,isonstationinthePhilippineSeaprovidingcoordinationforU.S.Navyeffortsduringthecrisis.

• Currently,19ships,133aircraftand18,165personneloftheFleetareoperatinginsupportofOperationTomodachi.ShipscurrentlyengagedincludeUSSRonald Reagan,USSChancellorsville,USSPreble,USSCowpens,USSShiloh,USSJohn S. McCain,USSFitzgerald,USSMcCampbell,USNSPecos,USSMatthew Perry,USNSBridge,USNSCarl Brashear,USNSSafeguard,USSEssex,USSHarpers Ferry,USSGermantown,USSTortuga,USSBlue RidgeandUSNSRappahannock.

• SinceOperationTomodachibegan,U.S.7thFleetforceshavedeliveredmorethan240tonsofHA/DRsuppliestosurvivorsofthetsunamiandearthquake,insupportofJSDFefforts.


• ResidentsofOshimaenjoytheirfirstfulldayofhavingelectricalpoweraftertheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGroupandtheJapanSelf-DefenseForcecombinedeffortstorestorepower.


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• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2movetotheportofMiyakoinpreparationforportclearanceoperationsthere.

• USSFitzgerald arrives inYokosuka after conducting checks for radioactivecontamination.

• ThesecondoftwoU.S.Navybargescontaining500,000gallonsoffreshwaterfromCommander,FacilitiesActivitiesYokosukaarrivesattheportofOnahamainpreparationfortransporttothecrippledFukushimaDaiichinuclearpowerplant.JMSDFpersonnelareconductingadditionalsafetytrainingandfamiliarizationofthebargesandpumpingequipmentpriortomovementtoastagingareaoffthecoastfromthepowerplant.Thewaterwillbeusedtoreplacesaltwaterinthereactorcoolingsystemtolessenthecorrosiveimpactofsaltfromtheseawaterstillbeingusedforemergencycooling.

• USNSRappahannockisenroutetoSasebowith312palletsofwateritpickedupfromtheportcityofGwangyang,RepublicofKorea,yesterday.ThewaterwillbeusedbySasebodetachmentoftheFleetIndustrialSupplyCentertosupportongoingHADRefforts.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2anchorintheportofMiyakoinpreparationofportclearanceoperations.TortugalaunchesaLandingCraftUnitequippedwithsidescansonartosurveytheport.

• HelicoptersfromMarineMediumHelicopterSquadron262move154palletsofreliefsuppliesfromUSSEssex,USSGermantownandUSSHarpers FerrytotheMisawafortransporttoSendai.

• USSEssexandUSSRonald ReaganmovethreepalletsofhygienicsuppliestotheJSHyuga.

• AP-3“Orion”aircraftfromtheSnapdragonsofPatrolSquadronFourconductsasearchandrescueflightofftheTohokucoasttosearchfordebrisorobjectsatseathatcouldinterferewithshipping.

• ThefirstoftwoU.S.Navybargescontaining500,000gallonsoffreshwaterfromCommander,FacilitiesActivitiesYokosukamovestotheFukushimaDaiichinuclearpowerplant.Thesecondwillarrivetomorrow.Japaneseauthoritieswillusethefreshwatertoreplacesaltwaterinthereactors.

• USSBlue Ridge,flagshipfortheUnitedStatesSeventhFleet,isonstationnearOkinawaprovidingcommandandcontrolforU.S.Navyeffortsduringthecrisis.ThecommanderoftheU.S.7thFleethasbeendesignatedastheJointForceMaritimeComponentCommanderforU.S.reliefeffortsinOperationTomodachi.


• SeventhFleetforcescontinuesupportofJSDFinOperationTomodachi.WithSendai airport now open for military flights—and soon to be opened forcommercialflights—7thFleet’sfocushasshiftedtoharborclearance,consolidationofreliefsupplies,anddebrisclean-up.


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• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2conductsurveysinpreparationofportclearanceoperationsattheportofMiyako.Visualsurveysshowextensivedamageincludingcommercialandpleasurecraftsunk,concretepiersupportswashedashoreandapermanentpierdestroyed.

• SailorsandMarinesfromtheUSSEssexamphibiousreadygroupandthe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitplanforOperation“FieldDay”,aclean-upmissionontheislandofOshimaoffthecoastofKessennuma.InconjunctionwiththeJapanGroundSelfDefenseForce,theeffortwillincludeclearanceoftheportandclearanceofdebrisfromlocalschoolsandgovernmentbuildings.Theislandisdependentuponferryservicetoandfromthemainland.

• USNSRappahannock andUSNSPecos arrive at the port of Yokosuka.TheRappahannocktransports312palletsofwaterfromtheportcityofGwangyang,SouthKorea.ThewaterwillbeusedbyFleetIndustrialSupplyCentertosupportongoingreliefeffortsinJapan.

• USNSCarl BrasheararrivesinSasebo.BothPecosandCarl Brasheararetakingonfuelandshipsstorespriortoreturningtothefleetinsupportofreliefoperations.

• AP-3“Orion”aircraftfromtheSkinnyDragonsofPatrolSquadronFourconductsasearchandrescueflightdowntheeastcoastofJapantosearchfordebrisorobjectsatsea.

• USNSBridgeconductsresupplyatseaactivitieswithUSSMcCampbell,USSPreble,USSChancellorsville,USSMustin,USSCowpens,andUSSShiloh,shipsoftheUSSRonald ReaganCarrierStrikeGroup.MostofthereliefsuppliesontheseshipshavebeenmovedashoretoairfieldsinMisawaorSendai.


• JapanGroundSelfDefenseForceLieutenantGeneralEijiKimizuka,CommandingGeneralofJointTaskForceTohokuinchargeofthegroundrecoveryefforts,meetssailorsonboardtheUSSRonald Reagan andtheUSSEssextoexpresshisgratitudefortheireffortsinOperationTomodachi.FoulweatherpreventsGeneralKimizukafromreturningtoSendaibyhelicopter,soheremainsovernightonEssex,breakinghisflagandmakingEssextheflagship—albeittemporarily—forJapan’sJointTaskForceTohoku.

• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2conductadditionalsurveyandobstacleidentificationoperationsattheportofMiyako.

• SailorsandMarinesfromtheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGroup,the31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitandJapanGroundSelfDefenseForcescontinuepreparationsforOperation“FieldDay,”acleanupmissionontheremoteislandofOshima.Tomorrow,fourHumvees,adumptruck,awatertruckandafueltruckwillembarktwoLCUsformovementtoOshimaharbortoassistwithdebrisclearance.Theisland,whichisdependentuponferryservicefromthemainland,hasbeenisolatedsinceMarch11whenthetsunamiwasheditsferriesashore.

• OneU.S.Navybargecontaining300,000gallonsoffreshwaterismooredattheFukushimaDaiichinuclearplant,andthesecondcontaininganadditional200,000gallonsisexpectedtoarrivetomorrow.Japaneseauthoritieswillusethefreshwatertoreplacesaltwaterinsomeofthereactors.


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• USNSRichard E. Byrd conductsresupplyatseaactivitieswiththeUSSEssex,USSTortuga,USSGermantownandUSSHarpers FerrytoprovidethoseshipswithneededstoresandalsotoretrieveHA/DRsupplies.Byrdalsoconductsa consolidation exercise with USNSBridge. All HADR supplies are beingconsolidatedaboardtheByrdfortransporttoYokosukaforfurtherdistributionbytheJapanGroundSelfDefenseForce.

• TwoP-3Orionmaritimesurveillanceaircraftreturn toKadenaAirBase inOkinawaafter25sortiesand138hoursofon-stationflyingtimeconductingaerialsurveillancetoidentifygroupsofisolatedpersons,surveydamage,andlocatefloatingdebris.AllinformationgatheredfromtheseflightsissharedwiththeJSDF.

Friday, April 1, 2011

• SeventhFleetforcescontinuesupportofJSDFinOperationTomodachi.Today’sfocusofeffortisthegrimtaskofsearchingforhumanremainsofftheTohokucoastusingbothaircraftandsurfacesearches,asthebodiesofvictimswhichinitiallysunkmayrisebacktothesurfaceovertime.Additionalaerialreconnaissanceandsearchsortiesarescheduledfortomorrow.TheJSDFrequestedU.S.assistanceduetothesizeofthesearcharea.LocationsofremainswillbemarkedandthatdatasenttotheJapanMaritimeSelfDefenseForceforretrievalandhonorableintermentofthevictims.

• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5,andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2concludesurveyandobstacleidentificationoperationsattheportofMiyako.

• 187SailorsandMarinesfromtheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGroup,the31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitsupportingJapanGroundSelfDefenseForcesbeginOperation“FieldDay”,aclearingandcleanupmissionontheremoteislandofOshimaoffthecoastofKessennuma.

U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers work together to clear debris at Minato Elementary School in Ishinomaki, April 1, 2011.


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• USSHarpers Ferry andUSSGermantown will be released fromOperationTomodachitomorrowandproceedtoOkinawa.USSFitzgerald,USSMcCampbell andUSSMustinareinYokosukareplenishingsuppliesandareplannedtorejoinOperationTomodachiuponcompletion.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

• SeventhFleetforcescontinuesupportofJSDFinOperationTomodachi.Today’sfocusofeffortcontinuestobethesearchforhumanremainsoffthecoastofTohokuandcleanupandclearanceoperationsontheislandofOshima.

• SeventhFleetships,helicoptersandaircraftaresearchingover2,000squaremilesofoceaninaconcertedefforttofindvictimsoftheMarch11tsunami.USSCowpens,USSPreble,USSShilohandUSSCurtis D. WilburaresearchingforremainsoffthenortheastcoastofHonshu,withtheirhelicopters,additionalsupporthelicoptersfromtheUSSRonald ReaganandoneP-3Orionaircraftprovidingaerialreconnaissancesupport.

• U.S.Navybargescontaining500,000gallonsoffreshwateraremooredattheFukushimaDai-Ichinuclearplant,addingthisresourcetothefreshwatercoolingefforts.Japaneseauthoritieswillusethefreshwatertoreplacesaltwatercurrentlyinsomeofthereactors.

• USSHarpers Ferry(LSD49)USSGermantown(LSD42),USS Fitzgerald(DDG62)andUSSJohn S. McCain(DDG56)arereleasedfromOperationTomodachitodayandwillproceedwithothertasking.

U.S. Navy sailors clear debris from a harbor in Oshima.


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Sunday, April 3, 2011

• 150additionalSailorsandMarinesfromtheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGroupandthe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitjointhe187-memberteamontheislandofOshima.ThecrewistakingpartinOperationFieldDay,amissiontosupporttheJapanGroundSelfDefenseForceincleaninguptheisland.Today,U.S.SailorsandMarineshelptheJSDFwitheffortsontheshoresoftheUranohamaharborandwillmovetotheshoresoftheYogaiandKomagataharborsinthenextfewdays.AspartofOperationFieldDay,theteamalsocontinuedclearingdebrisaroundOshimatakeJuniorHighSchool.

• USNSSafeguardandUSSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2areenroutetoOshimatoassisttheJSDFwithclearingdebrisintheharbors.

• ThenumberofU.S.7thFleetforcesactivelyengagedintheoperationiscurrently14ships,130aircraftand13,893personnel.SinceOperationTomodachibegan,U.S.7thFleet forceshavedeliveredmore than260tonsofreliefsupplies tosurvivorsofthetsunamiandearthquakeandflown160aerialreconnaissanceandsearchsorties.

Monday, April 4, 2011

• TheDefenseMinisterofJapan,ToshimiKitazawa,andotherseniorofficialsoftheJSDFvisittheUSSRonal ReagantomeetwiththecrewandoffergratitudefortheserviceoftheU.S.militaryduringthecrisisinJapan.DefenseMinisterKitazawasharesamessagefromthePrimeMinisterofJapan,NaotoKan,whichexpressesthePrimeMinister’sappreciationforthe7thFleetoperationsandstatesthat“notonlythevictimsofthedisasterhitareas,butalsotheentireJapanesepeoplearedeeplymovedandencouragedbythescenesofU.S.militarymemberworkinghardtosupportthereliefefforts.BothJapanandtheUnitedStatesaretrue‘TOMODACHI’(friends).”

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa receives honors from sailors upon his arrival aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.


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• U.S.Ambassador to Japan, theHonorable JohnRoos;Adm.PatrickWalsh,Commander,U.S.PacificFleetandJointSupportForcescommander;andViceAdm.ScottVanBuskirk,Commander,U.S.SeventhFleetareamongtheU.S.dignitariesinattendancetoacceptMr.KitazawaandtheJSDFdelegation.BoththeAmbassadorandAdm.WalshaddresstheSailorsandMarinesgatheredinthehangerbayoftheaircraftcarriertothankthemfortheirselflessservicetohelptheJSDFandtheJapanesepeoplefollowingthetragediesonMarch11.

• SailorsandMarinesfromtheUSSEssexAmphibiousReadyGroupandthe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitcontinueOperationFieldDay,themissiontosupportJapanGroundSelfDefenseForceinthecleanupofislandofOshima.TheteamcontinuescleanupeffortsontheshoresoftheUranohamaharborandbegancleanupeffortsontheshoresoftheYogaiandKomagataharbors.

• USNSSafeguard,USSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2arriveatOshimatoassistJapanMaritimeSelfDefenseForcewithclearingdebrisintheharbors.LandingCraftUtilitiesandsmallboatsequippedwithsidescansonarscantheUranohamaharbortodeterminelocationsofunderwaterhazardsandobstacleswhilediversmarkthelocationsforsalvageoperations.

• RepresentativesfromCTF76portclearanceoperations,metwithrepresentativesoftheJapanCoastGuard,JGSDF,andtheMayorofKesennumatodetermineareasofsalvageandclearancefocus.ThechannelbetweenKesennumaandOshimawaschosenastheareaofconcentrationasitistheprimarywaterwaythatconnectstheopenseaintoKesennumaandOshimaallowingtradeshipsaccesstotheports.Afterthismeeting,landingcraftutilitiesandsmallboatsequippedwithsidescansonarbeganscanningtheUranohamaharborbottomtodeterminelocationsofobstaclesfordiverstomarkobstaclesforsalvageoperations.ThesidescansonarwassuccessfulindeterminingunderwaterhazardsandobstaclesduringportclearanceoperationsattheportsofHochenoheandMiyako.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

• Portablewaterheaters and shower facilities arrive from theUSSEssex andMarinesandSailorsassemblethosefacilitiesatalocalelementaryschoolontheislandofOshima.Formanyislandresidents,theshowersprovidethemthefirstopportunitytobathesincethetsunamihitonMarch11.Theshowerfacilitiesareabletocyclethroughapprox.30peopleperhour,butareonlyopenduringdaylighthourstoconserveenergyusage.EstablishingthehygienicfacilitiesisonesmallpartofOperationFieldDay,themissiontosupportJapanGroundSelfDefenseForceinthecleanupofOshima.

• OtherOperationFieldDayeffortsincludethecontinuationofcleanupeffortsontheshoresoftheUranohama,YogaiandKomagataharborsontheisland.

• USNSSafeguard,USSTortuga,MobileDivingandSalvageUnit1,ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalMobileUnit5andUnderwaterConstructionTeam2postponedeffortsatOshimaduetohighseasandwindsandwillresumeoperationsassoonasconditionsclear.

• The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which includes the USSChancellorsville,USSPreble,USSShiloh,andUSSCurtis Wilbur,departactivesupportofOperationTomodachiafterreceivingwarmandheartfeltthanksfromJapan.


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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

• Morethan40SailorsassignedtotheamphibiousassaultshipUSSEssexvolunteerassistwiththeclean-upeffortsontheislandofOshima.Thegroupclearsawaypieces of houses, personal belongings, boats, fishingnets andother debris.JapaneseresidentsexpressedtheirgratitudetotheSailorswhoparticipatedintheclean-upprocess.

• NavyAdm.RobertF.Willard,commanderofU.S.PacificCommand,testifiesbeforetheHouseArmedServicesCommitteeabouttheU.S.defensepostureintheregionandthehumanitariananddisasterassistanceprovidedtoJapansincetheMarch11earthquake,tsunamiandsubsequentnuclearemergency.

• Marines, sailors, and soldiers with Logistics Combat Element, 3rdMarineExpeditionaryBrigade,havingcompletedavarietyofmissionsinsupportoftheJSDFsinceMarch18,concludedtheirparticipation.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

• TheEssexAmphibiousReadyGroupconcludesitsparticipationinOperationTomodachiafterconductingnearly threeweeksofhumanitarianassistance/disasterreliefoperationswiththeJapanSelf-DefenseForce.

• MarinesandSailorsofthe31stMarineExpeditionaryUnitdepartOshimaIslandaftercompletingtheclean-upofUranohamaPortandthesurroundingareasduringOperation“FieldDay.”

Sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan and JS Hyuga wave to each other.

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Friday, April 8, 2011

• ThecrewofUSSTortuga,USSSafeguard,andEODMobileUnitFivepresentunderwatersurveydatacollectedover thepreviousdays inKessenumaandOshimatolocalofficials,showingthepreciselocationsofsubmergednavigationalobstructions.U.S.Navyofficialsofferedtocontinuewithclearanceefforts,butofficialsfromOshimaandKessanumaindicatedthattheywouldpreferforlocalsalvageexpertstotakeupthetask.

• AftertheunderwatersurveydatawasdeliveredandcrewsreturnedtoTortugaandSafeguard,JointSupportForcereleasedEssex,TortugaandSafeguardfromfurthereffortsinOperationTomodachi.

• AllU.S.NavyshipsinvolvedinOperationTomodachihavenowredeployedandareproceedingwithothertaskingaroundtheregion.

Chronology of Operation TomodachiChronology of Operation Tomodachi March 11–April 8, 2011 On March...

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