Navy-Marine team brings needed relief to isolated island

Courtesy Photo | Sailors with Amphibious Squadron 11 direct Japanese utility repair vehicles into a U.S. Navy landing craft at the dock in Kesennuma, March 27. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and PHIBRON-11 transported the vehicles from the port in Kesennuma to Oshima and also delivered food, water and hygiene kits to residents of the isolated island. The operation demonstrated the MEU’s expeditionary capabilities in ship-to-shore amphibious operations. (Photo by Capt. Caleb Eames)  

OSHIMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

03.27.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Garry Welch 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, brought needed disaster relief supplies and Japanese electrical utility trucks here, March 27.

Oshima, which lies off the coast of Honshu, has been without running water and electricity since the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami ravaged the northeast coast of Japan, March 11.

“This island was supplied with water from a pipeline from mainland Japan,” said Kiichro Onodera, a local city worker. “After the earthquake, the tsunami destroyed the pump station. Since then, people have purified the water in the city pool and made it drinkable. That’s all we had.”

The Marines and sailors delivered nearly 2,000 gallons of water to the island on two U.S. Navy landing craft. Approximately 900 gallons were transported directly to a junior high school which was being used as a shelter for 450 Japanese civilians displaced by the disaster.

“This water will help supply over 3,000 people,” Onodera said. “People will now be able to shower and do things they have not been able to do since the disaster happened.”

The U.S. service members delivered 1,738 Meals, Ready-to-Eat, 136 tarps and 300 hygiene kits for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to distribute to those in need.

The Marines and sailors also transported local electrical utility vehicles from Kesennuma, located north of Sendai, to Oshima, to help restore power to the isolated community.

The trucks were brought from Kesennuma’s port using the landing craft because the bridge linking the island to mainland Japan was destroyed by the tsunami. Delivery of the trucks was essential to repairing the island’s infrastructure.

“This will help us to restore vital lifelines to Oshima from Kesennuma as soon as possible. Oshima island residents are suffering greatly. These vehicles will help them and help ease the situation,” said JSDF Maj. Shinya Takase, operations officer, 1st Division, 41st Infantry Regiment, in charge of disaster response in Kesennuma.

“At this moment, there is no other option to get these vehicles to Oshima,” he said.

“Japanese forces and Marines are doing very well in working through this together. That is why we are so grateful for your help,” Takase added.

By that afternoon, Marines received word the electricity had been restored for the first time in 16 days.

“We now have a 400 kilowatt emergency generator, two bucket trucks, one crane and a tools and materials truck, which arrived on your landing craft,” said Sasaki Masaetsu, a maintenance manager in Kesennuma who was on Oshima to work on the infrastructure. “These trucks will help us provide power for the displaced persons’ shelters and the remaining homes, so they can have heat and light. It is an extreme honor to have the Marines here. We did not expect it, and we are so thankful.”

One 31st MEU Marine said he too was thankful – thankful to help others in need.

“To be able to come out here and do this was mind-blowing,” said Sgt. Kyle O. Mills, with 31st MEU. “We all saw the destruction on the news, but you just don’t know what it’s like until you are out here experiencing it firsthand. It was great to be able to do something to help these people.”

“We came here to help our Japanese friends and support them in any way possible,” said 1st Lt. Robert Jankowski, the engineering platoon commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU. “This operation was very successful. We were able to give help and disperse aid to the displaced.”

The 31st MEU’s involvement is part of a larger U.S. government response to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief to the people of Japan. U.S. military relief missions are part of Operation Tomodachi. The name Tomodachi, which means friendship in Japanese, was selected by Japan.

• Date Taken: 03.27.2011
• Date Posted: 04.07.2011 01:43
• Story ID: 68382
• Location: OSHIMA, OKINAWA, JP