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TARO, Japan – More than 40 Navy Misawa sailors traveled from Naval Air Facility Misawa, May 25, 2013, to provide a barbecue and sports day, for Taro, Japan, residents who are still displaced from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and its subsequent tsunami.
The sailors took a four-hour journey by bus to the small coastal town whose residents are still recovering from the massive tsunami that ravaged their community more than two years ago.
Although the town has made significant recovery progress since the March 11, 2011 disaster, there are still many displaced residents. Knowing that the residents might enjoy a fun diversion from their plight, sailors from Naval Air Facility and its tenant and deployed commands banded together to provide a day of fun for the Taro community.
“I’ve wanted to come back to this area since I took part in the initial recovery efforts during Operation Tomadachi, more than two years ago,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Andrew Thomasson, an NAF Misawa sailor who organized the barbecue. “Our sailors love helping out the local Misawa community and they always do a phenomenal job. So we decided to utilize Memorial Day weekend to travel further south outside our immediate prefecture and into an area we haven’t been to in about a year.
“For some of the folks here, this is the first time they’ve ever seen an American citizen, let alone a Navy sailor,” said Thomasson, who originally hails from Haysville, Kan. “So it is very important that we show them that we truly care. In doing so, we decided to conduct a good old American-style barbecue, and also brought along volleyball, badminton and baseball equipment so they could all have some fun as well.”
More than 100 residents - many of them children - spent the afternoon eating hamburgers and hot dogs, and interacting with the Navy Misawa sailors. Although the sailors and Taro residents may not speak the same verbal language, they definitely enjoyed the international language of sports, dance and fun.
“From experience, we know that we don’t always have to speak the same language to communicate. Throughout the course of the day, our sailors played catch with the kids, painted the nails of some of the girls, and they all even learned how to perform the traditional Japanese Bon Odori dance,” said Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford, NAF Misawa public affairs officer, and originally from Buffalo, N.Y. “For me, the highlight of the day was watching the residents and our sailors dance to 'Gangnam Style.' It was great to see everyone smiling and having a great time, which is precisely the reason we are here.”
Thomasson said the event was facilitated thanks to the help of Tokuya Kanto, a native of the Miyako city area who now works on board Misawa Air Base in the fire department. Thomasson had worked with him on previous community relation projects in the past, and he expressed an interest in continuing Navy Misawa’s efforts in the recovering community.
“I remember Chief Thomasson from Operation Tomadachi,” said Kanto. “He told me he wanted to help again, but this time as a special project that would help build a lasting friendship."
“Many of the older women today were happy to see the young sailors,” said Kanto. “Chief Thomasson said he would like to make this an annual event.”
And judging by the Misawa sailors enthusiasm, NAF Misawa will have no problem making that happen.
“This is my first duty station and my first volunteer event,” said Yeomen Seaman Dominique Campos, originally from Bristol, Conn. “I’m really happy I took part. It was great seeing how happy we made the kids. I really feel like we made a difference.”
For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2013 05:50 |
| Story ID: | 107618 |
| Location: | TARO, IWATE, JP |
| Hometown: | MIYAKO, IWATE, IWATE, JP |
| Hometown: | BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Hometown: | BUFFALO, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | HAYSVILLE, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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