AICHI, Japan - Soldiers participate in newly formed Logistic Task Force to help our Japanese friends and partners recover from the earthquake and tsunami that crippled their country.
Beginning on March 15th, elements of the newly formed (Logistics Task Force) with soldiers from the 35th CSSB, 10th Support Group, 83rd Ordnance, 505th QM, 1-1 ADA and 1-1 Special Forces arrived at Sendai Airport.
Our role in OPERATION TOMODACHI is providing a humanitarian logistics hub at Sendai Airport as part of the Marine led JFLCC (Joint Forces Land Component Command) that is providing assistance to the Japanese Self Defense Force and thus the disaster victims. Our task force is performing the following critical tasks: cargo transload, debris removal from the airport, sling load rigging as well as visiting schools and delivering toys.
To date we have removed over 3,000 vehicles from Sendai Airport. Delivered 194 drums of kerosene, 35 pallets of bottled water to Iwaki Community, supported operation Power Shower providing two fuel pods (1,000 gallons total) to fuel shower containers at Ono and Ishinomaki Community Center. Delivered clothing, shoes, blankets, and hygiene kits to evacuees. We also distributed six boxes of toys. Since March 19 we have packed and sent 898 backpacks to Japanese students. On April 2 we conducted our first sling load mission, Operation Hook Up, which consisted of two sling teams, one pallet of water (72 cases per pallet). Pallet was lifted to Oshima Island. We conducted Operation Relief which consisted of 25 pallets of various beverages and clothes. Pallets were transported to Iwate for distribution.
We executed Operation Field Day at Minato Elementary School with 20 soldiers. Soldiers and Marines cleared the school's baseball field and parking lot.