MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S. D. BUTLER, OKINAWA, Japan - At the request of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, U.S. Pacific Command has sent a ten-man Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (HAST) composed of U.S. Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, to Bangkok, Thailand. The team will be bringing thousands of sand bags and will then proceed to conduct assessments to determine how the U.S. military may be able to provide assistance in the area. The team departed from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 15. We extend our condolences to the people and government of Thailand for the loss of life and damage caused by the flooding in the region.