US providing assistance to Japan

[henryclay]

There are other threads about the tradegy in Japan. This one is about America's part in the relief effort.

I am privleged to have an email from a young lady who is on board the USS McCampbell. She tells of what they were doing before the earthquake and what they have done since. It is a moving testimonial on the young men and women who represent us.

Good morning

This is an interesting account of the situation in Japan from one of our outstanding young Navy sailors. Emily is the daughter of my co-worker's cousin; she wrote this from the USS McCampbell, a destroyer serving in the Pacific. The link at the bottom offers more reports from our Navy personnel about their role in all this,. You gotta be proud!
Dianne

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Subject: Praying for Japan
To: undisclosed recipient


Here's another email from Emily, our grand-daughter and Sarah's oldest. A proud Auburn Tiger.
Sarah

Dear Family and Friends,

I am sorry that I haven’t emailed sooner; we have not had access to email for most of the past few days with all that has been going on. I am sure you all have seen the absolute devastation in Japan. Last week when the earthquake hit, we had already gotten underway. Our entire crew is safe as well as family members back in Yokosuka. We saw little to no impact out on the water. In port there were some rocking ships on the pier but not too much damage. We were all extremely lucky. Further North in Japan is where they saw most of the destruction. You all have probably been able to see more of this than I have. Sometimes it feels like the news channels know more than we do about the situation.

The same day that the tsunami hit, the Navy changed our objective for this underway period. The response time was pretty incredible. The Navy immediately redirected ships to the main area of destruction for search and rescue missions. I have watched similar circumstances in other disasters on the news while sitting at home before, but it has never felt like this before. Now it is my home that has been struck. So many of the people who work on our ship have been in Japan for years and many have family who live here. It really struck close to home for so many people. We don’t know exactly what our plans will be for the coming days and what the schedule will look like, but there is definitely no where else our crew would rather be.

With thousands still missing and even more homeless left with nothing, it looks as if this will be the focus of most of us out here indefinitely. We will be continuing search and rescue missions as well as providing supplies, food, and clothes as much as we can.

Last night when our CO got on the announcement system and told this to the ship, he put out that any donations would be taken to shore by the helicopter crew, and that we should do as much as we could with the resources we have available. There are aircrafts from all the ships providing relief and some shore-based that have been surveying the damage and situation ashore.

There are thousands upon thousands of people stranded, trying to stay warm and find food out in open fields. Their homes have been destroyed and they have nothing more than the clothes on their backs in many cases. Knowing this, our crew of less than 300 donated enough clothes, blankets, and food to fill the mess decks last night. In less than hour of knowing that we would be remaining in the area to provide assistance, the entire crew was up and running…. Bundling blankets, clothes, shoes, and food. It will take trips to shore all day to get it all off the ship.

I watched sailors give up all the civilian clothes and shoes they had on board, so that maybe one person ashore could have something warm and dry to wear. Additionally, blankets, sheets, and pillows were given up with the sentiment that we at least have somewhere warm to sleep and that someone on shore needs these things much more than we do.

There were over $8000 made in donations by our crew. This will be such a small dent in the overall disaster relief but was such an incredible thing to witness. There was not a person on board who was not contributing in some way last night.

It was a heartwarming thing to witness and reaffirms my faith in the good of humanity. We may not be a large ship or crew, but it certainly can be said that the McCAMPBELL crew, as well as the other crews out here, will be doing everything they can to provide assistance to the Japanese amidst the devastation.

I have spent so much time the last year trying to figure out where I was headed and why I am where I am. I know now that I am exactly where I should be. I have so much to learn everyday, but am truly enjoying the work. It is at times stressful and exhausting, much like any other job, but I know that we are doing something important. This has only been reaffirmed the past few days.

I miss you all everyday and so blessed to have the love and support of each of you! I will try to keep you updated on how things are going. Please say a prayer for the Japanese people and nation and that we may be able to provide them with some form of relief in the coming weeks. I hope you all are safe and doing well at home!

Emily

For more reports:

www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages/JapanEarthquakeTsunamiResponse.aspx

[henryclay]

This was forwarded to me It is from the CO of Marine Corps Air Station, Futemna, Okinawa, Colonel Dale Smith.

Quick note to let you know what's happening and a sincere "thanks" for your note of concern...it's not taken for granted and appreciated greatly.

We worked all weekend...(Air Station is normally limited hours on Saturday's, closed Sunday's)...open 24/7 now in support...our guys/gals will be fairly ragged soon.

MEF pushed 8 CH-46s and 10 or more C-130s North to Iwakuni over the weekend.

A Joint Task Force (JTF) was established by USFJ...led by Army 3-star; his deputy is the Division's CG...(our guy), a 2-star select. 31st MEU is inbound...MEB has moved forward as well...JTF will attempt to establish its HQ at Sendai Airport once they can get in there and clear some things....(but a third reactor just blew, not sure how close they get just now).

Devastation truly is "atomic equivalent" in nature....entire villages (cities)..gone, "everyone" within their populations (in some cases 10,000)...missing or dead. Damage isn't isolated to just Sendai area....over 10 cities we're taken "out"....gone, off the map, along with their people. I cannot write this without tears...it's that bad.

Helos from Oki, Korea, supporting...with as many fixed-wing as possible as well...all branches of service. Flew all weekend myself, along with our other OSA aircraft (3 jets, 1 C-12 from Oki), Two C-12s from Iwakuni, getting people up to Yokota (Tokyo area), Iwakuni, Atsugi, etc....

Most will move forward into the disaster area when able to support what will no doubt be a very long recovery process and HADR ops. My XO is flying today...(I was scheduled to, but was pulled off the sched to support other ops). XO is flying the Generals over the latest reactor explosion area...(above what's now becoming a nuclear cloud).

USS Ronald Regan floated through the "cloud" yesterday and became contaminated to a degree. Helo's are doing the same, and have to be "decon'd" upon returning to base... rescuers and victims are becoming "exposed" to the radiation, and unfortunately for now,
the end isn't in sight as to how bad the nuclear situation will get.

Thanks again Horn....I'll keep you updated when I can. Appreciate the prayers for all....(wx's been good, but rain and snow are moving into today up there, as if the people weren't suffering enough). At times like this, all one can do is their best, and remember, God has a plan we sometimes don't understand, but have to trust, He's in control.

Semper Fi,

Smitty

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...thanks for sharing, henry...

[henryclay]

This is an email mesage from a Pharmacist, CEO that I worked for while I was a Pharmacy Manager in Orange City Florida. His son Jared sent this email to his father, , , , and I wanted to share it with my friends. Jared is in the Pacific & is a sailor on the USS Preble (DDG-88) near Japan.

Hello to all:

Here is an update from the Pacific…….

For the most part if you are on Face book you have seen that our ship (USS Preble DDG-88) has been very busy in the relief effort for Japan. We have been non-stop for the last week or so. It is a good feeling to know that you actually have a hand in helping and watching your hard work go towards people in need.

It has been cold…even snowing (haven’t really seen snow since I was stationed in Washington)….couldn’t see 100 yards off the ship. Rough seas, cold wind and floating houses in the water. I think I seen more fishing buoys in the last week than I have seen in the last 11 years in the Navy!

I think the worst part has been watching fishing boats float by……and no one was on them…not to sure what happened, not sure if I really want to know. But I guess that is life….you just have to deal with what is going on.

I know there has been a lot of worry about the radiation….please don’t worry….WE ARE OK! We have a lot of measures to protect us, we will not be sent into harms way (at least not that kind of harm). Now there have been a few close calls, but nothing more, we are very cautious.

We do not know out schedule…never really did, just going with what ever the day has and go from there….the most important thing is that we are here, we are helping and doing what we can from our position.

I miss everyone….I mean don’t get me wrong, I would rather be home in than freezing my butt off out here…but my job is to serve and protect no matter in what capacity…so here I am, here I will stay until we are told other wise.

I only ask that you take a minute and reflect….pray for those in need, pray for those that are helping. Tell GOD thank you for life you have and be thankful for what we can do as a Nation and a people.

I will end it like this:

I am a United States Sailor.

I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of American and obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have come before to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I am committed to the excellence and fair treatment of all

The Sailors Creed……words that I have come to know and live by.


God Bless to all.

Love you all and miss you

Jared