Watch this video news report from a Japanese TV station. It’s a story about US Navy personnel flying supplies to Sendai, Japan. Even though very little of it is in English, I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye as it did mine.
You’ll see an older Japanese man a little ways into the clip, speaking to the camera. What he says is, essentially, that the townspeople had no idea the Americans were coming or bringing them anything. There was no announcement or anything about it. Which is true. Between the destroyed roads and the radiation fears, hardly anyone can even get to the Sendai area. But these US pilots did.
You’ll also see, near the end of the clip, a group of older men watching as the Navy man stacks boxes of supplies from the helicopter on the tarmac. They’re standing still watching him because they’re stunned. That plus the language barrier puts them in a position where they just don’t know what to do. But you can see one of them making little gestures with his hands, as if in prayer. That’s a sign of very deep respect and gratitude.
Awesome!
Thank you for posting..
That’s a sign of very deep respect and gratitude.
Bryan — Frankly I’m embarrassed at this video — and not because of anything our bravest have done, and of course not for anything the hapless victims of the tsunami have or haven’t done. That paltry little stack of supplies representing a few hundred dollars in “aid” arrived on a helicopter that costs tens of thousands to operate per hour. And the payoff represented of the little stack of assistance, while I’m sure appreciated by the locals, is a pittance against the operational costs, let alone the risk to life and limb by flying a dangerous bird.
While our staunchest ally, Japan, swoons under the calamities of earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear disaster, our scumbag president spends hundreds of billions helping Jihadis sweep the boards in the ME. We too are the victims of financial meltdowns, illegal alien tsunamis, and cultural and political earthquakes as this Communistic Socialistic Anti-American scumbag shreds the bonds of our nation, pits rich against poor, white against black, and abets Islam’s worst monsters by betraying our marginal Muslim allies in the region.
I should have added in the post, that the pilots weren’t ordered to do this. They apparently did this on their own.
Thanks for clarifying that. For some reason, I figured this was something they did on their own- maybe because there weren’t tons of supplies. I was hoping, too, that it was an isolated pocket of people who just couldn’t get supplies, or get out, so that small delivery made a world of difference to them. I think the flyboys are plenty smart to be able to figure out where their donation would have the greatest impact.
Though I agree with Bryan in that we had better be doing a whole lot more than this out there. If we’re not, shame on our government.
Morton, the H-60 helicopter is not a “dangerous bird”, just as safe as the bus or train you may ride, also they are weight & CG limited so I’m sure they carried as much as the aircraft could with in operational limits. As far as cost, we fly mission everyday for various reason, some just to get flight time to stay current, why not use that time to drop some food off? I’m not an Obama fan either but this I’ll leave alone.
What Brian said. This is a beautiful little tableau and things like this don’t happen often enough…or at least not enough people get to see them. When some bad-behaving soldiers get bored and start stacking prisoners in a pyramid, we get inundated for years with the gory details in pictures, but when the US military does its more usual mission of delivering lifesaving supplies we never hear about it as much.
And while Japan is a competitor of sorts and have their own problems with racism and xenophobia, every Japanese I ever met was courteous, friendly and seemingly wonderful people. We are supposed to be their allies, and they could really use a good ally right now. I’m glad my country is a part of filling that role for them.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is something that aircrew did completely on their own — scrounging what extra food they could get from their ship — and dropped it off on the way to probably do some rescue work.
It’s sad that this administration wasn’t a little bit more prepared and eager to help with those in Japan who are starving now.
The U.S. has some of the fiercest warriors in the world and those same warriors possess some of the biggest & kindest hearts in the world. This aircrew is in that league. May the good Lord bless and keep them safe.
This is common with the American people. Just think of the BILLIONS of dollars donated out of their own pockets to the Katrina affected areas. But I also noticed that the Japanese showed gratitude where the people (and politicians) did not. But isn’t that what liberals do??
I agree. The Katrina people were pathetic. I would gladly help the Japanese first. Those people in NOLA were pathetic. They knew a Cat 5 was coming. They stayed. It turned out to be a modest Cat 3 over NOLA and the whole thing dang near got destroyed. The dependent class proved they were criminals and helpless.
A year before a Cat 5 hit us direct, nearly destroyed our town, and we all pulled together. We did not get government help for a very long time. When the Nat Guard showed up we were better armed and frankly more organized, We offered them food and water.
It is a terrible thing to see people in America so utterly dependent and corrupt as what we saw in NOLA.
Now instead of condemning the areas that flooded and turning them into parks, they are “rebuilding”.
Insane.
I was told by my son, who is stationed at Yokosuka, Japan that the command asked that items such as money, food, blankets, clothing and anything that could be spared to be donated to help relief efforts to these people. What you are seeing in this clip is just a small effort of the what the military is doing over there.
Good job, Obama pull out of the mideast and focus on building better foreign relations with your allies!
This is what we should be doing: carrying water to the Japanese.
Instead of for the Europeans in Libya.
Proud of our military. Embarrassed by the Commander in Chief. Wish we could and would do more.
Keep at it Japan. Don’t give up.
The U.S. 7th Fleet has 19,750 marines and sailors working in support of relief efforts in Japan. We have over 20 ships and 140 aircraft working to support relief in Japan. These numbers change from day to day.
The 7th Fleet has delivered over 250 tons of food and water to Japan since the earthquake.
I dislike Obama as much as anyone; however, we should all be proud of the work our Navy is doing in Japan.
Read more here – it is great stuff:
http://www.c7f.navy.mil/
Before I read this comment, I was going to point out my frustration that we’re not doing more to help our allies in Japan. I see now that we’re doing much more than is being reported as usual and even without Libya, we still wouldn’t hear about this in mainstream press. After all, if it doesn’t villify the US military, it isn’t fit to print. The US military is the greatest force for good in the world and has been for a long time.
I saw a tee shirt that had a list on it, I don’t remember most of it but the final message to the world was when the “sh!t really hits the fan, call America”…..
Note to Barry and the lefties the world DID respect us until you pucked it up.
IS anyone else noticing how the folks just wait to see what is okay. they need the supplies, but it is such a japanese moment to watch them stay calm and remain orderly.. I wish we could get their birthrate back up… great people..
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and a great bunch of american servicemen…
God bless America. The CIC is a dolt, but the men in uniform, may God bless and keep them.
The media doesn’t have time to spend reporting on areas where tens of thousands of people were killed and where tens of thousands of survivors are left homeless. They are too busy focusing on the nuclear plants where things are under control.
No tears for me, but I did feel a satisfaction knowing at least someone appreciated the help our personnel provided.
And it’s unlikely that their religion will try to undo the goodwill that our efforts have generated.
Wonderful! Notice how the Japanese are not rushing/ mobbing/ grabbing. Very respectful. I wish I could send another load there.
Two points: 1) Our Navy is the best at what they do and willing to help anyone in need; 2) notice how these Japanese villagers did not rush them to take off the supplies as you see in other countries. The Japanese are proud people and very respectiful. I’m sure that those supplies went to those who needed them the most.
(from an Old Navy Veteran)
When the old man put his hands together and bowed to the Aircrew that delivered the food he was asking for Buddha’s blessing to protect the Helicopter crew. Having served in Japan (Okinawa) as a Marine I know this gesture well having seen it often at shrines and temples.
Any idea if this aircrew is working with any relief organization, even sideways? I’m thinking that money funneled in that direction would reach the point of need.
How can anybody doubt that the U.S. is the good guy in the world????
Disasters by their nature are chaotic. Although there is a need to maintain an orderly supply of relief on a larger scale, there will also be numerous occasions in Japan where an acute need for small amounts of relief must be met immediately. Standing by and waiting for the chain of command to respond in an orderly fashion will cost lives and increase suffering.
God bless these men (and women) for realizing this.
Couldn’t tell in this clip, but the white lines you see under the helicopter spell out “HELP DRINK FOOD”. There are many pockets of survivors in schools and other sturdy buildings that are completely cut off with no overland access at all. Part of the routine for the USN is loading up and flying out looking for such places.
The U.S. Navy, making deliveries to Japan since 1941!
The sound of Angel’s wings.
“He Who Saves A Single Life, Is Said To Have Saved The Entire World” ~ Tractate Sanhedrin
I live in Tokyo. Thanks very much for the clip.
The Japanese are highly unlikely to run towards the copter and start grabbing stuff. In fact, charity is a tricky subject. Welfare programs exist in Japan but that’s another story.
The only thing I might have done differently if I had been one of these wonderful American Navy boys would have been to find someone around who was nominally in charge and ask if he would be so kind as to allow us to drop off some supplies. The area has been hit by a devastating disaster and it would be an honor for Japan’s friend and ally, America, to do what it can to allay suffering.
OK, that’s just me and there was definitely a language barrier here, so, I’ll take what I can get.
BUT, and I was saying this from about March 12: Why weren’t convoys on the road heading north with food, water, kerosene, blankets, medicine, etc. etc. ??? And for those remote places with washed out roads: Why wasn’t there a fleet of helicopters going in there with supplies or perhaps air dropping them in?
People, especially old people, have died due to lack of medicine and the harsh conditions.
I blame the Japanese government. I hope I’m wrong but I’ve read about the deaths and someone I know went up north with a TV crew. On his way back south he didn’t see any trucks on the road taking up supplies.
The devastated area in this case is huge so I know it’s got to be tough to mount an effective relief effort. Tough, yes. Impossible? I don’t think so. People who survived a super earthquake and tsunami shouldn’t die from the cold or lack of medicine. Not in this day and age.
God bless these Navy guys.
Few recall that, immediately after the end of WWII, millions of Japanese were facing death by famine. America immediately shipped enormous quantities of food to Japan, saving millions of lives.
And this for a former bitter enemy who had killed tens of thousands of American kids.
Would Germans have done that, had they won? Did the Russians?
The assistance our country is giving Japan is phenomenal. If you are on Facebook, you can become fans of these pages to see just how much our men and women are doing to help the people of Japan.
U.S. Pacific Command
United States Air Force
U.S. Pacific Fleet
U.S. 7th Fleet
Go back and read all the entries.
When I was a little girl we were stationed at Barbers Point Naval Air Station Oahu Hawaii. My dad was a Flight Engineer on a P3-Orion. He often deployed to Japan. His Patrol Squadron VP4 is now stationed at Kaneohe Bay as Barbers Point in now closed, at least for active duty Navy. I believe part of it is still used as a guard base and/or Coast Guard. In any case VP4 still deploys to Misasa NAS Japan.
The following story regarding what the P3s there are doing is relevant to the above comment by Randell.
NORTHERN JAPAN (NNS) — Patrol Squadron 4 (VP 4) took to the air from Naval Air Facility Misawa (NAFM) to conduct an eight-hour field survey of ports in northern Japan, March 22.
Since their reposition to NAFM on March 16, the squadron is continuing its relief efforts by gathering information on the current status of ports, roads and infrastructure in cities along the eastern coastline that were affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami.
With the P-3 squadron’s communication and real-time capabilities, the Navy will gain more knowledge of where it can provide vital humanitarian and relief support in Operation Tomodachi.
“I think the mission has been going very well,” said Lt. Peter Kennedy, who serves as a patrol plane commander assigned to Patrol Squadron 4. “As a P-3 Squadron we are able to adapt on short notice which has made our efforts here so successful. We are receiving great support from Commander, Task Force 72 staff and overall our team is providing a very good product.”
The Hawaii-based squadron’s move to NAFM from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Japan has increased the Squadron’s time on site and reduced their time in transit.
According to Lt.j.g. Hector Robles, assigned to VP 4, the move has been a big advantage for them.
“While we had success flying out of Kadena, the location we are in today provides us with greater time on site,” he said. “The work we have been doing here is very rewarding.”
Another effort to increase their effectiveness is by conducting eight-hour flight missions from NAFM. This way the Squadron takes advantage of sunlight so they can gather better imagery on site.
Naval Air Crewman (Operational Level) 2nd Class Jeff Graham, assigned to VP 4 , operates the Advanced Imaging Multi-spectrum Sensor aboard the aircraft. The sensor, located on the nose of the aircraft, takes detailed imagery and has streaming video capabilities.
Graham said some of the images he has seen have been hard to believe. However, he is confident that, with help from the U.S. and the determination of the Japanese people, the “Land of the Rising Sun” will recover from the disaster.
“It will take a while,” he said. “I do think the more resources and information that is provided to the Japanese people will help things continue to get better for the country.”
For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/misawa/index.htm or check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.
For more news from U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/nafmisawa/.
Please note Randell, that it makes little sense to run around without knowing what roads are blocked and how relief can actually be provided. In a disaster of this sort it also makes little sense to state that no one should die of exposure etc…in this day and age. Of course many will die this way because there is no immediate way to find them, however many will also live because of the efforts of people like in this video and those in the air finding a way to get to isolated pockets.
My dad spent 33 years in the Navy, and many deployments to Japan. I have a cousin and her husband at Kadena AB Okinawa, an Air Force Base, but where the Navy P3s generally are, they simply moved up to Misasa so they could be more effective. The Navy is using its vast resources for the relief of the Japanese people to the best of their ability.
God bless our military
The part that really touches me is that there is no UN logo stenciled on the boxes.
I am the proud mother of a sailor in the 7th Fleet.
Here is today’s summary, posted by the excellent 7th Fleet communications group, of WHAT THEY DID TODAY in support of Japan. This is just today.
“Seventh Fleet forces continued support of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) via Operation Tomodachi. With Sendai airport reopened for military flights, and with all known groups of isolated persons now being serviced from JSDF and local authorities ashore, 7th Fleet’s focus has shifted to harbor clearance and consolidation of remaining relief supplies to Sendai airport for distribution, while staying poised to respond as needed.
USNS Safeguard (ARS 50) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 and Underwater Construction Team 2 anchored in the port of Miyako today in preparation for port clearance operations. Tortuga launched a Landing Craft Unit (LCU) equipped with side scan sonar to survey the port. The side scan sonar provides detailed visuals of the harbor area to identify and prioritize dive sites for clearing. The port of Miyako was severely impacted by the tsunami of March 11 with commercial and pleasure craft sunk, concrete pier pilings washed ashore, and one complete pier destroyed. Navy teams are working with the JSDF and local authorities to coordinate similar efforts in the port of Oshima after completion of operations at Miyako.
Helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 moved 154 pallets of relief supplies from USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) to the Misawa, where they will moved via C-130 aircraft to Sendai. From there, U.S. and Japan Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) will distribute the items to disaster areas as needed. The JGSDF has opened most roads in the disaster areas, and are able to move most goods to displaced persons via ground transportation. In a separate effort, USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) also moved 3 pallets of hygienic supplies to the JS Hyuga (DDH 161) which included soap, towels, diapers and other assorted items.
A P-3 “Orion” aircraft from the Snapdragons of Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) conducted a search and rescue flight off the Tohoku coast to search for debris or objects at sea that could interfere with shipping. The aircraft spotted two boats adrift, approx. 20 and 60 feet in length, adrift and immediately reported their positions to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and Japan Coast Guard so they could be retrieved.
The first of two U.S. Navy barges containing 500,000 gallons of fresh water from Commander, Facilities Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) was moved to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant today. The second will arrive tomorrow. Japanese authorities will use the fresh water to replace salt water currently in the reactors.
USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), flagship for the United States Seventh Fleet, is on station near Okinawa providing command and control for U.S. Navy efforts during the crisis. Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, has been designated as the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander for U.S. relief efforts in Operation Tomodachi.
Currently 17 ships, 132 aircraft and 13,747 personnel are actively engaged in operation Tomodachi. Those ships include USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50), USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204), USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4).
Since Operation Tomodachi started, U.S. 7th Fleet forces have delivered more than 250 tons of relief supplies to survivors of the tsunami and earthquake, in support of Japan Self Defense Force efforts.”
No argument here. I just want to make it clear those convoys and choppers I referred to were the responsibility of the Japanese government. It looks to me like the US military is doing a great job.
The old folks who have died were in shelters that even the media have managed to reach.
The fellow I referenced who took a TV news crew up north is ex-Navy. He was expecting to see a convoy of trucks carrying relief supplies going north while he was coming back south after having witnessed the devastation. He was disappointed.
The J government got a black eye over their slow response to the Kobe earthquake. The LDP were in charge then. Now it’s the DPJ but I fear history is repeating itself. I hope I am wrong.
Our…Navy…ROCKS!
These young Navy men and their selfless act embody the greatness that is America. Regardless of how bad we’re hurting here at home…when one of our friends needs help we’re gonna be there. We’re no stranger to sacrifice. There are countless examples of how our kindness is thrown back in our faces or even used against us but we stay the course and for that I am truly grateful and extremely proud to be an American. A big Texas thank you to our Armed Forces from all of us in the Lone Star State.
I missed the part where Joe gave the two kids a Hershey bar. Honestly. I miss that. Audrey Hepburn taught us that it was a lesson worth learning. Does the military and Hershey still work together spreading cheer?
I just have to make a correction to the article by cbcd, VP4 is not known as snapdragons, but as the skinny dragons. I’m not sure what Navy PR or who in that PR division wrote the article, but they do have that part wrong. My dad would have laughed his butt off thinking that anyone would call these guys snapdragons.
God Bless America. We need it.