March 29 - Today's guest blog is by Alexei Kral who came from our Consulate in Sydney, Australia.
Jim
"Chikara wo Awasete"
U.S. and Japanese forces deliver relief.
Damaged vehicles at the Sendai airport
Three days after the earthquake and tsunami, I left my regular job in Sydney to return to Japan - the country where I previously studied, worked, and met my wife - to support Embassy Tokyo's efforts to help our Japanese friends.
U.S. C-130 bringing bottled water
On March 21, I flew from Yokota Air Force Base to Sendai on a C-130 cargo plane filled with pallets of bottled water sent from Hawaii. A week earlier I had watched TV pictures of Sendai Airport completely flooded. In the meantime, U.S. forces helped clear the runway to make it usable for relief supply flights. A USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team specialist and I walked across the runway and tarmac. Out the side gates it was a different world - piles of cars and brush, totally still, and dark.
The Japan Self-Defense Force and U.S. military are working hand-in-hand to deliver relief to communities hit by the tsunami. I was part of a joint convoy to Ishinomaki on March 22. The devastation was terrible, hard to put into words. But amidst the rubble, people were taking care of each other.
One of the relief shelters was especially heartening. School teachers, city officials and volunteers were running the shelter for 1,000 people. They came out smiling and cheering "Mizu" (water) as we unloaded a truck. Water was being rationed to just two 1-liter bottles per family per day. The teachers had put up posters saying: "Tachiagare! Kazuma!! Chikara wo awasete. - Kazuma shogakkou shokuin ichidou." ("Stand up! Let’s be strong together. - From all the Kazuma Elementary School Staff") These devoted workers waved and bowed as we drove away in the snowy night.
Children play ball amid the rubble. Life goes on.
The next day, Ambassador Roos and PACOM Commander Willard visited Watanoha Elementary School, another shelter in Ishinomaki housing 1,200 people, to convey personally the American commitment to stand with Japan. You can watch an online video about the visit.
You can also read more about America's ongoing support for relief efforts on the Embassy website.
Alexei Kral
I truly appreciate your friendship. The Japanese will never forget on the dawn (in the US, the earthquake happened around midnight) of 3.11, President Obama spoke to the public and declared the US will "Stand with Japan"! We were so encouraged by his words and speedy, devoted and effective "Tomodachi Sakusen."
I thank you; I bet all Japanese thank you all for your good wishes and all the help from American people.
My adult son is an American living in Tokyo. Up until last July, he was living in Narita in Miyagi Prefecture. I am writing to thank the Embassy and Embassy staff for all the good work you are doing to help our Japanese friends and to assist Americans in Japan. In particular, I greatly appreciate the frequent updates on the situation in Japan that the Embassy provides through its website. The Embassy website has become my best source of news on the situation. Thank you for all you are doing.
I am the same as humanitarian support to our country which went of the return home and, after World War II, as for the Operation friend, will be handed down posterity among Japanese citizens.
