Operation Tomodachi

Operation Tomodachi トモダチ作戦
Part of Response to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
American personnel distribute food to Japanese civilians following the disaster
Type	Emergency response
Location	Earthquake and tsunami affected areas of Honshu, especially Tōhoku region (Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi), Japan
Objective	Search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian relief
Date	12 March 2011 – 4 May 2011
Executed by	United States Forces Japan

Operation Tomodachi (トモダチ作戦, Tomodachi Sakusen^?, literally "Operation Friend(s)") was a United States Armed Forces (especially U.S. Forces Japan) assistance operation to support Japan in disaster relief following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The operation took place from 12 March to 4 May 2011; involved 24,000 U.S. servicemembers, 189 aircraft, and 24 naval ships; and cost $90 million.

Col. Stephen Bissonnette, deputy commander of the 353rd SOG stated that "[T]he devastation caused by the earthquake is truly heartbreaking...As part of coordinated relief efforts, the group will work tirelessly with our Japanese counterparts and other relief organizations to help the people affected by the earthquake recover..." The US aid efforts are conducted under the direction of Japanese government or military authorities.

United States Marine Corps facilities in Japan escaped major damage, with no reported casualties. This intact infrastructure allowed Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler to mobilize aid quickly.

Marines based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma moved command and control teams and systems to NAF Atsugi. Eight KC-130Js from VMGR-152 and eight CH-46E and four CH-53 Super Stallions transport helicopters from HMM-265, all from MCAS Futenma, were made available to transport rescue teams and equipment, as well as provide search and rescue.

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