Col. Rothstein addresses Misawa AB

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, right, and Capt. J.D. Haugen, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Facility Misawa, addresses residents over Armed Forces Network Mar. 17. The State Department has authorized the voluntary departure for family members and dependents of U.S. government officials who wish to leave Northeast Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown)

C-17 transports JGSDF troops and convoy

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- 1st Lt. Akira Takahashi, central transportation management command, marshals vehicles from the 15th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, here March 17. The C-17 transported JGSDF troops and vehicles from Okinawa to support the relief effort after the earthquake and tsunami, March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

C-17 transports JGSDF troops and convoy

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members disembark from the US C-17 that transported them here from Okinawa, March 17. JGSDF will team up with US forces to support Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Krystal M. Garrett)

C-17 transports JGSDF convoy and troops from Okinawa

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Stanley Dennis, 730th Air Mobility Squadron, marshals a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here March 17. The C-17 transported Japan Ground Self-Defense Force troops and vehicles from Okinawa, in support of Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

320th STS takes on challenge, opens airport to fixed-wing traffic

SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- Airmen from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron assess debris on the runway here March 16. Members of the 320th STS, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, deployed to Sendai Airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic. (U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

320th STS takes on challenge, opens airport to fixed-wing traffic

SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- A combat controller with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron marshals an MC-130H Combat Talon II after a successful landing here March 16. Members of the 320th STS, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, deployed to Sendai Airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

320th STS takes on challenge, opens airport to fixed-wing traffic

SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- Senior Airman Steven Nizbet, 320th Special Tactics Squadron pararescueman, looks for trapped survivors here March 16. Members of the 320th STS, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, deployed to Sendai Airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

320th STS takes on challenge, opens airport to fixed-wing traffic

MIYAGI PREFECTURE, Japan -- A humvee carrying Airmen from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron travels down a Japanese highway towards Sendai Airport here March 16. Members of the 320th STS, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, deployed to Sendai Airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

First fixed-wing aircraft since quake lands at Sendai Airport

A U.S. Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II lands at Sendai Airport, Japan on March 16, 2011. This is the first fixed-wing aircraft to land at the airport since an earthquake and tsunami crippled much of the Japanese eastern seaboard March 11. A team of specialists from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron out of Kadena Air Base, along with Japanese emergency management organizations, cleared a section of the runway and re-established control tower capabilities, enabling direct flights in and out of the airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

First fixed-wing aircraft since quake lands at Sendai Airport

Airmen unload supplies and a forklift from a MC-130H Combat Talon II, at Sendai Airport, Japan on March 16, 2011. This is the first fixed-wing aircraft to land at the airport since an earthquake and tsunami crippled much of the Japanese eastern seaboard March 11. The opening of this runway to fixed-wing aircraft by the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and Japanese emergency management organizations provides a critical means of transporting fuel, equipment, food and other supplies to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

353rd SOG reestablishes Sendai Airport

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Maj. Kerry Redman, 17th Special Operations Squadron, flies toward Sendai Airport to drop off supplies March 16. The crew brought water, food, fuel and other general supplies to the members of the 353rd Special Operations Group at Sendai for search and rescue missions. The 353rd Special Operations Group is establishing a usable runway at Sendai Airport to help with Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

353rd SOG reestablishes Sendai Airport

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Bradley Collier and Staff Sgt. Amber Anderson both from the 374 Logistics Readiness Squadron, drive toward an MC-130P. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

353rd SOG reestablishes Sendai Airport

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Curtis Hornbeak, 17th Special Operations Squadron, reviews a flight operations guide prior to departing for Sendai Airport March 16. The crew brought water, food, fuel and other general supplies to the members of the 353rd Special Operations Group at Sendai for search and rescue missions. The 353rd Special Operations Group is establishing a usable runway at Sendai Airport to help with Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

First fixed-wing aircraft since quake lands at Sendai Airport

An MC-130H Combat Talon II lands March 16, 2011 at Sendai Airport, Japan. This is the first fixed-wing aircraft to land at the airport since an earthquake and tsunami crippled much of the Japanese eastern seaboard March 11. A team of combat controllers from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, along with Japanese emergency management organizations, cleared a section of the runway and re-established the control tower to direct flights in and out of the airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

374th AMXS keeps aircraft ready for relief support

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class James Nicoloff, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron turbo prop specialist, inspects a newly replaced C-130 Hercules propeller here March 16. If tasked, the aircraft will participate in the relief efforts in Northern Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that struck March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Garrett)

374th AMXS keeps aircraft ready for relief support

YOKOT A AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class James Nicoloff, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron turbo prop specialist, changes a damaged propeller on a C-130 Hercules here March 16. Airman Nicoloff prepares the aircraft for the support of the earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Northern Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Garrett)

Free CDs

Passengers stand in line and snap pictures while the Band of Pacific-Asia Jazz Combo performs. SMSgt Michael Goetz shakes hands and passes out free copies of the band's "Friendship" CD. (Courtesy photo)

Audience Poses

A young couple finds an opportunity to smile in a difficult time, then and strike a pose, bringing a smile to the bass player SSgt Mike Schmaus. SrA Freddie Cruz engages other passengers while performing a rhythmic solo on the Congas. (Courtesy photo)

517th Airlift Squadron supports relief efforts in Japan

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska -- 10KAT forklifts offload humanitarian relief supplies from a C-17 Globemaster III, stationed at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mark Leahy)

517th Airlift Squadron supports relief efforts in Japan

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska -- Air Force Master Sgt. Stephen Mallory, loadmaster, stationed at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Alaska, marshals 10KAT forklifts to offload 47,000 lbs of water for humanitarian relief efforts off a C-17 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mark Leahy)

517th Airlift Squadron supports relief efforts in Japan

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska -- C-17 Pilot, Air Force Capt. Charley Morris stationed at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Alaska, preps for flight caring humanitarian relief supplies to Misawa Air Base Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mark Leahy)

Fuels truck loads on to C-130

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- A fuels truck pulls up to an C-130H Hercules to be loaded here March 15. The fuels truck was taken to Yamagota Airport to support Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

Yokota's fuels truck sent to support relief efforts

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Tech Sgt. Michael Holcomb, 730th Air Mobility Squadron, gives the thumbs up for clearance as a fuels truck is loaded onto a C-130H Hercules here March 15. The fuels truck was taken to Yamagota Airport to be used in support of Japan's earthquake and tsunami relied efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

Displaced reality: A wakeup call to why we're here

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Air Force and Marine airlift and rescue leadership look out over the debris left at Sendai Airport, Japan, following a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami March 11. The small dots covering the runway are vehicles left there after the tsunami water receded. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)