Area Airman Helps With Japan Earthquake Relief

June 12, 2011

The son of a North Escambia area man didn’t know what to expect. He’d seen pictures of the devastation on television and in the newspapers, and he knew he had to help, but how? It didn’t take long for him to find out.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason T. Wintersteen (pictured), son of Jay Wintersteen of Santa Rosa County, was one of more than 20,000 U.S. military men and women, who have provided assistance in support of Operation Pacific Passage. The operation provides the authorized voluntary return of military family members from Japan in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11. Operation Tomodachi provides humanitarian assistance and recovery operations to the people of Japan.

Operation Pacific Passage has airlifted more than 7,000 passengers and more than 400 pets via military and commercial aircraft from various locations in Japan, and Operation Tomodachi has resulted in more than 400 missions being flown, more than 2800 tons of cargo, and more than 400,000 pounds of fuel delivered. Military members are also assisting in the cleanup of communities and airports.

“I supported the Noncombatant Evacuation and Repatriation Operations and airplane missions going north to Sendai to help with relief efforts,” said Wintersteen, who is assigned to the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron, Yokota. “I also provided electrical support for multinational support agencies during their deployment in support of Operation Tomodachi.”

While nothing can totally prepare service members with the training they need to handle a disaster of this magnitude, the fact that they must be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice has come in handy during this operation.

“This is the first time that I have been involved in a humanitarian mission of this scope,” said Wintersteen, who graduated from Rutherford High School, and the University of Maryland University College in 2009 through the military extension program.

Operations of this type are very important because they further demonstrate the longstanding and close working relationships that the United States has developed with many countries around the world over the years.

“This type of operation is important because Japan is one of our closest allies. They would do the same if we experienced a natural disaster of this magnitude,” said Wintersteen.

Operation Tomodachi, or Operation Friendship, in the Japanese translation, means helping friends. For Wintersteen and the others, it has become more like helping family.

“Being involved in this operation made a big impact on me,” said Wintersteen.

Pictured top: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conduct a countermeasure wash down on the flight deck.  Sailors scrubbed the external surfaces on the flight deck and island superstructure to remove potential radiation contamination.  Ronald Reagan is operating off the coast of Japan providing humanitarian assistance as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi. Pictured bottom inset: Airmen from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 730th Air Mobility Squadron pack and secure a pallet of relief supplies inside a cargo warehouse at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Pictured below: Houses lie in ruins in the Miyagi Prefecture after the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11 in Japan. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

2 Responses to “Area Airman Helps With Japan Earthquake Relief”

  1. Jane on June 13th, 2011 4:57 pm

    Wonderful work, guys! It is nice to see the military doing something they aren’t being shot at or bombed for a change! Bet they’re glad too!

  2. 429SCJ on June 12th, 2011 9:58 pm

    The U.S. Air Force, a great place for young people to find opportunity, discipline and see the world. I have never regretted my twenty one years of service, check it out grads, there is something for almost everyone and more than you expected.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News