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U.S. military aids Japan in wake of disaster (photos)

As Japan struggles to manage the humanitarian aid effort following the earthquake and tsunami, the U.S. military assists, with Operation Tomodachi.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
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1 of 24 Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Leo A. Salinas

Humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR) kits

As part of the ongoing disaster relief mission following the devastating 9.0-magnitude that struck Japan on March 11, the United States military is engaged in unprecedented assistance for the country, which has been overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis.

As part of Operation Tomodachi, the military is assisting the Japanese government with humanitarian aid and search and rescue operations.

Here, sailors aboard U.S. 7th Fleet command flagship USS Blue Ridge stand by to move pallets of HADR--humanitarian assistance/disaster relief--kits.
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2 of 24 U.S. Navy

Aerial view of northeastern coast

This aerial view of northeastern Japan paints a grim picture of the humanitarian situation. Japan is struggling to cope with the widespread destruction and the ongoing nuclear crisis.
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3 of 24 U. S. Navy Photo by Lt. K. Madison Carter

From inside the control room

From inside the control room, officers aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex navigate toward the coast of Japan as part of the Operation Tomodachi relief effort.
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4 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Cassatt

E-2C Hawkeye

An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Black Eagles of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 catapults off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Its mission is to provide damage assessment and air traffic coordination for Operation Tomodachi.
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5 of 24 U.S. Navy photo

An aerial view shows tsunami debris

An aerial view shows tsunami debris and the shattered remains of Wakuya, Japan, on March 15, 2011.
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6 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley

Loading a Japanese armored truck onto the flight deck

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Dante Galati directs members of USS Tortuga's Deck Department as they load a Japanese armored truck onto the flight deck.

The Tortuga loaded a slew of Japanese vehicles onto the ship from the pier at Tomakomai Ko.
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7 of 24 U. S. Navy Photo by Lt. K. Madison Carter

Debris from the tsunami

Debris from the tsunami, including houses, cars, and boats lines a canal in the downtown area of a fishing town.

In addition to the U.S. presence in Japan, teams from the United Kingdom and China are on scene to assist in searching for missing residents.
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8 of 24 U. S. Navy photo by Lt. K. Madison Carter

The Landing Craft Utility 1627

The Landing Craft Utility 1627 pulls up to the stern gate of the USS Tortuga as the crew prepares to load vehicles and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force troops.
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9 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer David Hernandez

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force vehicles aboard the USS Tortuga

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force vehicles are lined up aboard the USS Tortuga after being delivered by Landing Craft Utility 1627, marking the first time in history that a U.S. warship has carried Japanese military assets.
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10 of 24 U. S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Scott Bourque

Crew aboard the USS Tortuga

Crew aboard the USS Tortuga inspect the vehicles and equipment on deck before the ship gets under way to complete the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force onload.

Tortuga loaded a plethora Japanese vehicles on its flight deck this past Tuesday from the Tomakomai Ko pier.
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11 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anthony Johnson

U.S.-Japan partnership

The USS Tortuga is seen with Mount Kamafuse in the background.

The U.S. and Japanese partnered to transport military vehicles and personnel from Tomakomai in Hokkaido, to Ominato in northern Honshu.
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12 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexander Tidd

A tugboat rests amid a pile of debris

A tugboat rests amid a pile of debris in Ofunato, Japan, on March 15, 2011.
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13 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Master Chief Petty Officer Danie

The USS Ronald Reagan

The USS Ronald Reagan, under way on March 12, 2011, in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility, was directed to Japan to assist in the humanitarian efforts following the quake.
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14 of 24 Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Leo A. Salinas

Radioactive decontamination station

At a radioactive decontamination station aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, Engineman 1st Class Brandon Martin uses an IM-271/PD Radioacmeter to detect possible radioactive surface contaminates on Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Eddie Sanchez.
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15 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan McCord

Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade

Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade aboard a KC-130J Hercules aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. They're moving food, water, and medical supplies.
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16 of 24 U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse

A damaged water pipe along the northeastern coast of Japan

A damaged water pipe along the northeastern coast of Japan sprouts a freezing fountain of water on March 11, 2011.

Cold temperatures in the northern part of Japan are complicating the situation in the struggling country.
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17 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps

Members of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps search and rescue teams survey the earthquake and tsunami damage at Sendai Airport near Yokota Air Base, Japan, on March 13, 2011.
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18 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley

Japanese man removes debris from Misawa fishing port

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John and Petty Officer 1st Class Shakir Briggs help a Japanese man remove debris from the Misawa fishing port in Japan on March 14, 2011.
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19 of 24 U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sara Csurilla

Piles of debris

Piles of debris, building rubble, and damaged cars and boats line several blocks of the once lively streets of the fishing town of Ofunato.
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20 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devon Dow

Japanese soldiers at Kadena Air Base, Japan

Japanese soldiers at Kadena Air Base prepare to head to mainland Japan along with their U.S. counterparts to support recovery efforts.
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21 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord

Sailors assigned to Fleet and Industrial Supply Center from Naval Air Facility Misawa

Sailors assigned to Fleet and Industrial Supply Center from Naval Air Facility Misawa, including Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Robert Bannister, center, are assisting with the cleanup of sediment from the devastated city.
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22 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley

House floating miles from shore in the Pacific Ocean

Removed from its foundation, and now floating miles from shore in the Pacific Ocean, a Japanese home is inspected by a helicopter-based Search and Rescue team launched from the USS Ronald Reagan.
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23 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord

Members of the Fairfax County Urban Fire and Rescue Team

Members of the Fairfax County Urban Fire and Rescue Team head into downtown Ofunato to search for survivors.
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24 of 24 U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

Masayoshi Sawaguchi

Masayoshi Sawaguchi, director of the Department of Policy and Finance for the Misawa City Office, speaks with U.S. sailors assigned to Naval Air Facility Misawa during the cleanup effort at the Misawa Fishing Port. Nearly 100 Sailors from NAFM volunteered in the relief effort to help Misawa City employees and members of the local community.

The scale of the disasters is still unclear. With thousands already declared dead and thousands more missing, the aid and search and rescue missions will take the cooperation of many.

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