Japan Dads

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Comment by Guillermo Trejo on May 16, 2011 at 9:31pm

My son goes to Sasebo Japan omn 5/19/2011 and your right its very far away. He is going to be in the USS Tortuga, but will be station Sasebo also. I need to get a web cam for my comp. so i can use skype also.

Comment by battlebuddy on May 16, 2011 at 9:19pm

My son finished Boot camp 2-11-11, finished A school 3-16-11 in Meridian MS and now he is at his first duty station Sasebo Japan. It is still hard to type that knowing he is so far away. I thank goodness for Skype every day! It has really helped that he has kept in touch since he got to Japan on 5-7-11. In the short time he has been there, he does seem to be adjusting and liking it there so far and that helps with the emotions of him being away. =)

Comment by battlebuddy on May 16, 2011 at 8:03pm

Hi there....I am new here. I am an N4M and wanted to check out the Dad's site~! We have a few on the mom's group and it looks like you guys have so much knowledge! My son arrived in Sasebo 5-7-11 and is on the USS Germantown. He is SNSH Ship Serviceman. Any one here have Sailors on the Germantown too?

Comment by fishdad on May 5, 2011 at 8:57am

Praying for you Cora. And for Brooklyn as well. Unfortunately another one of those sacrifices that most people aren't aware of. So sorry that you're having a such a really tough week. Praying for you Step Father too.

Comment by Brandon S. on May 5, 2011 at 6:19am

@Cora I feel you and I am so sorry to hear about your step dad. Our heart goes out to you and yours. @Jim Great stuff for Mark! He is truly blessed to have his son so close to home!

Comment by Brandon S. on May 5, 2011 at 6:12am

Sorry to hear that Cora. I have heard of other instances where this is happening as well. Seems that certain things work in funny ways over there, some with very little explanation or sense. I hope that Brooklyn is able to work it out and gets her leave.

Comment by fishdad on April 26, 2011 at 9:41pm

Appreciate the picture from the USS Lassen. We can't see our boy, but it's nice to see some of his shipmates.
So glad to hear that your son will be so close to home Mark!! How wonderful for all of you!!

Comment by Brandon S. on April 26, 2011 at 6:50pm

Hey @Cora, long time no see, how are you? Saw your post and had to reach out. How is Brooklyn doing? @Mark, So happy to see that your son is headed back stateside. it has to be a wonderful feeling to know that your son will be so close to home, congrats to you and the family.

Comment by Richard Klein on April 26, 2011 at 3:52pm

Mark
I bet the time untill then will seem like a eternity. I sure I don't have to wait for a year and a half to see my son again but we are prepared for it.
Rich

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on April 22, 2011 at 8:46am

from Admiral Patrick Walsh:

 

Thank you, my friends

by Admiral Patrick Walsh on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 7:03pm

On 19 March, more than 90 members of the Joint Task Force assigned to my headquarters departed Hawaii with very little notice and traveled to Yokota Air Base, Japan.  There was nothing that we could have done to prepare ourselves for what we were about to see.  The tectonic forces that moved the Eurasian Plate affected the tilt of the earth’s axis, lowered the Northeast Honshu coastline by more than a meter, and displaced Japan by seven feet.  The damage, the loss of life, and the series of cascading casualties that followed (to include explosions and fires in a nuclear power plant, and more than 400 aftershocks) were apocalyptic in magnitude, description, and effect for the prefectures of Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi.

 

In times of crisis, in the hour of tragedy, at the moment of calamity, we learn about ourselves and about the brotherhood of humanity.  If ever there was a time and place to learn about commitment to your fellow man, then “...come to Japan...” where more people came to assist the people of Japan than who departed the nation to avoid the damage caused by the earthquake, tsunami, and radioactive contamination…where 20,000 U.S. servicemen and women, 22 ships -- the majority of which are our forward deployed naval forces, deployed to support Japan, and 140 aircraft provided 189 tons of food, 2.0 million gallons of water, and 87 tons of relief supplies to augment the Japanese relief effort.  By any and every measure, the actions taken and work done by the Japan Self-Defense Force has been heroic…where record numbers of citizens mobilized…to rescue, to find the missing, and to sustain the living.  Despite incalculable personal loss and grieving for their own loved ones, their missing relatives, and their destroyed communities, the Self-Defense Force continues to carry a deep sense of personal honor and responsibility to see this mission to its completion.

 

If ever there was a time and place to witness where the wrath of nature has met the best of humanity…then “come to Sendai…” where the chaos of the sea confronted the orderly life of the city...where a giant wave churned and pushed itself 6.5 miles inland and then pulled everything within its grasp out to sea.  Where every man-made object, regardless of size, weight, or setting moved to the most unlikely, unpredictable, and implausible locations…tossed without regard to dimension or girth – and created a confused picture of commercial tankers on land along with homes and automobiles out to sea.  But also, where the same powerful wave summoned an equally powerful force – the essential purity and resolute spirit of the Japanese people, possessed of the wish for peace and security, yet emotionally resolved to meet any challenge – and commit themselves for the rest of their lives to build a future for their children, with politeness, patience, and prudence.

 

And if ever there was a time and place to witness an impressive operation, to witness a team in action, to witness heartfelt contribution without concern for credit, come to “Tomodachi…” where the USS Ronald Reagan strike group joined forces with Yokosuka sailors, Okinawa Marines, Zama soldiers, and Yokota and Misawa airmen…with more than 50 Non-Governmental Organizations, the ministries in the Government of Japan, the Self-Defense Force, USAID, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Chemical, Biological Initial Response Force from US NORTHCOM, and many others, in a unified effort on behalf of our friends.  While none of us could have prepared for this specific mission, the mark of an impressive organization is to learn and grow under fire, during crisis conditions, and adapt, improvise, and in this case, pivot from humanitarian assistance to missions in response to the nuclear disaster -- to fight the fear of the unknown and the invisible…with a force that can land on its feet within hours of an unprecedented crisis, and prove by its actions, what it means to be a friend.

 

America's armed forces demonstrated the value of forward presence and agility.  Our men and women adapted to challenging and unpredictable operating conditions...each and every service member performed in a manner that reflected the rigorous discipline of training and readiness standards that is the hallmark of the U.S. military.  When Defense Minister Kitizawa visited REAGAN, he conveyed the personal gratitude of the Japanese Prime Minister to the US armed forces for their remarkable, timely, and sustained support and added, “Your warm help will be cherished and forever engrained in the hearts and souls of the Japanese people."

 

In the past week, I postured the command for continued support to Operation Tomodachi and moved from a surge approach with people and resources to one that is more sustainable; we began a rotation of people as well as the phased redeployment of my headquarters staff to their home stations.  The Commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, Burt Field, (LTG, USAF) has assumed additional responsibilities as the Commander of the Joint Support Force from his headquarters at Yokota Air Base.

 

As I write this note to you, I am returning to Hawaii after long-standing speaking engagements in Dallas and San Diego.  In each place, I was struck by the enthusiastic interest of members of the armed forces as well as those in the community who value and respect the service of those in uniform.  While I am humbled to hear the gratitude of so many, I would offer that the interesting part about service...is oftentimes, you do not realize that you are actually doing it…you do not wake up in the morning and think about your life’s work in those terms.  Instead, you think about what you can do for people, how you can help in their development, how you can make a difference in the world around them, how you can support an important goal or mission and live a life of consequence…a life that matters.

 

The people of Japan have taught us -- the personal satisfaction and psychic income that we receive from serving gives us the greater benefit for the act that we provide to others.  Simply put, we are the beneficiary.  It puts into action the phrase President Lyndon Baines Johnson coined when he said, “Ours is not a spectator society.”  Those who choose to serve…play on the line of scrimmage and refuse to take a seat in the stands.  In the days that follow, I will continue to support the work of the Joint Support Force with forces available in the event of further crises.  I will always be grateful for work and the people associated with this extraordinary mission.  Thank you, my friends, for the honor and opportunity to stand for all that you represent.

 

CAMP SENDAI, Japan (April 10, 2011) Adm. Patrick M. Walsh returns a salute upon his arrival at Camp Sendai to meet with Japan Self-Defense Force personnel and leaders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tiffany Dusterhoft)

 

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