Japan Dads

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Comment by fishdad on March 16, 2011 at 12:07pm

Two High Pressure Pumps were delivered to the Yokosuka Navy Base today and are being sent to aid with the Fukushima Nuclear Crisis. Proud to know that we are doing what we can to assist in stopping this. It would be nice to have updates on radiation levels at the base. Hoping and praying for the best.

Comment by Brad on March 15, 2011 at 7:24pm

Just posted pic from Navy site showing HS-14 mission with son Garrett overlooking the devastation from his helo on a recent mission

 

110314-N-OB360-003 MIYAGI PREFECTURE, Japan (March 14, 2011) Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Garrett Krygier, assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 14, surveys the destruction caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northern Japan March 11th. HS-14, based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, is conducting search and rescue missions in Miyagi Prefecture in support of Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ben Farone/Released)

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Comment by Art Cabral on March 15, 2011 at 4:30pm

Hi - this is Jean, Arts wife.  I'd like to thank you all for your posts about conditions in Japan. After 48 hrs of traveling, my Seabee Chief is there.  We got word he arrived this morning. No idea where or what he will be doing.  Hope your sons/daughters are all ok and prayers for them are coming from R.I.

Comment by Jim G. on March 15, 2011 at 1:45pm

As a former Navy nuke, and current nuclear professional, I have been closely following all the news out of Japan since last week.  Just to put things in perspective: it looks like over 10,000 perished in the earthquake and tsunami and nearly 1/2 million have been evacuated and are in need of shelter, food and water.

 

Our sailors are providing all the support they can, and the emergency conditions at the nuclear power plants are complicating but not hindering these efforts.  I am proud of all of our sailors and other military personnel, who are putting their training to use in a humanitarian effort following a natural disaster of Biblical proportion.

 

God bless each and every one of our sailors and their families.  My family and I are praying for their saftey and the success of their mission!

Comment by fishdad on March 15, 2011 at 9:28am

We spoke with our son overnight in Yokosuka. He is telling us that in spite of the notice about elevated radiation levels that there aren't' any real precautions being taken on the base (i.e. no sealing off of outside vents). He also told us that they had another strong aftershock about 1/2 hour ago.On the CFAY website they have said that they do have an evacuation plan in place should one become necessary. He told us that the base is quiet now as most of the Sailors are out doing search & rescue. He went to the NEX last night to get groceries and changed his mind when he realized that there was a 1 and 1/2 hour wait. We need to keep our Sailors & all of the family members in our prayers as well as the Navy leadership in Japan that they would have the wisdom and means to do what is necessary to keep our Sailors & their families safe. We are in serious prayer concerning the threat at the Fukushima Nuclear Facility.

Comment by Brad on March 15, 2011 at 8:00am

Garrett called last night.  He had the day off after working 20 hours the day before.

HS-14 sent helos up to evacuate 600 people from Takata.  The early helos were able to move people out.  This was supported by other helos from the Japanese and other commands.

From what we can figure out...  As the set of 6 additional copters from Atsugi approached, the mission changed from evacuation to SAR.  The flight up north of Sendai took 2.5 hours.  They had to go around a "no-fly" zone to stay away from the reactors.  They landed once to refuel at a Japanese Army base.... Once in the area Garrett's group of 6 helos split up and searched different grids.  Garrett said there were SOS signals everywhere.  The people would wave, give peace signs, and smile as they approached.  No injuries.  The victims mostly needed supplies and water... They landed in a backyard (talented pilot supported by the guys in back) and as crew chief, Garrett stayed on board.  The air crewman acting as rescue swimmer went to talk to a group of men.  One or two spoke English fairly well.  Their house was undamaged and they didn't want to evacuate.  A mom and little girl were taking pictures of the Americans from their upstairs bedroom window next door!  Garrett's crew left to fly around looking for some resources for them  A set of fire trucks and other rescue vehicles were spotted.  They landed and talked to the Japanese.  They were doing extractions from the rubble.  No food.  No water to send.  The helo went back to the original group and gave them 10 blankets and all the food and water they had on board.

The Navy sent a photographer with them on their helo.  Those pictures will probably make it to the Navy Newsstand soon.  They also use the pics to inform the next flights that go out - which areas were covered, which areas needed food/water.  Flights left Atsugi right away after they debriefed.  So you can say that they are working round the clock.

Garrett's evaluation of the area is that these people (could be as many as 1000) are totally stranded.  the ocean is on one side, there are heavily forested mountains on the other.  The only roads are impassable.  The only way they will get supplies/rescue is by air.  There are boats on top of houses.  If a house is standing, it might have debris 15' high piled up around it from the swirling waters.  In some places it looks like the only reason the tsunami stopped is cause it rolled into the mountains.

Everyday since Friday there have been other earthquakes.  Tsunami warnings have been issued... While we were talking, the base lost power with the rolling blackouts to conserve energy.  Garrett and others have been told to stay indoors because radiation levels have been detected.

I told Garrett about the phone calls and e-mails and prayers here within our circle of friends.  He loves to hear about you as well.  He is grateful for your concern and support.

Comment by Brandon S. on March 14, 2011 at 8:35am

So glad to hear that all of these posts have been positive and that all of our loved ones are accounted for and safe. Now we can share in the pride that our sailor's will be providing humanitarian efforts and assisting in whatever way they can during this horrific tragedy.

Comment by Brad on March 14, 2011 at 7:35am

My son, Garrett (Rescue Swimmer) sent a text overnight sayingthat he is part of an HS-14 misson that has left to a town to save 100+ people. This is what they have trained for. We ar praying that God uses them in a mighty way and he brings them all back safe. God Speed!

Comment by fishdad on March 13, 2011 at 9:44pm

So glad to hear that you've heard from your son William! Thanks for letting us know. 

Has anyone heard anything about the four quakes that hit in and around Yokosuka today?

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on March 13, 2011 at 9:15pm

USS John S. McCain Underway for Search and Rescue
By Mass Communication Specialist First Class (SW) Talley Reeve

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) Sailors aboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) recover a rigid-hull inflatable boat during small boat operations off the coast of Japan. McCain is near the epicenter of the recent earthquake to help search for anyone or anything that might have drifted out to sea. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Talley Reeve)

PACIFIC OCEAN - The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) departed from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka on March 12, to provide humanitarian assistance in support of earthquake and tsunami relief operations in Japan as directed.

“We had just pulled into Yokosuka when I got the word to head back out and proceed north. We’re now part of the search and rescue operations taking place off of the coast of Japan,” said Cmdr. Matt Lehman, commanding officer of John S. McCain.

“As a member of Destroyer Squadron 15 and the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, we’ll be working side-by-side with USS Ronald Reagan and other Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, helping with any humanitarian operations that come up,” he added.

McCain’s mission involves using rigid-hull inflatable boats to search for anything adrift in the water and providing support for any helicopter operations by acting as a refueling station; an operation also known as “lily padding.”

“I’m really proud of my guys,” said Lehman. “We got the call late at night, right when we returned from an exercise and here we are again doing our thing. It’s a real testament to the all the Sailors in the U.S. Navy that we can get underway in such a short period. I’m proud to be part of this operation and I know we’ll do the best we can do and help everyone we can.”

McCain along with the destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) will assist Japanese authorities off the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan to provide at-sea search and rescue recovery operations. USS Mustin (DDG 89) departed Yokosuka, Japan, today and will also assist.

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