om the A Seattle Snapshot fr ger Travel Perspective of Passen
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ir Force airmen flew upward of 25 sorties a day at the height of Operation “Tomodachi” to provide relief and supplies following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan in March. They airlifted 7 pallets of radiation-shielding boron to help stabilize the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. And, they dispatched aircraft to assess damage and monitor atmospheric radiation levels. From a passenger travel perspective, however, one of the greatest accomplishments was the safe and streamlined movement of people: support personnel into Japan and military members, government civilians, and dependents wanting to escape. By April 1, Pacific Air Forces air assets had airlifted 1223 passengers to support relief operation, and 5269 dependents and personnel were voluntarily evacuated to the US under Operation Pacific Passage. More than 2100 DOD family members transitioned through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC) to safe-haven locations in the US as part of Operation Pacific Passage. The voluntary military-assisted departure operation was put on hold after the last of the passengers arrived on March 26. Leading the operation was US Army North, headquartered at Fort Sam Houston. The organization is ready to restart operations and expand if necessary, but regardless of whether or not that word
Staff Sgt. Stewart Guethlin (36th Airlift Wing loadmaster and C-130 crewman) briefs passengers on how to don an oxygen mask. Photo: Airman Sean Martin, USAF
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comes, Operation Pacific Passage was a huge success according to Army officials. “All the military members and dedicated civilians did a tremendously great job,” said Col. Wayne Shanks, US Army North PAO. “Nothing is more important than taking care of our family members.” “SEA-TAC has bent over backward for us, and the volunteers really helped us out,” said Maj. Kays Al-Ali, part of the US Army North’s surgeon’s office. Military personnel led family members through every stage of the process, from greeting them when the plane from Japan arrived at SEA-TAC to helping carry bags as the families received their tickets before boarding commercial planes to their follow-on destination. To make that process as easy as possible, a joint reception coordination center consisting of Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel at SEA-TAC to provide administrative, financial, and medical support to the passengers before they departed on commercial airplanes to their final destination. Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Dumas, a medic from Everett Naval Hospital working in the Madigan Healthcare System medical clinic on-site at the airport, said he felt he played a vital role in helping the passengers get home safely. “The joint force shows how strong we are and how we
can come together to conduct operations without any trouble,” Dumas said. Most spouses brought their children with them, so operations officials made sure childcare was available to parents so they could focus on getting their tickets to their safe-haven location and paperwork filled out correctly. Pat Bossi, Joint Base LewisMcChord Child Youth and School Services, worked with SEA-TAC representatives to establish an on-site childcare facility. Getting passengers out within 24 hours became the standard toward the end of the operation. For those who had to stay in Seattle overnight, the DOD authorized lodging at several Seattle-based hotels. Each family member received a phone card to make free calls. Hot dogs and fresh donuts were always available throughout the operation, thanks to USO volunteers. At one point, a flight headed to Denver International Airport filled with transitioning family members stopped at SEA-TAC to refuel. With only 20 minutes of notice, USO volunteers made more than 300 sandwiches to rush out to the hungry passengers waiting in the plane. That kind of dedication and care shown to the military members and their families is what the USO is all about. Departed personnel will be provided return travel to Japan when directed by the under secretary of defense. DTJ
Excerpts from Air Force World (Aaron Church) and Army One Source (Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs Office) 28 |
Defense Transportation Journal
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August 2011
