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Multi-service team welcomes DoD families evacuating from Japan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Desiree Economides
  • 310th Space Wing Public Affairs
DENVER --  A multi-service team of military and nongovernmental agency workers welcomed four flights carrying Department of Defense families from Japan beginning March 24 at Denver International Airport in support of Operation Pacific Passage.

Eligible dependents of U.S. service members and non-emergency DoD civilians stationed in Japan were authorized voluntary departures beginning March 18, in response to the potential dangers posed by the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamis, and ongoing nuclear emergency at Fukushima. According to the DoD, those who voluntarily departed will remain in the U.S. until the situation in Japan is deemed stable enough to return home.

DIA served as one of the transit points for passengers en route to their destination in the U.S. Most of the passengers plan to stay with immediate family members or close friends until the DoD allows re-entry.

"We are validating personal information for each passenger, offering financial support, airline ticketing and hotel accommodations for those who are making connecting flights later," said Col. Marc Hutson, Defense Coordinating Officer FEMA Region 8.

The team, comprised of active duty and Reserve service members from Buckley Air Force Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Naval Operations Support Center Denver and Fort Carson, Colo., with the help of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and USO, provided passenger assistance and comfort while they awaited transit.

Passengers of the first flight, which arrived Thursday, discussed how they felt about leaving Japan for the U.S. and leaving behind their spouses to help with the relief efforts.

"I didn't want to leave my spouse in Japan," said Dien Crisostomo, a Yokota Air Base Japan resident. "It has been a hard and confusing time for all of the military families with so much unknown."

With the unknown back in Japan, many families echoed they didn't know what to expect when they arrived in Denver.

"I was really surprised it's been so organized," said Rose Domingo, Yokota Air Base Japan resident. "It's cool they arranged all this for us. When I talked to my husband earlier he laughed when I said they had a bouncy castle for the kids to play on."

The preparations for the flights have only been in the works for a few days and the accommodations took hundreds of volunteers to put together.

"It's been so impressive to see the government and NGOs come together so quickly and work so well together," said Sherry Manson, the Salvation Army Denver divisional service extension director.

"Everyone here has done a great job providing services and even getting things for the passengers... The USO even had toothpaste and deodorant," said Airman 1st Class Malachi Welter, 460th Space Communications Squadron.

Though the families are appreciative of all the efforts, the volunteers are also enthusiastically grateful.

"It's really rewarding to be participating in this, and is really nice to know these people are getting to somewhere safe," said Chief Petty Officer Jim Burch, Navy Operational Support Center Denver.

Currently, only four flights were scheduled to bring DoD families from Japan to Denver.
As for when the families will return to Japan, the DoD has not yet terminated the departure nor have any plan of operations been released as to when they will do so.