Defense.gov News Article: Military Gears Up to Help Japan

Military Gears Up to Help Japan By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 11, 2011 – U.S. forces are swinging into action to assist Japan in the wake of a magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck early this morning. “We are assessing the situation and positioning forces so that they are ready to respond and provide disaster relief if directed,” said Navy Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Pentagon spokeswoman. Japan has requested U.S. assistance through the State Department. The USS Tortuga, in Sasebo, Japan, is preparing to load landing craft and to leave for the disaster areas as early as this evening. The USS Essex, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, this morning. The ship is preparing to depart as early as this evening. The USS Blue Ridge, in Singapore, is taking on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies and preparing to depart tomorrow morning. The USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group, at sea in the western Pacific on its way to Korea, can respond if

Defense.gov News Article: Military Gears Up to Help Japan