U.S. Marines Clean Up Tsunami-hit Schools
Just found this news video on Japan’s TBS YouTube channel. It shows American marines mopping clean a junior high school in Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi prefecture that suffered significant damage from the March 11th tsunami:
The tsunami washed a lot of dirt and debris into the school building, but did not wreck the structure. Without a lot of cleaning, it would have been impossible to re-open the school. Thanks to American military manpower, the school year will be able to begin in mid-April.
The Japan Times has a short article up about the clean-up. Here’s an excerpt:
The team was joined by around 120 students, teachers and volunteers, as well as personnel from the Self-Defense Forces. The U.S. servicemen and women are also scheduled to help remove mud and debris at more schools in the city.
“We feel for your loss and also for the tragedy that happened. In general, we’ve been very impressed with the spirit of the Japanese people,” 1st Lt. Sean McMahon from Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture said. “We are very excited to help out and get people back on their feet.”
Near the entrance of the school building where there were rows of shoe boxes, Maj. Chris Robertson from Honolulu was overseeing work by U.S. Marines to clear away the debris and mud.
“It’s an honor to help,” said Robertson, who has been working in devastated areas in the Tohoku region for a week.
According to Stars and Stripes, the U.S. Marine Corps is available to do more work and is seeking a greater role in aid operations. Up until now, they’ve been taking all their orders from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and it seems it will take some time for them to develop a better working relationship that facilitates efficient use of available resources.
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