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Thirteen-month-old Laila Kpodo looks curiously at the camera while her mother is helped by U.S. Customs and military personnel at Travis AFB, Calif. The mother and daughter were part of approximately 240 military family members who returned to the U.S. from Japan following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation. (Photo by Ken Wright)

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Staff Sgt. Katie Speer, 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief executive, carries a child off a military-chartered flight March 22, 2011, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Approximately 500 passengers arrived at Travis Air Force Base in support of Operation Pacific Passage. On March 17, 2011, the Office of the Secretary of Defense approved voluntary assisted departures to the United States for family members residing in Japan. These flights will continue for the foreseeable future to accommodate the needs of our service member’s families. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Michael Battles)

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60th Air Mobility Wing commander Col. James Vechery welcomes Melissa Wilds and her children as they arrive at Travis AFB, Calif. Wilds and her children were part of approximately 240 military family members who returned to the U.S. from Japan following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation. Wilds' husband is in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base. (Photo by Ken Wright)

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Six-year-old Adam Falcon plays with his Gameboy as his mother is helped by Air Force members at the Travis AFB passenger terminal on March 22. The Falcons were part of approximately 240 military family members who returned to the U.S. from Japan following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation. (Photo by Ken Wright)

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Jennifer Balares has her i.d. bracelet scanned by Senior Airman Kyle Ferlane after arriving at Travis AFB, Calif., on March 22. Balares and her three children were part of approximately 240 military family members who returned to the U.S. from Japan following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation. (Photo by Ken Wright)

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Passengers arriving from Japan of the DC-10 military-chartered flight de-boarded on the Travis Air Force Base, Calif., flightline March 22, 2011, at approximately 6 a.m. Service members, family members and civil service employees voluntarily left Japan in efforts to assist and expedite recovery efforts in the country by reducing the demand for food, water, fuel and electricity during this national emergency while hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens remain displaced. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Michael Battles)

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Passengers of a DC-10 military-chartered flight arriving from Japan de-board on the Travis Air Force Base, Calif., flightline March 22, 2011, at approximately 6 a.m. Service members, family members and civil service employees voluntarily left Japan in efforts to assist and expedite recovery efforts in the country by reducing the demand for food, water, fuel and electricity during this national emergency while hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens remain displaced. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Michael Battles)

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Members voluntarily leave Japan in support of Operation Pacific Passage

Published March 22, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton and Airman 1st Class Michael Battles
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. -- More than 500 service members, family members and civil service employees, who voluntarily departed Japan, arrived at Travis Air Force Base March 22 aboard charted military flights in support of Operation Pacific Passage.

U.S. Army North officials along with Team Travis members activated the Joint Reception Coordination Center and greeted approximately 330 passengers at 6 a.m. and another 240 at 1 p.m. More than half of them were children and nearly 40 family pets were also aboard the aircraft.

There were tremendous joint efforts by everyone to make this go as smooth as possible, said Lt. Col. U. L. Armstrong, acting defense coordinating officer, Region 9, Oakland, and lead officer for U.S Army North here.

"Hats off to all the joint efforts of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. The wing commander here, Col. James Vechery, and his team provided a good detailed plan as we arrived, enabling us to set up quickly and prepare to assist the families," said Colonel Armstrong.

"The Navy, Air Force and Marines provided Reservists as well to come here and assist," he said.

Upon arrival, passengers received assistance from Travis AFB officials with lodging, transportation, follow-on travel arrangements and any other personal needs.

"We have planned and postured throughout the weekend preparing for a possible flight," said Col. Robert Eatman, 60th Mission Support Group commander. "Many of the passengers seemed tired but they had nothing but good words to say about the teams and the efforts of all the volunteers."

Medical staff from David Grant USAF Medical Center and Naval Air Station Lemoore were on hand throughout the processing stages of the arrival, offering medical care if needed, and more than 100 volunteers were on hand to assist with childcare, luggage and pet care to ease the strain on passengers.

The airlift to Travis AFB is the second U.S. arrival location for these voluntary assisted departure flights after Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which has received flights since March 19.

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