Videos

The Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron-11 and USS Bonhomme Richard held a moment of silence ceremony to honor the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the Honshu region of Japan in March of 2011. Three years ago, the MEU/PHIBRON team was one of the first units to respond to the disaster during Operation Tomodachi. On March 11, the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group was recalled to onload Marines and helicopters to support relief efforts, marking the start of a United States Forces Japan mobilization to aid in the Kesennuma and Oshima Island areas. Additionally, the current ground combat element of the 31st MEU, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, was attached to the MEU three years ago during Operation Tomodachi. Also available in high definition.

The Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 11 and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) held a moment of silence ceremony to honor the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the Honshu region of Japan in March of 2011. Three years ago, the PHIBRON/MEU team was one of the first units to respond to the disaster during Operation Tomodachi. After the disaster on March 11, the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group was recalled to onload Marines and helicopters to support relief efforts, marking the start of a United States Forces Japan mobilization to aid in the Kesennuma and Oshima Island areas. Additionally, the current ground combat element of the 31st MEU, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, was attached to the MEU three years ago during Operation Tomodachi. Also available in high definition.

The remote island of Oshima, in northern Japan, has had no water or power for sixteen days. The earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the area also destroyed the island’s only two ferries, severely limiting relief efforts. The Japanese government requested help from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Gunnery Sergeant Jimmy Stare has more. Includes sound bites from 1st Lt. Robert Jankowski, Engineer Platoon Commander. jpearthquake11. Operation Tomodachi