60 US Servicemen in Japan Volunteered for Flood Relief

A huge expanse of land area in Tochigi buried under water following days of rainfall, 26 inches total, and more than 12,000 homes were flooded between September 6-11. Volunteers rushed from nearby local communities, relief goods flew in from all parts of the countries.

The local media covered volunteers' moves day by day but missed one impressive piece of news on the move by US military servicemen until its was barred by Livedoor September 21.

A team of US soldiers were in the flood-stricken City of Kanuma for three days from September through 15, reports Livedoor, helping local residents restore their properties to pre-flood conditions. Many twitters report the US servicemen even going out their way to mingle with the local school children.

The following is an episode of the voluntary gesture of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron as summarized from its official account, September 17.

A team of 60 airmen arrived Kanuma September 13. Split into multiple teams, the volunteer force chopped tons of lumber flooding a local ice rink and rice paddy for ease of removal.

The teams then dispersed throughout the local area assisting the young and elderly clearing mud from garages and yards.

"My 'guys' were happy to help", said Maj. Korrine Takeyama, 374 CES operations flight chief and volunteer lead.

A member of the team, Marco Furlan-Kaneko, 374 CES portfolio optimization element chief, was in his mother's hometown Kanuma from age 3-11. Th moment he learned of the flooding information he contacted the squadron leadership. A few hours later, 60 volunteers were ready to leave for Kanuma.

"I truly know what that feels like. We are here for a sad reason but we have helped the community come together. We worked towards a common goal", said Furlan-Kaneko.

On their final day in Kanuma, the local elementary school invited them to a presentation, where the principal thanked them:

"We don't know how we could ever thank you but to tell our children your volunteer spirit. We will tell them that when disaster strikes they will go out and help others".