$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, is greeted by Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, April 15. During the visit General North talked with Airmen and visited areas affected by the earthquake. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, is greeted by Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, April 15. During the visit General North talked with Airmen and visited areas affected by the earthquake. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, left, alongside Airmen, Sailors and civilian volunteers from Misawa clean up the Hachinohe Port April 16. General North was the 2,000th volunteer to sign up through the Misawa Helps program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, left, alongside Airmen, Sailors and civilian volunteers from Misawa clean up the Hachinohe Port April 16. General North was the 2,000th volunteer to sign up through the Misawa Helps program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, addresses the staff of The Misawa Fishery Co-operative Association and other fisherman at the Misawa City Port April 16. General North visited the areas affected by the earthquake to see the effects of the Misawa volunteer efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, addresses the staff of The Misawa Fishery Co-operative Association and other fisherman at the Misawa City Port April 16. General North visited the areas affected by the earthquake to see the effects of the Misawa volunteer efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, tours the Misawa City Port April 16. General North addressed servicemembers and expressed his gratitude for their quick response to the natural disaster and subsequent recovery operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, tours the Misawa City Port April 16. General North addressed servicemembers and expressed his gratitude for their quick response to the natural disaster and subsequent recovery operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, left, and Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, shovel sand at the Hachinohe Port April 16. The Misawa Helps program is a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting communities that have been affected by the earthquake that occurred on March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, left, and Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, shovel sand at the Hachinohe Port April 16. The Misawa Helps program is a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting communities that have been affected by the earthquake that occurred on March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Kerry Harding, spouse of Capt. Jeff Harding, 13th Fighter Squadron, volunteers in the local community April 16. The Misawa Helps program has been in operation for more than a month, orchestrating more than 47 clean-up missions in northern Japan. More than 2,000 volunteers have worked approximately 23,000 hours in an effort to help the Japanese communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Kerry Harding, spouse of Capt. Jeff Harding, 13th Fighter Squadron, volunteers in the local community April 16. The Misawa Helps program has been in operation for more than a month, orchestrating more than 47 clean-up missions in northern Japan. More than 2,000 volunteers have worked approximately 23,000 hours in an effort to help the Japanese communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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$MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, talks with Mr. Kazumasa Taneichi, Misawa City mayor, center, and Mr. Yukio Yamahata, interpreter, about the recovery progress during a recent visit April 16. General North visited the Misawa City Port to see the areas affected by the earthquake and learn about Misawa volunteer efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)$

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, talks with Mr. Kazumasa Taneichi, Misawa City mayor, center, and Mr. Yukio Yamahata, interpreter, about the recovery progress during a recent visit April 16. General North visited the Misawa City Port to see the areas affected by the earthquake and learn about Misawa volunteer efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

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PACAF commander visits Misawa AB, local communities

Published April 18, 2011
By SSgt Marie Brown
35 FW/PA

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, traveled to Misawa Air Base April 15 to meet with base leadership on lessons learned in the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11.

During his visit, General North visited the Misawa City Port to see the areas directly affected by the earthquake and the Misawa volunteer efforts. The general joined servicemembers on one of the base's many clean up missions.

"Those who have 'done it' [volunteered in relief efforts] will never be the same," said General North. "They now understand the spirit of what they have done and why."

PACAF commander visits Misawa AB, local communities

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities

PACAF commander visiits Misawa AB, local communities