First voluntary departure flights leave Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Penelope, family dog of Maj. Thomas Esser, 35th Force Support Squadron commander, escorts his family back to the continental United States on March 22 during the voluntary departure. The Defense Department authorized a voluntary departure of family members from Northern Japan due to the recent earth quake and tsunami disaster. (U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)

First voluntary departure flights leave Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- On March 22, Sabrina Vandewalker age 15 months, waits patiently on her mother Stephanie’s back , wife of Capt. Jon Vandewalker of the 35th Dental Squadron, to board the B-767 with the other 240 family members being flown to the continental United States. The Defense Department authorized a voluntary departure of family members from Northern Japan due to the recent earth quake and tsunami disaster. (U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)

Transporting precious cargo worldwide

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 35th Security forces escort a Hachinohe ambulance onto the base flightline Mar. 21 to allow the transport of Maurer Bruno, a volunteer Swiss Disaster Dog Association member, back to Switzerland. Bruno was helping out for ten days with the recovery efforts in northern Japan prior to his emergency surgery at the Hachinohe Medical Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla\Released)

Transporting precious cargo worldwide

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Maurer Bruno, a Swiss Disaster Dog Association volunteer, waits patiently to board the plane to Switzerland, after his emergency surgery at the Hachinohe Medical Center on Mar. 21. Bruno was helping out for ten days with the recovery efforts in northern Japan prior to his emergency surgery at the Hachinohe Medical Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla\Released)

Transporting precious cargo worldwide

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Col. Guillermo Tellez, 35th Medical Group commander, says goodbye to Maurer Bruno, Swiss Search and Rescue team volunteer, on the flightline Mar. 21. Bruno has been supporting search and recovery efforts for ten days before he was medically evacuated due to an emergency surgery that was performed at the Hachinohe medical center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown\Released)

Rescue animals soothe voluntary departure nerves

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Capt. Cole Taylor, 35th Medical Operations Squadron physician and his wife, Breanne, listen to Airman First Class Timothy Whitworth, 35th Comptroller Squadron customer service technician, explain the per diem rules that apply to the voluntary departure process Mar.19. Many travelers expressed their gratitude of how well the process worked. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield/Release)