Operation Pacific Passage

Air Force personnel retrieve a pet as it is belted from an aircraft carrying Air Force and Navy families from Japan during Operation Pacific Passage operations at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2011. Operation Pacific Passage gives military families the opportunity to voluntarily relocate from Japan to a safe haven in the U.S. in order to conserve Japanese resources. (U.S. Navy Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eddie Harrison)

Operation Pacific Passage

Air Force personnel retrieve a pet as it is belted from an aircraft carrying Air Force and Navy families from Japan during Operation Pacific Passage operations March 25, 2011, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Operation Pacific Passage gives military families the opportunity to voluntarily relocate from Japan to a safe haven in the U.S. in order to conserve Japanese resources. (U.S. Navy Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eddie Harrison)

Operation Pacific Passage

U.S. Air Force and Navy personnel wait to assist military families arriving from Japan during Operation Pacific Passage operations at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2011. Operation Pacific Passage gives military families the opportunity to voluntarily relocate from Japan to a safe haven in the U.S. in order to conserve Japanese resources. (U.S. Navy Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eddie Harrison)

Operation Pacific Passage

Air Force personnel inspect an aircraft carrying Air Force and Navy families arriving from Japan during Operation Pacific Passage operations at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2011. Operation Pacific Passage gives military families the opportunity to voluntarily relocate from Japan to a safe haven in the U.S. in order to conserve Japanese resources. (U.S. Navy Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eddie Harrison)

Operation Pacific Passage

Military family members, their pets, Airmen and other service members process through Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2011, as part of Operation Pacific Passage. Shortly after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, Department of Defense officials approved voluntary departures for DOD personnel and family members to return to the United States. U.S. Northern Command was the lead for the departure operation -- naming it "Operation Pacific Passage." According to USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, Travis AFB, Seattle-Tacoma IAP , Wash., and Denver International Airport, Colo., were the main arrival locations. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Operation Pacific Passage

Military family members, their pets, Airmen and other service members process through Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2011, as part of Operation Pacific Passage. Shortly after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, Department of Defense officials approved voluntary departures for DOD personnel and family members to return to the United States. U.S. Northern Command was the lead for the departure operation -- naming it "Operation Pacific Passage." According to USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, Travis AFB, Seattle-Tacoma IAP , Wash., and Denver International Airport, Colo., were the main arrival locations. (U.S. Air Force Photo)