U.S. troops, USS Ronald Reagan arrive in Japan
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived off the coast of Japan Sunday to support Japanese forces in disaster relief operations, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement.
More U.S. aid — in the form of equipment, staffers and search-and-rescue teams — was expected to arrive Sunday to address the widespread devastation caused by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami.
Near Honshu, Japan, the USS Ronald Reagan will support the Japan Self-Defense Force by providing refueling operations for Japanese helicopters and transporting the island country’s troops to disaster areas, according to the Pentagon statement.
Accompanying the Reagan are the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the destroyer USS Preble.