In this Wednesday, April 6, 2011 photo released by U.S. Navy, the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) steams off the coast of northeastern Japan with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Ship JS Hyuga (DDH 181). Essex, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating off the coast of Kesenuma, in northeastern Japan, in support of Operation Tomodachi. Operation Tomodachi, which incorporates the Japanese word meaning "friend," is the U.S. military's humanitarian assistance program for the stricken region that started on March 13, two days after the quake and tsunami. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, MC2 Mark R. Alvarez)
Featured Photo Galleries
