The local community provided shelter to the displaced personnel at the community center after the devastating 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck mainland Japan March 11.

Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron-171, in support of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, and Task Force Fuji constructed the field showers and two heating.

“This isn’t an exercise; this is an actual humanitarian mission. We’re Marines, and this is what we train for,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Agurto, utilities section operations chief, MWSS-171, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. “Not only are showers something they don’t have right now but it’s going to help prevent them from getting sick.”

The showers were constructed in support of Operation Tomodachi. The mission was a Japan led initiative with U.S. forces personnel providing logistical support.

The cooperation between the Japan Self-Defense Force and U.S. military has been very well and consistent throughout the various missions they’ve conducted together, according to Japanese Lt. Col. Shizuo Kawano, vice logistics commander, Japan North East Army.

“I’m very happy the U.S. military came to help aid Japan,” he said. “We really appreciate the Marines working very hard to help the Japanese and would definitely like to operate with service members more often.”

Service members spent several hours operating from start to finish, from unloading the gear, staging the showers and connecting the showers to be operational.

Combat engineers and water support technicians constructed 12 showers with two water bladders, two water pumps and two heaters to give them hot water.

“Since we’ve been working together, I’ve been very impressed with the effort service members have put into the work they’ve been doing," said Kawano. "The U.S. military and Japanese have a lot more work to do everywhere. So far everything has gone for very well and I’m sure the end results will be great.”