BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
It was just after midnight, Friday, Mar. 11, when the lights flipped on in a building that normally sits dark and quiet at that time of night. Members of the 713th Combat Operations Squadron reported in for what they knew would be a long and challenging day ahead.
Their mission was clear: use every communications means at their disposal to account for the whereabouts of nearly 50 fellow Reservists who were in the midst of an unfolding natural disaster half a world away.
"We didn't wait to be tasked (by higher headquarters). As soon as it happened, we got to work trying to get a hold of everyone to make sure they were safe," said Lt. Col. Carl Magnusson, scheduling and operations director.
Foremost on their minds was Capt. Christopher Torres, 713 COS executive officer, who had just flown to Tokyo to visit family. The squadron reached him on his cell phone at the Tokyo Narita International Airport. He'd landed safely around the time the powerful earthquake struck. Torres' wife and child, who had gone to Japan a few days earlier, were also safe and sound at a relative's home.
"Finding out that Chris and his family were okay was a big relief," said Capt. Trevor Albertson, 713 COS intelligence officer. Albertson added that concerns quickly turned to colleagues in other regions throughout the Pacific as tsunami warnings were issued.
A 940th Wing Reserve unit, the 713 COS is directly associated to 13th Air Force Headquarters, Air Forces Pacific, at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. The squadron maintains an active detachment there.
"We serve with the members at Det 1 and have longstanding friendships with these folks. We were very concerned, especially for those who live in low lying areas on the island," Albertson said.
The 701st Combat Operations Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, a geographically separated unit belonging to the 940th Wing, was also on the minds of coworkers at Beale.
More than 40 members of the 701 COS had been in South Korea for a joint military exercise and were awaiting flights home from Seoul on Friday. Squadron commander, Colonel Douglas Hall, was among the Reservists at the Seoul Incheon International Airport.
"There was no impact to airport operations that day. We didn't feel a thing. In fact, we found out about the earthquake via our Blackberries," said Hall, adding that Osan Air Base is far enough inland there were no worries about the tsunami either.
However, like the 713th, the 701st has close ties to Detachment 1 at Hickam AFB, and the tsunami was a concern, causing the unit to execute a recall of their personnel at the detachment. By the end of the day, all had been accounted for.
"The 940th Wing has personnel throughout the Pacific region. It was a huge relief to learn that everyone was safe after this disaster," Albertson said.
"We don't know what's coming next in regards to the relief operations, but we're standing by to help our Active Duty brethren and the people of Japan in any way we can," Albertson said. "It's why we have a strategic Reserve force. We exist to plug the holes, to help out wherever and however we can."