U.S. forces to join relief efforts for central Japan quake from Jan. 17

The U.S. military plans to airlift supplies from Wednesday to support Japan's relief efforts for areas in Ishikawa Prefecture damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said.The request by Japan to its key security ally was an "exceptional" one, Kihara told a press conference on Tuesday, given that Tokyo earlier declined personnel or material support from overseas, citing arrangement difficulties.Two U.S. Army UH-60 helicopters will engage in the mission for two days through Thursday to deliver relief supplies from the Japanese Air Self-Defen…READ FULL ARTICLE