JASDF ASC commander receives The Legion of Merit
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- (left to right) U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander, presents The Legion of Merit to Japan Air Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Masayuki Hironaka, Air Support Command commander, JASDF, at Yokota Air Base, Dec. 4, 2012. Hironaka demonstrated superb leadership in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations following the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster. His immediate implementation of bilateral operational coordination measures with U.S. Forces directly resulted in the efficient execution of search and rescue, nuclear disaster response, and disaster relief operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)