uneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell and First Lady Sandy Parnell visited this week with military personnel serving at Yokota Air Base in Japan. Yokota Air Base houses 14,000 personnel in the city of Fussa.

The base is part of the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the air component of the U.S. Pacific Command. Other major units of the PACAF include Alaska’s 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB, and the 343 Wing, Eielson Air Force Base.

Governor Parnell met personally with nearly 20 Alaskans serving at the air base and thanked them for their service. The governor also received a briefing on disaster response and recovery from military and U.S. State Department personnel. Specifically, the briefing focused on preparedness, emergency response and relief and restoration efforts following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. Disaster preparedness remains a top priority for the Parnell administration.

“It was a privilege to witness firsthand the dedication of our men and women in uniform, serving far from home with such courage and sense of purpose,” Governor Parnell said. “Sandy and I had the honor of visiting with these true heroes who selflessly defend our country and our national interests in the Pacific Rim and around the world. We told them that America is proud of them and grateful for their sacrifice.”

The governor’s visit is part of his Pacific Rim trade mission, during which he is promoting Alaska’s natural gas to South Korean and Japanese markets.