Pictures of the US military arriving in disaster areas and providing aid and comfort are ubiquitous.  They are so prevalent, in fact, some people forget the US military is not a humanitarian or aid organization.  While they’ve been known to distribute MREs or other military-style aid in response to crises, the military often simply provides a conduit for other agencies who are better equipped to provide aid.

Such was the case in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11th.  The relief effort notably included C-17s flying into Sendai, Japan, in the first such delivery of emergency aid in the region.  The US Air Force aircraft were loaded with nearly 100 tons of emergency aid supplies…from Samaritan’s Purse.  As noted in the official release:

A C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson…download[ed] supplies, including four pallets of water and six pallets of blankets and food from Samaritan’s Purse in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Japan Mission Center in Osaka and other church partners in Japan.

Members of the US military helped unload the charity’s 747, then load four C-17s.  The material was transported and then downloaded by the Air Force.  According to one report, the Japanese Self Defense Forces also assisted.

It’s moving and entirely appropriate that local US forces would assist in the delivery of aid to their host nation neighbors.  The short-timeline and magnitude of the response is also a testament to the resources brought to bear by Samaritan’s Purse to aid their fellow man.  While the US military is not technically a humanitarian organization, it frequently takes on humanitarian missions in concert with charitable and aid groups.

Importantly, the US military did not become a religious organization, nor did Samaritan’s Purse become secularized, for them to join forces to help:

I [Franklin Graham] had the opportunity to deliver dozens of these [bicycles] to an elementary school that is now sheltering about 300 people. When we pulled up, I shouted over to some nearby U.S. soldiers to see if they could help us unload. Without hesitation, they replied, “Yes sir!” In minutes, the bicycles were off the truck…
 
“We give these bikes in the Name of Jesus Christ,” I said. “We have come to tell you that we love you and God loves you.” I assured them that there is a God in heaven who hasn’t forgotten them in their hour of need…

Unfortunately, Samaritan’s Purse, its President, Franklin Graham, and their ministries have frequently been on the receiving end of ridicule from Michael Weinstein and Chris Rodda, representing Weinstein’s MRFF.  The “religious freedom” advocates have taken Graham to task over his religious beliefs, ironically enough.  The Billy Graham Evangelical Association was also part of “Rock the Fort,” which has generated a controversial atheist counter-event.

In the case of Japan, it is good to see the US military did not let the unjustified prior criticisms inhibit a necessary humanitarian event.  Weinstein, for his part, has remained silent.  Of course, criticizing the humanitarian relief effort would be “insensitive” and politically unpalatable, which would potentially jeopardize MRFF donations — even though it would be entirely consistent with his organization’s positions to date.