First Japanese relief worker dies

member of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has died after being hospitalized due to poor health during a relief mission in the area affected by the March 11th disaster.

The Defense Ministry says a sergeant major in his 50s died on Friday. He was in the Ground Self-Defense Force's Second Artillery Regiment, based in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

The ministry says the sergeant major was dispatched to the quake- and tsunami-hit area in the northern part of Iwate Prefecture one day after the disaster. He directed his troops to find missing people and to remove rubble.

On Thursday the sergeant major was hospitalized in Iwate City after saying he felt very bad. He died on Friday morning.
His is the first death among the members of the Self-Defense Forces taking part in relief operations.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/02_06.html