Alaska and Hawaii are supporting U.S. relief efforts by sending Air National Guardsmen and resources to the region devastated by the Dec. 26 tsunami, Guard spokesmen said.

Guardsmen supported the unprecedented relief effort for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and the nine other countries around the Indian Ocean that were hit by one of recorded history's worst natural disasters, officials said.

The death toll surpassed 200,000 three weeks after the event. Countless more were still unaccounted for, homeless and subject to the life-threatening effects of disease and lack of food and water.

About 150 Alaska Air Guardsmen were involved or prepared to take part in the tsunami relief efforts last month, said Maj. Mike Haller, spokesman for the Alaska National Guard.

Brig. Gen. James Robinson, the Alaska Air Guard's chief of staff, was assigned as second in command for the joint U.S. military assistance group for Thailand. Three C-130 Hercules from the 144th Airlift Squadron at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, were on duty last month in Japan, assigned to support airlift operations for the recovery. About 25 Guardsmen were involved in that mission.

Another 120 Guardsmen from the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons at Kulis were standing by to take two HC-130 rescue tankers and three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to the afflicted region if needed.

The Hawaii Air Guard has also helped, said spokesman Maj. Charles Anthony.

A KC-135 Stratotanker flew a Department of Defense forensics team to Thailand to help identify victims. Two combat communications airmen were sent to the same country, he said.

Thirty-nine security forces airmen were also sent to provide security for U.S. forces in Indonesia, Major Anthony said.

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