Japanese troops leave for noncombat duty in Iraq

The troops aren't wearing uniforms.
NARITA, Japan (AP) -- The first troops in Japan's largest military deployment since World War II left home today to begin a humanitarian mission in Iraq.
In front of a horde of reporters at Tokyo's main international airport, 23 Japanese air force personnel dressed in civilian clothes filed onto a pair of commercial flights bound for Kuwait and Qatar to begin preparing for the later deployment of 1,000 noncombat troops to Iraq.
Army, navy and air force units will take part in a mission to repair war-shattered infrastructure in southern Iraq.
The airmen in the first wave traveled in blazers and sweat shirts, instead of uniforms, to underscore the government's assurances that its forces will not be taking part in combat. They are part of an advance air force team totaling 40 members set to depart in coming days.
"The time has come for us to go," Col. Tadashi Miyagawa said. "Each individual has his own thoughts, but we'll be unified."
The men's wives and other relatives said farewells in private waiting rooms at the airport or watched silently as the troops walked through airport security to board their planes.
The main Japanese military contingent, consisting of more than 500 ground troops, is expected to begin leaving for the southern Iraqi city of Samawah in February.