050102-N-9293K-157 Indian Ocean (Jan. 2, 2005) – Seahawk helicopters, assigned to the “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Two (HS-2) and the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron Four Seven (HSL-47), depart USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) en route to Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The helicopters are transporting supplies, bringing in disaster relief teams and supporting humanitarian airlifts to Tsunami-stricken coastal regions. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jacob J. Kirk (RELEASED)

PHOTOS OF THE TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT, released by the U.S. Navy, are available here. Such efforts are, as U.N. representative Jan Egeland noted this weekend, worth their weight in gold. More or less literally.

050101-N-1229B-116 Sumatra, Indonesia (Jan. 1, 2005) - Sailors from USS Abraham Lincoln with the help of military members from Indonesia and Australia load United States Navy Seahawk helicopters with supplies to be distributed throughout the island. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Patrick M. Bonafede (RELEASED)

UPDATE: Reader Phil Beckman notes that Dan Rather is on the scene, which is surely a tremendous relief to the victims. And he’s wearing a flightsuit!