The morning after Japan was struck by the most powerful earthquake to hit the island nation in recorded history and the tsunami it unleashed -- and even as the earth continued to twitch with aftershocks -- the disaster's massive impact was only beginning to be revealed. Rescue efforts began with the first light as military helicopters plucked survivors from roofs and carried them to safety. The 8.9-magnitude temblor, which was centered near the east coast of Japan, killed hundreds of peo...