FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: The Berlin Airlift ~ July 7, 2008

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

60th Anniversary of the
Berlin Airlift
Part 1
All info and photos from this website.

           

June 30 was the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, a subject which we covered in detail in December 2007 in these threads:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

We're going to look at a few other stories surrounding this heroic event over the next few weeks ~ thanks for the heads up on this SandRat!  

Wiesbaden Celebrates Berlin Airlift Anniversary

WIESBADEN, Germany, June 30, 2008 – In 1948, a political and military Cold War began when Berlin nearly fell into Josef Stalin’s hands.

Col. Ray Graham, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany, salutes during the playing of the national anthem for ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. Graham, wearing a 1940s-era Army uniform, shared the stage with the city of Wiesbaden’s Lord Mayor Helmut Mueller during a flightline observance June 26, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Ray Johnson  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Stranded deep inside Soviet-controlled territory, 2 million Germans faced starvation. The resulting Allied response -- the Berlin Airlift -- not only saved a population, but also launched a friendship between countries that had been at war three years earlier.

Sixty years later, thousands of Americans and Germans -- including participants in the legendary humanitarian mission and survivors of the blockade -- gathered here for two days to celebrate the airlift’s anniversary.

“Today is my best day in command,” Col. Ray Graham, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, said at a June 26 breakfast held in honor of 24 U.S. and German veterans. “I’m sure Air Force Brig. Gen. Joseph Smith felt the same way [on June 26, 1948] as he stood on the airfield and watched the first aircraft lumber off the runway and disappear into the clouds for Berlin, signifying the start of an undertaking the likes of which the world had never known.”

It was from Wiesbaden Army Airfield that pilots, flying C-47 Skytrains, C-54 Skymasters, C-82 Packets and C-74 Globemasters made two-hour jumps -- often harassed by Soviet Yak fighter jets -- to Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport. All together, 28,299 airlift sorties were launched from Wiesbaden during the 15-month operation, delivering 326,137 tons of food, medicine and coal.

Overall, American and British aircrews kept the beleaguered city alive with almost 280,000 flights that covered 92 million miles and carried 2.3 million tons of supplies.

“We brought in the things that people needed to stay alive, to stay free,” said retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, 87, known as “the Candy Bomber” for dropping gum and chocolate to Berlin’s children. “That gives you the magnitude of this operation. It was fantastic.”

And while pilots such as Halvorsen have been recognized throughout the years for their exploits, those working on the ground also played a major role in the airlift’s success.

Crew chief Johnny Macia, a private first class at the time, said everyone involved “had a job to do and we got it done; aircraft were arriving every 90 seconds at Tempelhof.”

The retired master sergeant recalled that aircraft were tearing up the runways. “[They] had men and women on the sides with shovels, sand and tar filling up the holes,” he said. “It took everyone to run the operation.”

German citizens shared the burden. Kurt Lehmann, who helped in building Berlin’s Tegel Airport, recalls the period as being tough for all European citizens -- not just Berliners -- as the Soviets enforced their will on embattled smaller countries. “That’s why we started the airlift, … [and] why people survived,” he said.

For these daring actions, every airlift veteran was instrumental in shaping the Europe of today, said Helmut Mueller, Wiesbaden’s lord mayor, during a June 26 speech at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. “One thing we can say with certainty,” he said, “without the Berlin Airlift, the reunification of Germany and Europe would not have been possible.”

Wiesbaden hosted an open house yesterday, the first public event at Wiesbaden since Sept. 11, 2001. More than 10,000 people attended an eight-hour show that provided static aircraft displays -- including an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III -- as well as helicopter candy drops and a meet-and-greet session with the veterans, including Bill Morrissey, who labeled the tributes “overwhelming.”

“It’s been a joy, … but with sadness,” said Morrissey, who at 18 served as an American air traffic controller at the former Celle Royal Air Force Station in the British sector of post-World War II Germany.

“Remembrance is tough,” he said, referring to the 77 men -- 32 American, 39 British and six German -- who died during the airlift.

(Ray Johnson works in the Public Affairs Office at U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Europe.)

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[Old Sarge]

PRESENT FOR DOODY!

[AZamericonnie]

Hee Hee!:)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank her for today’s thread.

The Berlin Airlift

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[Kathy in Alaska]

AZ got 1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

AbnSarge USA
Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
Brett USN (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
Capt Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline)
Capt Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
Chris USA (amom)
Chuck USA (RightOnline)
Clarinet_King USAF (NerdDad/CDBear)
Col Mike (gpapa)
CMS USA
David USAF (LUV W)
Defender2
Deven USA (Shimmer)
Ethan USMC (georgiabelle)
Ev USA (Mozie)
Fred (DocRock)
GulfWar1Vet USA
IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
Jade Falcon USN
JemiansTerror USA (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar USAF
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal)
Josh USN (doug from upland)
Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter)
KB4W USAF (arbee4bush)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin USMC (skimask)
Kevin and David USA (vigilante2)
Laurita USA
LCpl Carter USMC
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Lt David (Coldwater Creek)
M1911A1 USMC (M0sby)
M1Tanker
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak)
Milo828 USA (mystery-ak)
Nate USN (sneakers)
Old Sarge USA
OneLoyalAmerican USCG
PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo)
Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad)
Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke)
Sgt Dusty USA (MountainDad)
Sgt Sean Reed (preed)
Sgt Spencer USA (grame)
Son USCG (GodBlessUSA)
SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge)
SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear)
Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied USN/USA
Tonkin USN/USCG
txradioguy USA
Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline)
William USA (jackv)

 

[AZamericonnie]

Howdy Doody Sarge! Did you & the home detatchment have a loverly holiday? *Hugs*

[SandRat]

Sloppy Kiss

Sgt 1st Class Budge, a three-year-old animal assisted therapy dog with 528th Medical Detachment out of Fort Bragg, N.C., happily licks the face of his handler Sgt. Duane Sanders, an occupational therapist, right before heading out on his daily walk to visit with units on Forward Operating Bases Marez and Diamondback in Mosul, Iraq, July 6, 2008. Photo by Spc. Karla Rodriguez Maciel, 11th Public Affairs Detachment.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

BLESS THIS HOUSE

 Bless this house O Lord we pray; Make it safe by night and day; 
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove ever open to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within, keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we May dwell O Lord with thee. 

(Click on graphics for music)

[AZamericonnie]

;-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[DarthDilbert]

For those interested, at the US Air Force Museum (near Dayton, OH) they have a great exhibit on the Berlin Airlift.

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you Starlette for this evening’s “Hall Of Heroes” & to you Ma for posting it.

Oh....can’t forget to thank Popeye!)

[Kathy in Alaska]

And AZ is in for the gold!!

[AZamericonnie]

Oh Sandy....love this pic!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And close behind....Sarge is in for the silver!!

[SandRat]

Sloppy Smooch from da Pooch!

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top 3....Sand takes the bronze!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy.

[laurenmarlowe]

More than 1,200 U.S. troops re-enlist in Baghdad, July 4, 2008, during a ceremony in the Al Faw Palace rotunda led by Multinational Force-Iraq Commander Army Gen. David Petraeus. Multinational Force Iraq Public Affairs

Following a TV interview, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with Pentagon Channel reporter Marine Sgt. Brian Buckwalter during the AT&T National golf tournament, July 5, 2008, in Bethesda, Md. Organizers of the tournament, which includes golf champion Tiger Woods, son of an Army Green Beret, distributed 30,000 free tickets to servicemembers. Defense Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel

Keith Stansell, a hostage returned safely to the United States after more than five years' captivity in Colombia, gives a thumbs up as he arrives on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, July 2, 2008. Stansell was one of three U.S. defense contractor employees captured by Colombian guerillas after their plane crashed in the jungle in February 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Lance Cheung

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Popeye, for helping Star with today's Hall of Heroes: The Berlin Airlift

[philly-d-kidder]

Happy Monday!! all Clear so far!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy 0400 Monday morning to you, philly...the sun isn’t up yet! Did you get enough BBQ?

[philly-d-kidder]

No Son the BBQ was Great.... Hope your Sunday was Blessed!

[MEG33]

May God Protect Those Who Protect
Our Nation

Thank You, Kathy, for tonight's thread.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lauren....great pictures. I can’t wait to here from the 3 rescued hostages. And look at all those soldiers re-enlisting. God Bless and watch over them all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...did you do any celebrating for the 4th of July? Fireworks displays in your area?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sarge....I see you made it home from your wonderful musical adventure. What a wonderful time that must have been.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, AZ, for the red, white, and blue tribute.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers needed for Chaplain (LTC) Larry Blum

txradioguy served with him in Iraq.

Brigade Chaplain 3rd Bde 1st Armored Division
Chaplain Blum has returned from his assignment in Germany to battle a brain tumor, but his time to go Home draws near.

Please visit the family site at CaringBridge for complete updates

Happy Independence day!!!!

We hope today brought all of you a day of celebration!!!!

Dad has had a couple of very busy tiring days and things are looking really good from where we all stand right now. Without falling into "false hope" that some might think.....we are having better days.

Onward Christian Soldiers

[Kathy in Alaska]

Kate Smith ~ God Bless America

[mylife]

((((Hugs)))

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[La Enchiladita]

Oh, that reenlistment photo, that is a sight to see.

[La Enchiladita]

Whooo-Hoooo, Conneeee....:)

[philly-d-kidder]

Hope your Sunset last for 8 Hours!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Spectacular Pledge, Hope. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

Hope Nana is having fun with the younguns.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Spectacular Pledge, Hope. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

Hope Nana is having fun with the younguns.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Did you read the latest update? Miracles can happen. Prayers continue. ((HUGS))

[mylife]

I guess I missed it in the shuffle Kath.

I have been watching

[Kathy in Alaska]

A sloppy kiss....thanks to Sgt Sanders and SFC Budge for the jobs they do.

[Tanniker Smith]

Good evening, Kathy!

Good evening, everyone!

I hope Independence Weekend was well-enough for all.

[Mrs Mayor]

I am having a blasted time with a virus on my computer. I will post coffee when I can... This is The Mayor on the Mrs computer.

[Tanniker Smith]

Okay, let’s go....

[Tanniker Smith]

Okay, let’s go....

[Tanniker Smith]

Okay, let’s go....

[Tanniker Smith]

Okay, let’s go....