'Candy Bomber' to speak at schools on Veterans Day

Lebanon Daily Record ^ | 11/05/10 | staff

[fungoking]

'Candy Bomber' to speak at schools on Veterans Day LDR staff editor@lebanondailyrecord.com Nov 5, 2010 Col. Gail Halvorsen garnered worldwide fame in 1948 for bombing Berlin, but he wasn’t dropping explosive devices.

He was dropping candy.

Halvorsen, known around the world as the Candy Bomber, will be the guest speaker at the Veterans Day assembly, Nov. 11, at the Lebanon Junior and Senior high schools. The junior high assembly will be at 9:30 a.m. at the LJHS field house, and the high school assembly will be at 1:45 p.m. in the Boswell Auditorium.

Halvorsen was a pilot during World War II and the Berlin Airlift at the beginning of the Cold War. In 1948, Halvorsen flew during the Berlin Blockade. Soviet Union forces blocked Allied forces from getting food and supplies into Allied-controlled parts of Berlin.

During the operation, also known as “Operation Vittles,” Halvorsen decided to drop candy attached to little parachutes to the German children. Halvorsen’s commanding officer approved the idea and expanded it to “Operation Little Vittles.”

Through the course of the operation, more than 23 tons of candy were dropped in Berlin by a fleet of 25 airplanes.

Now at 90 years old, Halvorsen travels the country to talk about his experiences.

His visit to Lebanon was made possible by donations from Friends of the Fort, but more donations are still needed and welcome.

Those wishing to attend one of the assemblies need to RSVP by either emailing Kate Sutter at ksutter@lebanon.k12.mo.us, calling the high school at 532-9144, by emailing Principal Craig Reeves at creeves@lebanon.k12.mo.us or calling the junior high at 532-9121.

[fungoking]

Lebanon High School always has a good veterans assembly, this year looks really good. Public is invited but call ahead for seating. If you can't get a seat send me a message, glad to sneak a fellow freeper in.

Teaching the Berlin airlift, amazing how this generation doesn't know about the Evil Empire.

[Nat Turner]

to libtards WE are the evil empire....

[antiRepublicrat]

I’ve told my kids this story and showed them the pictures. They think it’s the coolest thing. They’d love if Mr. Halvorsen could come to their school.

[righttackle44]

Col. Halvorson and the other Berlin Airlift air crews share a lot of credit for helping turn the hearts and minds of the German people. It was awfully difficult for fathers with hungry children who had virtually nothing, to carry on guerrilla warfare against the very people who were feeding their families and even providing the children with a little happiness.

[ConorMacNessa]

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Clioman]

I’m thinking this particular high school is not anywhere near Beirut, but it would be helpful if the poster identified the state in which it’s located.

[yarddog]

American soldiers have always had a soft spot for children.

My Father was among the first American troops sent into Berlin after the Russians captured it. I have seen several pictures of Fritz and Ingrid, two German kids that Daddy fed. He would go through the chow line once for himself and again for the kids.

Daddy was not an exception, a lot of the soldiers were doing the same thing. At first he would make them eat the food there knowing they would take it to their parents. Finally he relented and let them take it home.

In return they would wash his mess kit. The kids are as cute as any you have ever seen. The little girl taught him to speak German. She spoke good English.

[fungoking]

Lebanon High School, Lebanon, MO....yes it is a public school.

[Clioman]

Thanks for the clarification...there’s also a Lebanon, Ohio, so this is helpful.

[Moltke]

Col. Halvorson and the other Berlin Airlift air crews share a lot of credit for helping turn the hearts and minds of the German people. It was awfully difficult for fathers with hungry children who had virtually nothing, to carry on guerrilla warfare against the very people who were feeding their families and even providing the children with a little happiness.

I'm in full agreement with your first statement. But was there any German guerilla warfare against US troops in 1948 (any significant time after May 1945, for that matter)? I've never heard that before. Please tell more.

[fungoking]

I think every state has a Lebanon. We were originally Wyota, the name of the local Osage Indian village, a dentist convinced folks to change the name to the more “civilized” Lebanon; the fact that the dentist was from Lebanon, Tennessee was mere chance.

[righttackle44]

Der Fuehrer ordered German members of the military and citizens to wage guerrilla war against the allied forces. I recollect that there were some assassinations and further operations by Nazi operatives. This is from The Command post
about the so-called Werewolf movement, the Nazi Resistance

What did the Werwolf do? They sniped. They mined roads. They poured sand into the gas tanks of jeeps. (Sugar was in short supply, no doubt.) They were especially feared for the "decapitation wires" they strung across roads. They poisoned food stocks and liquor. (The Russians had the biggest problem with this.) They committed arson, though perhaps less than they are credited with: every unexplained fire or explosion associated with a military installation tended to be blamed on the Werwolf. These activities slackened off within a few months of the capitulation on May 7, though incidents were reported as late as 1947.

The URL is: http://www.command-post.org/oped/2_archives/007763.html

[Moltke]

Thanks. I’ve heard of the Werwolfs, of course (didn’t last long beyond May ‘45, as your quote confirms), but I don’t think it’s fitting to connect that to the ‘Candy Bombers’ - the last thing the parents of the kids mentioned in the article had in mind by then was assassinating Americans. The hearts and minds were pretty much won over by then.