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I had the chance to visit a special friend today
He’s a few months from turning 100
But more than seventy years ago, in a time very different from ours, but sad and scary as well, he helped save the world
It’s worth remembering his story, maybe now more than ever
He’s a few months from turning 100
But more than seventy years ago, in a time very different from ours, but sad and scary as well, he helped save the world
It’s worth remembering his story, maybe now more than ever
In 1948, the world was on the brink of another, even more deadly, world war just three years after the end of World War II
The Soviets had toppled all of the free governments of Eastern Europe. Now they were laying siege to the 2.5 million people living under American, British, and French occupation in the western half of the ruined capital of Berlin
If the western Allies fired a shot, it would be World War III.
If they retreated, western Germany, France and Italy would have likely fallen to the communists whether by force or fear.
If they retreated, western Germany, France and Italy would have likely fallen to the communists whether by force or fear.
Instead, they came up with the idea of an airlift to fly a tiny percentage of the needed supplies in by the small number of available planes.
But for the airlift to work it required not only organizational genius. The Berliners would have to stand their ground.
Hungry, cold, they would have to accept the thinnest of rations, and then uncertainty of what lay ahead, instead of folding to the Russians’ blandishments of food and warmth for themselves and their children.
Few thought they’d be able to withstand the pressure.
Few thought they’d be able to withstand the pressure.
And then one day a 27 year old pilot named Hal Halvorsen broke the strict rules of the Airlift to begin secretly dropping candy tied to little handmade handkerchief parachutes to the children of Berlin.
Many had never tasted chocolate before. His identity was discovered and instead of being punished he was allowed to continue. Other pilots joined in.
Just three years after the end of the Third Reich, in the ruins of Hitler’s capital, the children of Berlin — and soon their parents — fell in love with Americans, America, and what we stood for.
Halvorsen changed the very nature of the Berlin Airlift from a great power military operation to a moral imperative. To this day, the Germans refer to the airlift pilots as Rosinenbombers or the Candy Bombers.
His brave, solitary act of pure kindness sent out ripples that changed history. I believe that, without exaggeration, it helped avert WWIII and birth NATO and a democratic West Germany.
The truth is each of our actions send out ripples that sometimes, often, stretch out farther than we know.
We each get to decide how we treat each other — and the face America shows the world.
We’d do well to learn from the moment when we saved the world by leading with what truly makes America great — our courage, kindness, and compassion.
We’d do well to learn from the moment when we saved the world by leading with what truly makes America great — our courage, kindness, and compassion.
And we’d do well to remember a spry, gentle 99 year old now living in a retirement home in Utah whose example should inspire us all.
As you might imagine, there’s a lot more to this story, and if you’re interested, this is not too bad of a place to start:
“The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour” https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425227715/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9yXvEb8GD5G3C
“The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour” https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425227715/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9yXvEb8GD5G3C
