European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday May 27, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 9 Candy bomber still sweetening lives by j1mi Jones Start writer Rhein main a West Germany retired col. Gail s. Halvorson loves to talk about the time after world War ii when he dropped Candy and gum from a c-54 sky Masler transport plane to German children something that earned him the name Candy bomber during the Berlin Airlift. But today. Halvorson said he s More concerned about another Airlift the Airlift of understanding a West Ger Man government supported student Exchange program that developed from the original Airlift. That s the important thing now he said. It s alive and it Means some thing. The other thing is Long past Halvorson said. It s children communicating with children of other countries. An on going understanding process Between the kids of Berlin and kids of the United states. That s a dynamic the Airlift of understanding which began in 1980, allows students of Berlin to live with american families and study in american schools and Ameri cans students to do likewise in Berlin. The program evolved out of a Friend ship that developed Between Halvorson and a Berlin girl named Mercedes who asked him in a letter to drop Candy at her House identifiable by the while chickens in the today Peter wild Mercedes Hus band and the head of the chemistry department at a German High school in Berlin coordinates the Exchange pro Gram with Brent Chambers a German language teacher at Provo High school in Utah Halvorson s Home slate. Despite his new Airlift Halvorson has reason to reminisce about his old one when the allies defied a soviet blockade of West Berlin and flew tons of supplies to the City from june 1948 to july 1949. While visiting his sons stationed in West Germany Halvorson became a show and Tell piece for his grandchildren who attend the elementary school on Rhein main a that s named after him. During the visit he talked to the student Council about the Days when he showered Young berliners with Choco late and other sweets. He told the children a shortened ver Sion of the Story that started when Halvorson then a Young lieutenant in the air Force talked to about 30 children who had gathered behind the barbed wire Fence Airport to watch the non Stop Stream of aircraft takeoffs and Sis Jim Jones retired col. Gail s. Halvor Stii signs photographs for Halvorson elementary students at Rhein main a West Germany. Landings during operation vittles. Halvorson told the children about the need to have a conscience and As he walked away from the Fence he heard a Little voice of his own telling him that there was something different about these children. They wore patched but clean clothes he said. And they had t seen Candy in three years but they were proud. Never asked me for a thing unlike beggars who had clawed the Rich american in of her countries. They taught me a lesson about free Dom that Day he said. They were so grateful. They said they would never get Back their Freedom if the russians took at that Point he broke two Sticks of gum in half and gave them to the four children who could speak English. It was such a Little thing. Such a Little decision he said. But it was then that he decided to drop the Little parachutes of goodies during his next trip to Berlin. Back then. Halvorson blatantly Dis obeyed orders by changing flight plans to drop the Candy. Bui he said that i someone tried such a stunt in today s military they d be in big you have to take the background. The context of the thing. It s easier when there s some kind of an emergency. Something that makes All of the smaller things that they military nit pick to death under routine operations seem insignificant after completing those Candy runs Halvorson returned to the United states to continue his air Force career. But he returned to Berlin in 1970 As commander of Tom Palhof. He retired from the air Force in 1974 and went to work at Brigham Young University from which he retired As assistant Dean for student affairs 10 years later. He s now a full time Farmer spend ing his Lime in a Cowboy hat chasing 40 head of ornery cattle getting bucked off his three horses and growing Hay and the Days since pc ration vittles Halvorson said he has developed a be Lief that the key to finding challenges inthe military is communication. Creating open communication is where it s at he said citing soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev As an exam ple of the Effort to can see the difference in peo ple. At least they re coming out with a smile Insl cad of a Hatchet he said. I m a firm believer thai people arc the same everywhere when it s person to kinds of barriers fall. We live in a world of misconception. We re taught it by our parents and our Peers and we put up that Wall and we categorize. And those Walls arc so hard to penetrate. But if we can by ourselves open up Long enough to look into the heart Ofano Lucr person then it would be a whole new military round Uxbridge Squadron wins communications honors Raf Uxbridge England the 2119lh comm so recently was selected the top defense communications Agency in the european come for 1988. The unit was picked from nine of the largest communications units representing the army air Force and Navy in Europe. Criteria for the award included service reliability responsiveness and the addition of new services and systems according to unit spokesman tech sgt. Gary Quillen. The unit supports eight defense communications stations in Southern England. Annual Marne signal Ball scheduled for june 24 Wurzburg West Germany third inf div signal soldiers Are being invited to inc 2nd annual Marne signal Ball scheduled for june 24. Sponsored by inc 123rd signal in inc Ball will be held Al the Larson Barracks no club in Kil Zingen. The event will Cost $15 per person and those Atland ing must make reservations with payment to any cob 123rd sign officer by june 1. For More information or to make reservations con Tad the unit Al 350-7164 or 350-6219. 2 of members in w. Germany honoured for heroism Randolph fab Texas two air Force enlisted members assigned to bases in Wesl Germany were named winners of heroism awards air Force officials announced wednesday. Sgt. Raymond f. Huckeba Del i 2163rd comm group Al Kapaun air station was named inc Winner of the 1989 Vanguard award sponsored by the non commissioned officers association. Airman John c. Mlcoch 26th aircraft generations at a was named Winner of the Pitsenbarger award sponsored by the air Force association. Huckeba risked his life to save anole or person while visiting friends in Gainesville Fla. After seeing smoke coming from a neighbouring House Huckeba was told by the children who lived in the House that icy were worried about their Mother. Huckeba Ira cd inc smoke to a bedroom where he found the woman picked her up and retraced his slips in the smoke filled House. The fire chief credited Huckeba with Sav ing inc woman s life. Mlcoch who was assigned to Lowry fab colo., Al inc time saved the life of a 14-year-old girl who was being attacked by two dogs. He Drew one dog s attack to himself while scaring the second dog away from the girl. Mlcoch was bit Len several limes while trying to or Esloc the dog to inc ground. The two men will receive their awards at the Spon sors annual conventions this year. Air Force no civilian win services awards Washington a master scr can Al Raf la Ken Heath England and a civilian employee at incur Likay Turkey have been named inc winners of 1988 services awards air Force officials said. Master sgt. Emile b. Dyson or. Was named military superintendent of the year and Martin l. Baraldini was chosen As the civilian manager of inc year Dyson and Baraldini will receive their awards at the housing and services conference june 19 through 23 at
