April 2018 | Vol. 5 Iss. 04
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BERLIN CANDY BOMBER URGES STUDENTS TO SERVE OTHERS
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By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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he “Berlin Candy Bomber” had two 50 count box! messages he wished to convey to a or 3 multi-purpose room filled of students at for American Heritage School Golden Fields Elementary: serve others and $ be grateful. 11100 S. Redwood Rd., S. Jordan “It’s service itself, deciding and going Saturday, April 14 • 8:30AM -3PM through the process, to help others and by doing it, that will enrich your life,” said retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, who WEST JORDAN has two great-grandchildren attending the 801-280-4114 school. “That, and gratitude — being thank3961 W 9000 S ful for what you have and living in America.” The 97-year-old Halvorsen, who still Buy One Get One speaks at several schools each year, recounted his story about he and other Air Force pilots dropping candy attached to parachutes during the Berlin airlift after World War II. ON ANY COMFORTER “We flew the four-engine C54 cargo OR LARGE BLANKET plane that was my favorite, but it was pretExpires 4/30/18 ty drafty since we flew without the doors. We would either lift up the escape hatch or throw the candy out the door,” said the Utah Retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen’s grandchildren read questions from Eastlake Elementary students about his days County man, who recently re-enacted his as the “Berlin Candy Bomber.” (Abigail Slama-Catron/City Journals) candy drop at the request of a Provo school. that he still has the letters today. “I felt so blessed food,’” he said. “They were school children like you. “It was But he still remembers the first flight. to be doing something for these children.” “I recall thinking at my first sight was that ‘2 million people flour. That’s when we knew we could do more.” At one point, Halvorsen considered joining the space race, Halvorsen said he reached in his pocket and gave the chillive in a place like that,’ he said. “The people of Berlin needed dren two sticks of gum. They split it up among them, and those but Berliners rallied for him to stay in the Air Force, where he food and freedom, and we had both” Halvorsen said they were given 20,000 pounds of flour to who didn’t receive any gum didn’t complain but instead smelled was made commander of Tempelhof base, and he became a 31year career military man. give on each flight to the Berliners. He landed his plane to “see the wrappers. In 1998, he returned to Berlin and was reunited with some “Those two sticks of gum turned into 23 tons of chocolate what was there.” of those children, who greeted him. “The kids would run out with their arms extended through bars and candy,” he said, saying that at first, he dropped the can“They took me to dinner and told me their stories,” he said. the barbed wire of the Soviet-controlled East Berlin,” he said. dy in secret since he didn’t ask permission from his superiors. After he got the blessing of those in charge, he taped a map “It was a wonderful experience.” Halvorsen also said the girl “They were desperate, as they were cut off from all food. They grew their own food, but the German government controlled it to the wall noting where he dropped candy and then, other pilots who gave him directions still lived in the same house. Although Halvorsen received the Congressional Gold — some he still hears from — joined in his crusade. so they gathered it and only distributed some back.” “I would get letters telling me to come down the street, turn Medal in 2014 for his service, he said he wanted to help the Halvorsen said they didn’t push or shove trying to get more right one block and drop it right there at 2 p.m., or how a child’s children and urged Golden Fields students to seek ways they than their fair share. “They were so appreciative and said, ‘Thank you for the teddy bear got burned and asked if I could help,” he said, adding can serve.
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