FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 4: The Legacy ~ January 5, 2009

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

The Berlin Airlift
Part 4:  The Legacy
All info and photos from this website.

Link to Part One
Link to Part Two
Link to Part Three

           

THE AIRLIFT'S LEGACY
 

The most obvious result of this confrontation was the 40-year Cold War with the Soviet Union, which ebbed with the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts.  The US also forged a newfound friendship with Germany, its former foe, and established the Federal Republic of Germany as a result.  In addition, the North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO) was formed as a result of the crisis. 

Less politically, our aircraft and airway system we enjoy today was developed and perfected as a result of the Berlin Airlift.  Ground Controlled Approach or GCA was greatly improved as a necessity for the aircraft to land in Berlin, and our air traffic control system is a direct development of that technology.  Loading procedures and maintenance procedures are greatly improved as a result, too.

More importantly, the Berlin Airlift demonstrated the military need for Air Transport in addition to Bombers and Fighters.  A result is the Air Mobility Command and aircraft like the C-141 Starlifter, the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy, and our newest transport, the C-17 Globemaster III. 

All of these political and logistical ideas came as a result of the resolve of the US, Great Britain, France, and Germany to resist totalitarian tactics and wage a battle of air transport.  This battle saved over 2.5 million people without firing a single shot.  In a matter of fifteen months in 1948-49, world history was changed by the greatest humanitarian aviation event in history, the Berlin Airlift. 
 

MEMORIALS: The Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main Air Base, Frankfurt, and on Luftbruckenplatz at Tempelhf  Airport in Berlin.

Each prong represents one of the 3 air corridors used during "Operation Vittles", and the names of the US and British Airmen killed in the process are inscribed on the base of each.  

31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift, paying the ultimate price for the freedom of others.  Let that not be forgotten.

1st Lt George B. Smith Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Captain James A. Vaughan New Haven, Connecticut	Cpl Norbert H. Theis Cunningham, Kansas
1st Lt Leland V. Williams Abilene, Texas	1st Lt Eugene S. Erickson Collinsville, Illinois	PFC Ronald E. Stone  Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
Mr Karl V. Hagen New York, New York	Sgt Richard Winter Seattle, Washington	1st Lt Ralph H. Boyd Fort Worth, Texas
1st Lt Charles H. King Britton, South Dakota	Captain Billy E. Phelps Long Beach, California	1st Lt Craig B. Ladd Minneapolis, Minnesota
1st Lt Robert W. Stuber Arlington, California	1st Lt Willis F. Hargis Nacogdoches, Texas	TSgt Charles L. Putnam Colorado Springs, Colorado
Major Edwin C. Diltz Fayetteville, Texas	TSgt Lloyd G. Wells San Antonio, Texas	1st Lt Robert P. Weaver Fort Wayne, Indiana
Captain Willian R. Howard Gunnison, Mississippi	AD/3 Harry R. Crites, Jr. Lafayette, Indiana	1st Lt Royce C. Stephens San Antonio, Texas
Captain Joel M. DeVolentine Miami, Florida	1st Lt Richard M. Wurgel Union City, New Jersey	1st Lt Robert C. von Luehrte Covington, Kentucky
1st Lt William T. Lucas Wilson, North Carolina	1st Lt Lowell A. Wheaton, Jr. Corpus Christi, Texas	2nd Lt Donald J. Leemon Green Bay, Wisconsin
PFC Johnny T. Orms Rhein-Main Air Base	Captain William A. Rathgeber Portland, Oregon	TSgt Herbert F. Heinig Fort Wayne, Indiana
	Sgt Bernard J. Watkins Lafayette, Indiana

(Thanks to Mr. Ronald Hirst of Wiesbaden, Germany for helping us obtain the photos of these heroes.) 

 Resources:

Gail S. Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber

"To Save A City", Roger G. Miller, United States Air Force History and museums Program, 1998.

"MAC and the Berlin Airlift" by Roger D. Launius and Coy F. Cross III Military Airlift Command, 1998

"Over The Hump" William H. Tunner, 1964 Duell, Sloan and Pearce. New York.  

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Current news:
Berlin's Tempelhof Airport to be closed

(Thanks for the heads-up to this story, OldSarge!)

 

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!

[Kathy in Alaska]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

January 5, 2009

A Lot To Remember

ODB RADIO: Listen Now |  Download
READ: Proverbs 10:11-21

He who restrains his lips is wise. —Proverbs 10:19

Thanks a lot,” the man behind the postal counter said to the person in front of me. The clerk, Jon, had seen me in line and was hoping I would overhear him. When it was my turn, I said hello to Jon, who had been a student of mine when I taught high school in the 1980s.

“Did you notice what I said to her?” Jon asked. “I told her, ‘Thanks a lot.’” Sensing that I was missing his point, he explained, “Remember what you told us about the term a lot? You said a lot was a piece of land, not a phrase to use instead of much.”

Astounding! An English lesson from a quarter-century before had stuck with Jon through all those years. That speaks clearly to us of the importance of what we say to others. It also backs up one of my favorite lines by poet Emily Dickinson: “A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.”

The words we say may have long-term consequences. Our comments, our compliments, and even our harsh criticisms may stick with the hearer for decades.

No wonder Scripture says, “He who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). The words we speak today live on. Let’s make sure they come from “the tongue of the righteous” (v.20).

Father, help me live today
With thoughtfulness in what I say,
Confronting wrong with truth and fact,
Expressing gentleness and tact. —Hess

The tongue is a small organ that creates either discord or harmony.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26

[BIGLOOK]

My computer stalls occasionally too.....but responds quickly when my finger is on the power breaker.

AI anyone?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Man, Sand....that is what I want to do when my computer doesn’t do what it is supposed to do, when I want it to! LOL!

[Randy Larsen]

Was your Virus protection updating or cycling at that time?

Mine always slows me to a crawl when updating and doing it’s checks!

[alfa6]

Here in Kansas City it is a balmy 24 degrees or so. Suppose to get down to about 15 tonight, with highs in the mid 30s and lows around 20 to 25 the next few days. Not to bad and certainly better than the 0 temps we had just before Christmas!!

The Berlin Airlift has a special spot in alfa6 lore:-)

Back when I was in High School, you know when dinos roamed the earth, I was caught reading a non-assigned book in class.

The teacher had me come up to the front of the class and give a talk on the Airlift. Unbeknown to Mr. Teacher I had just finshed a book on the Berlin Airlift a day or two before.

So I drew a rough map on the chalk board showing the zones of occupation in both Germany and Berlin, the air routes used and proceeded to talk for about 15 minutes on the Airlift. I even did a brief Q&A, After I was finished I was told to sit down and see Mr. Teacher after class.

I figured I would probably get some extra duty but no, Mr. Teacher said that that was the first time in over 20 years of teaching that he had been shown up by a student and I should not push me luck reading non-assigned books in class :-)

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[ConorMacNessa]

Greetings To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, Our Veterans, Their Families, FRiends and To Our Allies!

Missing Man Setting

Never Forget Those Who Sacrificed All That We Could Live In Freedom!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Glad you’ve warmed up a bit. Hope you don’t have icy streets.

I remember the dinos...we were friends. And I remember reading “non-assigned” books, but I never got caught. How very cool that you had just finished reading about the Airlift....and what could Mr Teacher say...he thought he had you. LOL! Did he at least crack a smile when relating being shown up and cautioning against non-assigned books?

[Kathy in Alaska]

I don’t think it was updating. It does all that in the background and then announces, “Virus protection has been updated”. It is possible and I’ve not noticed the issue before, or was not trying to post. I will try to pay attention to what is happening when next it dares annoy me.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Kate Smith ~ God Bless America

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Families, for your service to our country.

Thanks, Sonora, for the perfect woohoo.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[ConorMacNessa]

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!

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It is purchased with the blood of Patriots!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And johnny-on-the-spot is Sand....grabbing the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

FOUND FLAG - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Behler unfolds an American flag found buried in an abandoned lot in southern Baghdad’s Rashid district, Iraq, Dec. 23, 2008. Behler is assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge

STREET STRYKER - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rodriquez Cruell patrols the streets of Hussaniyah, Iraq, while a Stryker armored vehicle follows, Dec. 29, 2008. Cruell is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. JB Jaso

[ConorMacNessa]

THE SOLDIER’S CODE

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The Soldier’s Code

1) I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

2) I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.

3) If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

4) If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me, and will back them up in every way.

5) When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies, or harmful to their cause.

6) I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, August, 1955.

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in 2nd....Mac snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top 3....ms b bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac....it’s warmed up today from -24 midmornng to -10 at 6p. I need to remember to start my car at noontime tomorrow. I forgot Friday and it was NOT happy!

[mylife]

No word of 1st Lt Willis F. Hargis
Nacogdoches, Texas.

I bet there are pics here at http://www.cottonmuseum.com/audie.htm

We are a small town and aint that internet savvy