Posted on 06/25/2023 4:46:03 AM PDT by MtnClimber
The battle between communism and freedom has many chapters, from people jumping The Berlin Wall to Mariel, Cuba in 1980. I saw the ugly face of communism as a boy, when my father's cousin was thrown in jail for publicly denouncing Castro. He was arrested in 1961 and released in 1975. Never had a trial, and forget about anybody reading him his Miranda rights. They don't do that in communist countries.
We remember a great moment from the 20th century, or the day that U.S. and U.K. planes began dropping supplies to the people of West Berlin isolated by the USSR blockade. The Soviets were trying to break the back of the residents of West Berlin. Instead, they met a resolute President Truman, who would not allow the Soviets to get away with it.
Eventually, the planes started to drop more than food and heating oil. At some point, the pilots saw kids and returned with something for them. Those men came to be known as "the candy bombers." They dropped candy for the children in their supply bags
One of the pilots was Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen (1920–2021). This is his story:
After the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Halvorsen trained as a fighter pilot and served as a transport pilot in the south Atlantic during World War II before flying food and other supplies to West Berlin as part of the airlift. According to his account on the foundation's website, Halvorsen had mixed feelings about the mission to help the United States' former enemy after losing friends during the war. But his attitude changed, and his new mission was launched, after meeting a group of children behind a fence at Templehof airport.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
I know what You mean.
I was also stationed in Berlin, 1946 Communications Squadron, 84-88. I was an air traffic controller, worked in Berlin Center followed by working in Tempelhof Tower as the Tower Chief. Most interesting assignment of my career.
Also 1946th, Heavy RADAR (FPS-67) and Height Finder (FPS-90). I lived on the 6th floor right down the hall from my duty station. Best commute ever! Wish I could do it all again.
Yeah, it really was a great assignment!
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