[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            AN UNCOMMON HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS CANNON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 1999

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, many individuals have been recognized for 
their courage and valor during war time, but it is not often that 
individuals are remembered for their compassion and generosity under 
the same circumstances. As part of the ongoing celebration of the 50th 
Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, I rise today to honor just such a 
generous man. I am proud to be able to say that he is a constituent of 
mine, living in Provo, in the Third District of Utah which I represent.
  United States Air Force Col. Gail S. Halvorsen was one of many who 
participated in the joint American and British effort to deliver relief 
to the people stranded in Berlin after World War II. In total, over 
277,000 drops were made and 2.3 million tons of relief supplies were 
delivered. Col. Halvorsen's contribution, however, did more than feed 
empty stomachs. It fed empty souls as well.
  One morning, (then) Lieutenant Halvorsen was talking with a group of 
children gathered to watch the planes take off near the Tempelhof 
Airport in West Berlin. When it was time for him to leave, he realized 
how long it must have been since these children had enjoyed something 
sweet, like a piece of gum or candy. He reached into his pocket and 
produced two sticks of gum, which he gave to the children. Soon Lieut. 
Halvorsen began dropping small bags of candy, for all the children, 
over Berlin, attached to white handkerchiefs designed to act as 
parachutes.
  Soon, this small gesture was adopted by the military, and became 
known as Operation Little Vittles. Shortly thereafter, Lieut. Halvorsen 
appeared on television to promote the effort, and then thousands of 
candy donations poured into the program from all over America, as 
generous families gave to the cause. Col. Halvorsen's effort is 
universally recognized as one of the keys to the success of the Berlin 
Airlift, one of America's greatest humanitarian efforts.
  Often we read the newspaper or watch the television and question if 
there are any heroes left; people we truly want to imitate. By honoring 
Col. Gail Halvorsen today, we are reminded that there surely are still 
heroes in our midst.

                          ____________________