[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4994-H4996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COL. GAIL S. HALVORSEN ``CANDY BOMBER'' VETERANS CENTER
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 2514) to rename the Provo Veterans Center in Orem, Utah, as the
``Col. Gail S. Halvorsen `Candy Bomber' Veterans Center''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2514
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF THE COL. GAIL S. HALVORSEN ``CANDY
BOMBER'' VETERANS CENTER.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Gail Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on
October 10, 1920, and spent his youth with his family on
small farms in Utah and Idaho.
(2) After a brief stint at Utah State University, Gail
Halvorsen joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program where he
earned his pilot's license in 1941. During that same year,
Halvorsen joined the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot.
(3) Gail Halvorsen joined the United States Army Air Corps
in 1942 and trained flying fighter jets with the Royal Air
Force. Upon his return from training, he was assigned to fly
transport missions in the South Atlantic Theater.
(4) After World War II and the division of Berlin into
occupation zones, disputes broke out between the Western
Allies and the Soviet Union over the future of Europe.
(5) Negotiations deteriorated, and in June of 1948 Soviet
forces locked down all land routes connecting Western Germany
with the allied portions of Berlin. Approximately 2,000,000
people in West Berlin were left completely isolated.
Starvation, poverty, and desperate want ensued.
(6) In an effort to alleviate the immense human suffering,
the allies decided to drop supplies to people of West Berlin
from the air until a diplomatic solution to the blockade
could be reached. Termed by United States forces ``Operation
Vittles'', the Berlin Airlift began on June 26, 1948.
(7) Gail Halvorsen was assigned to Germany in 1948 to work
as an airlift pilot where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes
as part of Operation Vittles.
(8) While on mission at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin,
Halvorsen noticed a group of German children standing just
outside the barb wire fence.
(9) The children were destitute and clearly had very little
to eat. Halvorsen gave the children two sticks of gum he had
in his pocket, which they split into little pieces to share
among themselves.
(10) Colonel Halvorsen was deeply affected by the
experience and wanted to do more to help. He promised the
children he would drop more candy to them from his plane as
he flew his regular airlift missions.
(11) Halvorsen told the children they would recognize his
plane by a back-and-forth waggle of his wings as he flew
over.
(12) Colonel Halvorsen enlisted his copilot and engineer in
the project and began attaching their candy rations to
miniature parachutes which they dropped from their plane to
the starving children below.
(13) The children of Berlin gave Halvorsen many nicknames
including ``Uncle Wiggly Wings'', ``The Chocolate Flier'',
``The Gum Drop Kid'', and ``The Chocolate Uncle''. He
eventually became known around the world as ``The Candy
Bomber''.
(14) Lieutenant General William H. Turner, who directed the
Berlin Airlift, learned about Halvorsen's efforts and
officially expanded the idea into a full-blown operation
known as ``Little Vittles'' as a play on the broader
operation's name.
(15) As the candy drops continued, word of Operation Little
Vittles reached the United States. Families, schoolchildren,
and candymakers in the United States began contributing candy
and homemade parachutes that Halvorsen and other pilots could
drop.
(16) When the Berlin Airlift ended, an estimated 250,000
parachutes containing approximately 21 tons of candy had been
dropped by Halvorsen and his fellow airmen as a part of
Operation Little Vittles.
(17) Halvorsen retired from the military in 1974 after 31
years of service and more than 8,000 hours of flying time.
(18) Since his retirement, Halvorson has continued his
humanitarian service. He has voluntarily represented the
United States Air Force and the United States abroad and has
re-enacted his famous candy drops several times in Berlin and
around the world.
(19) Halvorsen has also been a tremendous boon to his
community through church service and other local
contributions.
(20) Gail Halvorsen turned 100 years old on October 10,
2020.
(b) Designation.--The Provo Veterans Center of the
Department of Veterans Affairs located at 360 State Street,
Orem, Utah, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act
be known and designated as the ``Col. Gail S. Halvorsen
`Candy Bomber' Veterans Center''.
(c) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
veterans center referred to in subsection (b) shall be
considered to be a reference to the Col. Gail S. Halvorsen
``Candy Bomber'' Veterans Center.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Trone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
General Leave
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on S. 2514.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my support for S. 2514, a bill to
recognize and remember the life of Colonel Gail Seymour Halvorsen, who
passed away on February 16, 2022, at 101 years old.
I thank Senator Lee and my colleagues from Utah's congressional
delegation for their work to pay tribute to Colonel Halvorsen. Colonel
Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 1942 he joined the
Army Air Corps and trained as a fighter pilot. While stationed in
Germany, where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes as part of Operation
Vittles; Halvorsen noticed dozens of hunger-starved German children
outside of the barbed wire fence. Having two pieces of gum, Halvorsen
broke it into strips and gave it to the children to share amongst them.
Inspired by the children's glee, Halvorsen committed to more frequently
distributing candy from his plane to them.
Earning his nickname ``The Candy Bomber,'' Halvorsen dropped
miniature parachutes of candy rations in the street of Berlin to feed
the children. By the end of the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen and his
fellow airmen distributed an estimated 250,000 parachutes with over 20
tons of candy throughout Operation Little Vittles.
The Provo Vet Center plays a vital role in the community and provides
important services such as counseling for veterans with PTSD and
confidential counseling sessions to those who have experienced military
sexual trauma--all free to the veterans, reservists, and members of
National Guard--regardless of service connection or VA health
enrollment status.
To rename this important vet center after Colonel Halvorsen would be
a fitting honor for one of the Beehive State's most selfless members of
the U.S. Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American
Legion, and a letter dated July 28, 2021, from the U.S. Senate.
Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Department of Utah,
November 1, 2021.
Chairman Jon Tester,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Chairman Mark Takano,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Jerry Moran,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Mike Bost,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, Chairman
Takano, Ranking Member Bost: We, the members of the Utah
Veterans of Foreign Wars, write to support that the
[[Page H4995]]
Provo Veterans Center located at 360 South State Street
Building C 103 in Orem, Utah be renamed after Colonel Gail S.
Halvorsen, affectionately known as the ``Candy Bomber'', who
performed military service of an extraordinarily
distinguished character during the Berlin Airlift in 1948.
Halvorsen's creativity and compassion helped to heal the
wounds of the Second World War and softened the relationship
between an occupied Germany and the United States. Col.
Halvorsen exemplifies the best of our brave veterans who have
each demonstrated service before self.
Gail Halvorsen was assigned to Germany in 1948 to work as
an airlift pilot where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes as
part of Operation ``Vittles''. While on mission at Tempelhof
Airport in Berlin, Halvorsen noticed a group of German
children standing just outside the barbed wire fence. The
children were destitute and clearly had very little to eat.
Halvorsen gave the children two sticks of gum he had in his
pocket, which they split into little pieces to share among
themselves. The looks of joy on their faces left an indelible
impression. Colonel Halvorsen was deeply affected by the
experience and wanted to do more to help. He promised the
children he would drop more candy to them from his plane as
he flew his regular airlift missions.
After enlisting his copilot in the project, Halvorsen began
attaching their candy rations to miniature parachutes which
he dropped from their plane to the starving children below.
The children gave Halvorsen many nicknames including ``Uncle
Wiggly Wings,'' ``The Chocolate Flyer,'' ``The Gum Drop
Kid,'' and ``The Chocolate Uncle.'' He eventually became
known around the world as ``The Candy Bomber''.
As the candy drops continued, word of ``Operation Little
Vittles'' reached the United States. American families,
schoolchildren, and candymakers began contributing candy and
homemade parachutes that Halvorsen and other pilots could
drop.
When the Berlin airlift ended, an estimated 250,000
parachutes with 21 tons of candy had been dropped by
Halvorsen and his fellow airmen as part of Operation Little
Vittles. Halvorsen's candy drops had a significant impact on
Berliners' public perception of America. He retired from the
military in 1974 after 31 years of service and more than
8,000 hours of flying time. Since his retirement, Halvorsen
has continued his humanitarian and community service. He has
voluntarily represented the U.S. Air Force and the United
States abroad and has re-enacted his famous candy drops
several times in Berlin, the Middle East, and around the
world in an effort to bring peace and relief. He was awarded
the Congressional Gold Medal, a German Order of Merit, an Air
Force Commendation Medal, and a Medal for Humane Action.
Halvorsen has also been a tremendous boon to his community
through his church service.
His non-profit organization, the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation
Education Foundation, advances aviation education, promotes
youth leadership development, enhances community capacity for
emergency response, and encourages humanitarian on macro- and
micro-levels. The Foundation also provides education by
giving free lectures and multimedia presentations on
aviation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) topics at local schools, community groups, and at its
own facility at the Spanish Fork Airport in Spanish Fork,
Utah.
Renaming the Provo Vet Center in Orem, Utah after Colonel
Halvorsen is a fitting and deserved recognition for such an
exemplary U.S. Air Force veteran and American hero. Thank you
for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
David Johnson,
Commander.
Terral Curtis,
Sr. Vice Commander.
Heath Silcox,
Jr. Vice Commander.
Dennis Parizek,
Adjutant/Quartermaster.
____
Disabled American Veterans,
November 2, 2021.
Chairman Jon Tester,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Chairman Mark Takano,
Committee of Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Jerry Moran,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Mike Bost,
Committee of Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, Chairman
Takano, and Ranking Member Bost: We ask you to accept this
letter on behalf of Utah Department of Disabled American
Veterans, in supporting the recommendation to change the name
of the Provo Veterans Center in Orem, Utah to be renamed to
honor Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, exemplifying his compassion
for humanity in a time of War.
Colonel Halverson is one of the focal points to our
Americanism program here in Utah. In our program, we
highlight local military heroes and their impact in service
militarily and civically. He makes such an impact on our
youth when they hear of his compassion for the children of a
war-torn country. The simple act of caring became more than
an isolated incident. His action locally started an action
that was heard throughout the world. The exposure was so
great that American candy companies, children and families
got involved in supplying candies and homemade parachutes.
I have met Col. Halvorson on several occasions. He is a
very caring and humble man, and not only a local treasure but
a National Treasure as well. Gail had never thought that one
simple act could make such an impact on a nation or the world
stage.
Please help us here in Utah and the Nation by giving back a
little to an American Icon and National Treasure in the
renaming of the Provo Veterans Center to the ``Colonel Gail
Halverson Veteran Center''.
Sincerely,
Jerry Estes,
Commander,
Disabled American Veterans,
Department of Utah.
____
November 3, 2021.
Chairman Jon Tester,
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Jerry Moran,
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Chairman Mark Takano,
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Mike Bost,
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear leaders of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs
Committees: On behalf of the Utah American Legion I write to
express our unconditional support for renaming the Provo Utah
Vet Center after Col. Gail Halvorsen. His service to our
nation is well documented in the background information. Col.
Halvorsen is a beloved figure here in Utah and has been named
in the Hill Air Force Base aviation Hall of Fame.
We urge the Senate & House to pass this measure honoring
this great American.
Sincerely,
Terry Schow/for the Commander Gary McKay,
National Executive Committee, The American Legion Utah.
____
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC, July 28, 2021.
Chairman Jon Tester,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Chairman Mark Takano,
Chairman on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Jerry Moran,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Mike Bost,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, Chairman
Takano, and Ranking Member Bost: We, the members of the Utah
delegation, write to recommend that the Provo Veterans Center
located at 360 South State Street Building C Suite 103 in
Orem, Utah be renamed after Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen,
affectionately known as the ``Candy Bomber,'' who performed
military service of an extraordinarily distinguished
character during the Berlin Airlift in 1948.
Halvorsen's creativity and compassion helped to heal the
wounds of the Second World War and softened the relationship
between an occupied Germany and the United States. Col.
Halvorsen exemplifies the best of our brave veterans who have
each demonstrated service before self.
Gail Halvorsen was assigned to Germany in 1948 to work as
an airlift pilot where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes as
part of Operation ``Vittles.'' While on mission at Tempelhof
Airport in Berlin, Halvorsen noticed a group of German
children standing just outside the barb wire fence. The
children were destitute and clearly had very little to eat.
Halvorsen gave the children two sticks of gum he had in his
pocket, which they split into little pieces to share among
themselves. The looks of joy on their faces left an indelible
impression. Colonel Halvorsen was deeply affected by the
experience and wanted to do more to help. He promised the
children he would drop more candy to them from his plane as
he flew his regular airlift missions.
After enlisting his copilot in the project, Halvorsen began
attaching their candy rations to miniature parachutes which
he dropped from their plane to the starving children below.
The children of Berlin gave Halvorsen many nicknames
including ``Uncle Wiggly Wings,'' ``The Chocolate Flier,''
``The Gum Drop Kid,'' and ``The Chocolate Uncle.'' He
eventually became known around the world as ``The Candy
Bomber.''
As the candy drops continued, word of ``Operation Little
Vittles'' reached the United States. American families,
schoolchildren, and candymakers began contributing candy and
homemade parachutes that Halvorsen and other pilots could
drop.
When the Berlin Airlift ended, an estimated 250,000
parachutes with 21 tons of candy had been dropped by
Halvorsen and his fellow airmen as a part of Operation Little
Vittles. Halvorsen's candy drops had a significant impact on
Berliners' public perception of America. He retired from the
military in 1974 after 31 years of service and more than
8,000 hours of flying time. Since
[[Page H4996]]
his retirement, Halvorsen has continued his humanitarian and
community service. He has voluntarily represented the U.S.
Airforce and the United States abroad and has re-enacted his
famous candy drops several times in Berlin, the Middle East,
and around the world in an effort to bring peace and relief.
He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, a German Order
of Merit, an Air Force Commendation Medal, and a Medal for
Humane Action. Halvorsen has also been a tremendous boon to
his community through church service.
His non-profit organization, the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation
Education Foundation, advances aviation education, promotes
youth leadership development, enhances community capacity for
emergency response, and encourages humanitarian service on
macro- and micro-levels. The Foundation also provides
education by giving free lectures and multimedia
presentations on aviation, science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) topics at local schools, community
groups, and at its own facility at the Spanish Fork Airport
in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Renaming the Provo Vet Center in Orem, Utah after Colonel
Halvorsen is a fitting and deserved recognition for such an
exemplary U.S. Air Force veteran and American hero. Thank you
for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Lee,
United States Senator.
John Curtis,
Member of Congress.
Burgess Owens,
Member of Congress.
Mitt Romney,
United States Senator.
Blake Moore,
Member of Congress.
Chris Stewart,
Member of Congress.
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
S. 2514, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2514, a bill to rename the
Provo Veterans Center in Utah after Colonel Gail Halvorsen.
Colonel Halvorsen is a Salt Lake City native who joined the Army Air
Corps in 1942, in the midst of World War II. He served as a transport
pilot and participated in the Berlin Airlift.
It was in Berlin where he earned the nickname ``The Candy Bomber''
for handing out pieces of candy to local children and, later, dropping
candy from his aircraft while flying missions over the city.
Colonel Halvorsen retired from the military in 1974 after 31 years in
uniform. He spent his civilian life as an active volunteer in his
church and community. He passed away in February of this last year at
age 101.
Mr. Speaker, it is with the deepest respect for Colonel Halvorsen's
long life of service that we support the bill to allow the Provo Vet
Center to bear his name.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to
close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1545
Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in
passing S. 2514, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 2514.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
May 16, 2022, on page H4996, in the second column the following
appeared: The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair,
two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. MURPHY
of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro
tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the
affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr.
Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________