CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Good morning Team Charleston.
What an absolute honor and privilege it was for me to represent you at last week's Berlin Air Show.
Nearly 60 years ago, the world learned the true power of air mobility when we began the Berlin Airlift and Operation Vittles. Last week, Charleston's "Spirit of Berlin" C-17 was on display to honor the men and women who completed the greatest humanitarian mission of all time. One of those heroes, retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, also known as the "Candy Bomber," was there to tell first-hand stories about what it meant to help people in need.
So much of how we operate today is based on lessons learned from the Berlin Airlift and the 278,228 flights we made into the city. This "battle" was the first of the Cold War and wasn't won with bullets or bombs, but with hope. Throughout history, mobility Airmen have been showing that the Air Force isn't always about bombs on target, but about helping people in the most dire situations.
The legacy of the Berlin Airlift continues today as we deliver humanitarian relief for natural disasters all over the world. As we gear up for our own celebration of 15 years of C-17 operations, I encourage each of you to look back on what you've done during your careers, whether you've served for six months or 30 years. Just like young Lieutenant Halvorsen did back in the late 1940s, with every mission you support, you bring hope to those in need.
During a Berlin Airlift commemoration ceremony at the air show, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "history could have turned out differently" if not for the Berlin Airlift.
Sixty years from now, what will the history books say about you?
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!