Those of you who have “friended” me on Facebook know that Monday through Friday I post what I call Today’s Point to Ponder. The content each day consists of what I consider to be exceptional but rather unfamiliar quotes from the wise men and women of both past and present. Last week I posted the following quote from Henry David Thoreau: “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
The ability to be situationally aware is certainly an important trait to hone, but, in my view, the complete person is one who has the capability to utilize both their physical and their spiritual cognizance in reacting to any worldly condition encountered. That’s pretty much the pervasive theme of this time of the year, i.e. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tis the season where our thoughts and, hopefully, our actions turn toward giving thanks and permeating our desire for peace on earth.
I suppose that many may feel that with the rancor that seems so pervasive domestically and with violence and hate entrenched in many parts of the world, any act of giving or gesture of peace can’t possibly make much of a difference. After all, individually, we are just a ripple in the chaotic ocean of mankind that makes up this world. That very well may be what we observe if we are simply looking. But, if we truly see rather than merely look, can that make things different and enable us to make a difference?
Tis the Season!
Seeing is the enlistment of that deep part that lies within each of us that allows us to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive – Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed. In really seeing, each of us has the capacity to create ripples and the impact of those ripples, however so tiny, can be world shaking in their impact.
Tis the Season!
This week I want to share with you a true story of one man’s seemingly insignificant act of generosity that produced an effect felt round the world and one that, nearly 70 years later, is still being felt.
Gail S. “Hal” Halvorsen was born in 1920. He grew up on two small farms in both Utah and Idaho. He worked hard at his assigned chores, but also enjoyed the freedom and adventure afforded to those growing up in rural America at that time. He hunted, fished and relished the outdoors. He also grew up steeped in his family’s Mormon faith. He became especially mindful of precept that service toward others is the bottom line to happiness and fulfillment.
Just prior to the United States entry into World War II, in September 1941, Halvorsen earned his private pilot’s license under the non-college Civilian Pilot Training Program and he joined the Civil Air Patrol. In June 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. After a short stint with England’s Royal Air Force where he was trained as a fighter pilot, Halvorsen returned to the Army Air Corps where he was assigned flight duties in foreign transport operations in the South Atlantic Theater where he served until the end of the war.
Peace was not what many expected it would be following the cessation of hostilities. Three years after the end of World War II, the American occupation of Germany was failing. The Germans were becoming less – not more – attracted to democracy. Communism was on the march, overthrowing one government after another. Faith in America was at a low ebb.
Then, on June 24, 1948, intent on furthering its domination of Europe, the Soviet Union cut off all land and sea access to West Berlin, prepared to starve one of the largest cities in the world into submission unless the Americans abandoned it. Soviet forces hugely outnumbered the Allies’. The choices before the western allies were seemingly to abandon the city to the Russians, allow up to two million Berliners to starve, or start World War III.
Most of America’s top officials considered the situation hopeless. But not all of them.
Harry Truman, an accidental president, derided by his own party; Lucius Clay, a frustrated general, denied a combat command and relegated to the home front during the war; Bill Tunner, a logistics expert downsized to a desk job in a corner of the Pentagon; James Forrestal, a Secretary of Defense beginning to mentally unravel – together these unlikely men improvised and stumbled their way into a uniquely American combination of military and moral force unprecedented in its time. They initiated the Berlin Airlift, an operation designed to airlift tons of food and vital supplies to prevent widespread starvation of the German citizens of Berlin. In the course of a single year, American pilots, including Hal Halvorsen, flew thousands of flights of transport planes laden with relief, thus undertaking the most successful humanitarian action in history, winning the hearts of America’s defeated enemies, and inspiring people around the world to believe in America’s fundamental goodness. World War III was avoided, and the greatest battle of the Cold War was won without firing a shot.
But that’s not the end of our tale of Hal Halvorsen.
One day in the autumn of 1948 after landing at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport delivering supplies, Hal noticed a group of German children gathered along the fence line of the runway watching planes land and takeoff. Walking over to them, he couldn’t help but notice that they were disheveled and gaunt although none said or asked for anything. Checking his pockets, Hal realized that all he had was three strips of chewing gum left in an open pack he had in his shirt pocket. Although certainly not enough to include every child, he decided to hand a strip to the first three hands he could reach. Then, he noted something which tore at his heartstrings.
Each of the three receiving children began tearing their respective piece of gum into tiny slivers and handing those out to the other children so that each received a small taste of its sweetness. There was no arguing or fighting. There were only smiles of joy emanating from each child at having even a small piece to savor. Witnessing this act of unselfish generosity triggered a remembrance on Hal’s part that it “Tis the Season,” and then seeing how thrilled the children were over the gum, Hal promised to bring them more candy on his future flights starting the next day. He said he would drop it to them from his plane. But, because there were literally hundreds of airplanes loaded with supplies that flew over and landed in Berlin every day, a young girl asked what all the children were thinking “How will we know your plane?” Hal simply answered, “I will wiggle my wings.”
The next day as he flew over the city, Halvorsen wiggled the wings of his plane to let the gathered children know that he was going to drop candy to them. Then, his crewmen dropped many small parachutes that Hal had made from tying handkerchiefs to strings, each bearing sweet treats. This became a daily ritual for Halvorsen and his crew. Soon letters addressed to “Onkel Wackelflugel” (Uncle Wiggly Wings) began to arrive with children requesting candy drops in other areas of the city.
“Operation Little Vittles” had begun.
Although initially unsanctioned by the military, once word began to spread among the ranks, to help Uncle Wiggly Wings with “Operation Little Vittles,” candy was shared by many other air crews. Soon thereafter, the operation was officially embraced by the military brass. The media also got word and the story of “The Candy Bombers” spread across America. This brought about an outpouring by schoolchildren from across our country who sent thousands of candies tied to homemade parachutes to the Defense Department. Even candy manufacturers and other businesspeople donated candy by the boxcar load to the effort.
By May of 1949, the unsuccessful blockade of Berlin by the Russians ended. By September the last American flights of the Berlin Airlift also ended.
So, as we enter this season of thanksgiving, peace and joy, do not let the world’s turmoil or your seeming powerlessness lead you to believe that your ripple is meaningless and will make no difference. Remember instead, Colonel Gail S. “Hal” Halvorsen’s simple act of giving and the substantial impact it had on the postwar perception of Americans by the German people and that Uncle Wiggly Wings’ ripple is still remembered and celebrated in that country to this day.
And, might I add one more “seasonal” point. Hal’s story is both a beautiful and a vivid reminder to us all that by caring less about what we’re looking at and more about what we see, we are not called to be men and women of just one season, but of all seasons!
“A sincere attitude of gratitude is a beatitude for secured altitudes. Appreciate what you have been given and you will be promoted higher.” ? Israelmore Ayivor
Have an AWE-full Weekend and a Glorious Thanksgiving!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué