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Berlin Airlift veterans recognized by German government

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Veterans of the Berlin Airlift were recognized by the German government for their bravery and sacrifice at a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Oct. 15, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the operation and marking the opening of a six-week Berlin Airlift exhibit at the Travis Air Museum.

While they may not be heroes in their own minds, to the people of Germany, the veteran's actions are a vital part of their post-war history, according to the consul general of Germany for the Northwest Region of the United States.

"This ceremony is about the people whose service ended long ago, but their service and accomplishments will never be forgotten," said Rolf Schütte.

To this day, he added, German school children are taught about the American heroes who came to the rescue in a dire time to lift up a city and solidify its people's fight for freedom.

"The Berlin Airlift was not only about food," said Mr. Schütte. "It was a means for the German people to fight for freedom. They would rather live off 800 calories a day, than to give up hope for a better future in a free city."

According to Mr. Schütte, the "Candy Bombers'" actions and the spirit of the Berlin Airlift forged a friendship between two nations that had been enemies just years before. 

During the ceremony, 23 Berlin Airlift veterans were presented the German-American Friendship Award.  The award is reserved for Americans who made special contributions to foster German-American relations.  Afterwards, the veterans witnessed the ribbon cutting to open the 60th anniversary exhibit and were the first to walk through it.

Col. Mark Dillon said it was fitting to have the exhibit at Travis, which he described as the busiest mobility wing in the Air Force.

"These veterans laid the groundwork for airlift today," he said.  "We are continuing the mission and keeping their legacy alive.  It is an honor to recognize those who served before us."

When asked what strikes him most now about his actions during the airlift, Johnny Macia, a retired Air Force master sergeant and engine mechanic, said it's seeing the people when he travels back to Germany.

"It was great to contribute to the operation," he said.  "Especially when I go back for events and talk to someone who says they were a little girl sitting in the rubble when candy bars started dropping from the sky.  It feels good knowing that those people are still there because of what we did."

The effect the Airlift had on the spread of communism was not lost on Mr. Macia.

"We were able to deter the Soviets from going any further," he said.  "They would have gone through as much territory as they could have taken if we hadn't stopped them.  I'm glad we had leaders who were instrumental in getting the lift going."

The 60th anniversary of the airlift resonates deeply with another veteran who celebrated the birth of a newborn son the same year as the operation.  After serving as a B-17 pilot during World War II, Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Morry Wasserman volunteered for the airlift only 25 days after his son was born.  Leaving behind his family, Mr. Wasserman piloted C-54 Skymasters at a grueling pace.

"We flew seven hours a day, seven days a week," he said. "We would work one week of day shift then a week of swing shift then a week of the graveyard shift. And we did this for seven months."

"I fully understood what was going on in the world.  I'm just sad that if another situation like that came up, there is nothing I can do at my age to volunteer. The Airlift was an experience.  I'm glad I did it.  I'm glad I came tonight, it's nice to be honored."

Many of the veterans at the ceremony said they were just doing their job during the Airlift and never thought they were doing something special.  Mr. Schütte said that is common in the veterans he speaks to around the United States.

"All of the veterans are very humble and many refuse to be called heroes," he said.  "Many even sacrificed their lives.  It was a little bit more than just routine service.  The people of Berlin and the German government will never forget what these veterans did for them 60 years ago."