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Story by Sgt. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau fires a 105mm Howitzer cannon loaded by Spc. Natasha Bean, supply specialist for the 138th Field Artillery Brigade during the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville, April 18. Bean and Spc. Tiffany Dirolf were two of the Soldiers from the 138th providing artillery salutes from the 2nd Street bridge during the event. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandy Mort)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At Thunder Over Louisville, there are a lot of certainties. If the weather is good, crowds will be big. The air show is cool and during the breaks, people look up to the Second Street Bridge and eyeball the cannons and Soldiers who man them. But it isn’t always a man.
Spc. Natasha Bean and Spc. Tiffany Dirolf, supply specialists assigned to the 138th Field Artillery Brigade, were chosen by brigade leadership to support the cannon salute. The pair loaded the cannons for chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Frank J. Grass, and Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, adjutant general for the Kentucky National Guard, before the air show kicked off.
“It was an absolute honor to load the sound for Gen. Grass,” Bean said. “He is one of the top officers in the military and not a lot of people get to meet him, let alone prepare him to fire a cannon.”
Spc. Tiffany Dirolf, supply specialist for the 138th Field Artillery Brigade, loads a practice round in a 105mm Howitzer cannon during the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville, April 18. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandy Mort)
Before the Thunder mission, the entire cannon salute team received training on how to properly load the 105mm Howitzers. The field artillery is a combat arms branch, and females typically aren’t assigned to fire crews.
While their presence on the team was a significant honor for the battle buddies, Sgt. 1st Class James Marcum, chief of smoke of the firing battery, said they were tactical and professional while teaching the generals how to fire them.
“I think the Soldiers did an outstanding job,” said Marcum. “They only had about 30 minutes to prep the generals and they did fantastic. They should be very proud of what they have accomplished today.”
Best friends outside the uniform, Bean and Dirolf went to basic combat training together, were in the same company for advanced individual training, and deployed to the Horn of Africa together in 2012. They both took pride in their selection to fire the Thunder cannons, and hope it encourages other females to consider opportunities in the guard - even better if it is with their best friend.
“Always having my best friend with me and sharing the same dream helps,” said Bean. “I don’t know where I would be without her.”
Story by 2nd Lt. James Killen, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Nine-year-old Dawson Barr and his family visit the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing to view aircraft that will be flown in the annual Thunder Over Louisville Air Show, in Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2015. Dawson has been battling cancer his entire life and currently has an inoperable brain tumor, making him legally blind in both eyes. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. James W. Killen)
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard welcomed a 9-year-old boy with cancer to the base Saturday as aircraft from around the world prepared to perform in the Thunder Over Louisville air show.
Dawson Barr, accompanied by his sister, mother and father, toured the flight line with Chief Master Sgt. Joe Dawson, superintendent of the 123rd Operations Group here.
“Dawson had an absolute blast!” Chief Dawson said. “We visited every aircraft on the flight line, met and talked with several people along the way, and we also got to watch a C-17 Globemaster taxi out and take off.”
Nine-year-old Dawson Barr and his family visit the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing to view aircraft that will be flown in the annual Thunder Over Louisville Air Show, in Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2015. Dawson has been battling cancer his entire life and currently has an inoperable brain tumor, making him legally blind in both eyes. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. James W. Killen)
Dawson toured the Operations Building, ate lunch supplied by the 123rd Security Forces Squadron, and watched several aircraft take off while observing from the 165th Airlift Squadron Heritage Room, which offers one of the best views on base.
Dawson was diagnosed with cancer at just 6 months of age. Doctors were cautious about his life expectancy, primarily because of the number of tumors he has — seven on the brain and three on the spine — and their severity.
He has defied the odds, though, and according to his mother, Aimee Barr, “He’s an amazing little kid with a magnetic personality; he’s a fighter, too.”
Dawson endured five years of chemotherapy, ending his treatments in February 2012. He currently has one inoperable tumor that severely impacts his vision, making him legally blind in both eyes. The chemotherapy and other treatments have left Dawson with a number of challenges, from hormone imbalances to osteoporosis.
Aimee says that doesn’t stop him, though.
“He’s a normal 9-year-old boy. He wants to play soccer, he wants to be a professional football player, and if that doesn’t work, he’s going to be a professional baseball player.”
Dawson made an impact on several of the people he met at the Kentucky Air Guard, with many noting how positive and upbeat he was, and how he asked so many great questions.
Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team perform in the Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. More than 650,000 people lined the banks of the Ohio River for the show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
“I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and spending time with Dawson, his sister, Lauren, and their parents, Aimee and Shane Barr,” Chief Dawson said. “That young man is a fighter in the true sense of the word, with the most positive attitude and the most uplifting spirit that you will ever see in a little boy.”
Dawson has a message for those who may be struggling with challenges or illness. In a calm and steady voice he said, “If you’re going through something, just keep going. Eventually something good will happen, and it will be okay.”
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau speaks with Soldiers with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. During his three-day visit, Grass met with Soldiers and Airmen across the state, attended Thunder Over Louisville and Military Appreciation Day at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Military challenge coins are handed out everyday for excellence, but it’s not everyday that a Soldier’s first coin is from a four-star general. That was the case for Pfc. Lauren Walker, a combat medic with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company.
“That was my first coin, my first big recognition as a Soldier that I’m doing the right thing,” said Walker. “It’s a pretty big deal to me.”
Pfc. Lauren Walker with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company speaks with Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. The 1163rd was finishing up the unit’s pre-mobilization training prior to a scheduled deployment to Afghanistan this spring. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“It means a lot to us that he came down here from D.C. to see the little 1163rd. It was a great reminder for us to stay motivated to keep up the hard work and keep driving on.”
Visit our flickr page for more photos of Gen. Grass’ visit to Kentucky.
For Soldiers with the 1163rd, pre-mobilization training was going according to schedule April 18 at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky. Then in the middle of a field training class, everything came to a brief halt as Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau rolled up on their location.
Escorted by Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky’s adjutant general, Grass visited as part of his initiative to travel to every state and territory to personally thank Guardsmen around the Nation.
“Every time I travel, one of the things I find is I learn something about the National Guard that I didn’t know,” said Grass. “Getting to visit Soldiers and Airmen here and learn about the missions that you all are doing is phenomenal.”
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau speaks with Kentucky Guardsmen of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company during a visit to the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Grass thanked the Soldiers for their service and answered questions from them on the state of the National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“You think about the number of people that serve in uniform, this is an all volunteer force, and you’ve got to thank them,” he said.
Grass observed part of the training class then spoke with the unit about their upcoming deployment and their thoughts on being a part of the Guard.
“What I find interesting everywhere I go is how young the force is, how talented and how astute they are to what is happening in the world, and they know exactly why they’re joining.”
Sgt. Duncan Wooster’s story also inspired Grass. Wooster enlisted late in life and has a stable career as an airline pilot, but is also determined to be a true non-commissioned officer to the 1163rd. Grass complimented Wooster on helping young Soldiers of the 1163rd to devise plans to be smarter with the extra money they will make during the deployment.
“I’m excited and very honored to go work with such a great group of people and just want to try to influence them to make better decisions,” said Wooster. “I took everything Gen. Grass said to heart and was very impressed that he took time to come out in the field to see us. It was an honor to meet him and speak with him one-on-one.”
The National Guard chief’s visit left a positive buzz with the unit. A drive that their leadership hopes carries them into and through their deployment to Afghanistan.
“The time Gen. Grass spent with the Soldiers indicates to me that we stood out and made a positive impression on him,” said 1st Lt. Anna Mataspha, officer in charge of the 1163rd’s training. “How many other units in the Guard have come across the Chief of the National Guard, that’s pretty special and it elevates us to be even better than what we already are. It’s a great boost right before they deploy.”
During his three-day visit to Kentucky, Grass also met with Soldiers of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade in Greenville and Soldiers with Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 376th Security and Support Aviation upon his return to Louisville. Grass was also an impressed spectator at Thunder Over Louisville, April 18 and a special guest at Military Appreciation Day at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, April 19.
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau and Chief Master Sgt. Mitch Brush speak with Spc. Kyle Shenk with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade during Thunder Over Louisville, April 18, 2015. Grass visited with Kentucky Guardsmen on duty for the event throughout downtown Louisville. (U.S. Army national Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“Thunder Over Louisville was just phenomenal and to see how much the military was involved, the salute to Veterans, the salute the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, there was a half-million people there and you couldn’t move without bumping into a Guardsmen or their family member somewhere.”
In awe of the events and the participation of the Kentucky Guard, Grass departed Kentucky with final thoughts to the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the bluegrass.
“I would tell them thank you for serving your nation and look at the opportunities you’re getting as a member of the Guard, and thanks to their families and employers. It all becomes a family and the Guard is more family than anything I’ve seen.”
Story by Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, swears in 20 Soldiers and Airmen from the Kentucky National Guard during a re-enlistment ceremony on the Clark Memorial Bridge in downtown Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2015. The event, televised live, kicked off the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville air show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2015 Thunder Over Louisville air show began Saturday with a barrage of canon fire executed by the Kentucky National Guard’s 138th Field Artillery Brigade and a mass re-enlistment ceremony for 20 Kentucky Guardsmen led by Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Senior Airman Lindsey Horton, a recruiting assistant in the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Force Support Squadron, said it was a great honor to be sworn in by the nation’s top National Guard officer on live television.
Senior Airman Lindsey Horton, a recruiting assistant in the Kentucky Air National Guard, takes the oath of enlistment during a mass swearing-in ceremony on the Clark Memorial Bridge in downtown Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2015. The ceremony, which kicked off the Thunder Over Louisville air show, was led by Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
“Serving in the Air National Guard is something that I take a lot of pride in,” Horton said. “I’ve really taken the Air Force Core Values of service, integrity and excellence to heart, so being able to reaffirm my commitment to them with Gen. Grass was a great experience.”
Grass, who also serves on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as one of seven military advisors to the president of the United States, thanked Horton and the other troops for their continued service, calling their dedication to duty a “phenomenal act.”
Earlier in the day, Grass toured the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville to learn more about the missions of the 123rd Airlift Wing, which include tactical airlift, contingency response, and special tactics capabilities like combat control and pararescue.
One of the highlights of the air show was a tribute to Col. Gail Halvorsen, a retired C-54 pilot who became famous when he originated the idea of air-dropping small bundles of chocolate to the children of West Berlin during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49. What began with Halvorsen’s small act of kindness eventually grew to include hundreds of American Airmen and more than 21 tons of candy.
Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks to Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Fulkerson from the Kentucky Army National Guard after a mass swearing-in ceremony on the Clark Memorial Bridge in downtown Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2015. Grass administered the oath of enlistment during the ceremony, which kicked off the Thunder Over Louisville air show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
In honor of Halvorsen, who became known as the Berlin Candy Bomber and was guest of honor at this year’s show, a Kentucky Air Guard C-130 Hercules air-dropped two simulated bundles of candy over the Ohio River before a crowd of more than 650,000 spectators.
Other highlights of the air show included performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration squadron, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Demonstration Team.
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Pfc. Allison Shontz, Pvt. 1st Class Dillion Morvel and 1st Lt. Maria Burns, military police assigned to the 223rd Military Police Company patrol River Road from Seventh Street to Ninth Street April 18, in support of Thunder Over Louisville security detail. More than 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers and 140 military policemen patrolled the Riverfront to ensure crowd safety. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Before sending the Louisville Metro Police officers and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard’s 223rd Military Police Company out on foot patrol, Louisville’s mayor, Greg Fischer and Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad had two important messages: stay safe and keep Louisville safe.
“I thank you LMPD and Kentucky Guard,” Fischer said, “we can’t do this without you.”
More than 1,200 officers made up the combined force of LMPD, Kentucky Guard, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police and federal law enforcement agencies. LMPD and the Guardsmen conducted foot patrols that roved the waterfront from 4 p.m., until the last spectators receded from the downtown area.
Soldiers assigned to the 223rd Military Police Company receive a patrol plan from the Louisville Metro Police prior to hitting the streets April 18, in support of Thunder Over Louisville. More than 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers and 140 military policemen patrolled the Riverfront to ensure crowd safety (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
“We are very grateful for what the National Guard provides us,” said Sgt. Phil Russell, Louisville Metro Police commander of media, public relations.
“With a half-million people in downtown Louisville, we absolutely need the support of the National Guard. We are grateful for the extra set of eyes and the partnership that we hope continues,” he said.
The partnership comes easy for the Louisville-based 223rd MPs. While unit leadership didn’t have an exact number of Soldiers employed by LMPD, their network of police contacts is extensive. Several Soldiers are employed by civilian police departments, and are familiar with the way civilian departments operate.
“We conduct training for events like this when we get our field time,” said 1st Sgt. Mike Ochs, 223rd MP Company first sergeant. “We get briefings from the mayor and police chief, and they always comment on how critical the support of the Kentucky Army National Guard is.
“It’s good for our Soldiers to hear that, it really puts everything into perspective as far as what our role is. We always have good camaraderie with LMPD during Thunder and Derby support; there is never any animosity that this is their turf, we work as one.”
Ochs said the law enforcement presence is important for the attendees to feel safe and secure during Louisville’s largest party. But he said all Soldiers representing the Guard is an important mission as well.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer thanks Louisville Metro Police Department and the Kentucky National Guard’s Louisville-based 223rd Military Police Company for their support to Thunder Over Louisville security April 18, in Louisville. More than 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers and 140 military policemen patrolled the Riverfront to ensure crowd safety. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
“When you are here, and in the uniform, you are an ambassador for the United States military, but especially the Kentucky Guard,” he said.
The 223rd MPs had more than 140 Soldiers supporting LMPD and representing the Guard.
First platoon leader, 1st Lt. Maria Burns, was one of those foot-Soldiers, logging miles between a three-block radius on River Road, from Seventh Street to Ninth.
“This is my third year working Thunder,” Burns said. “We mingle, talk to people and just show them that we are here if they need us.”
Burns said there was one incident two years ago where her team assisted LMPD with dispersing a crowd at the Louisville Skate Park after firecrackers were set off.
“This year, I don’t think we’re going to see anything like that here, this crowd looks pretty happy.”
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Soldiers assigned to the 223rd Military Police Company and Louisville Metro Police officers man a safety point at Sixth Street and River Road April 18, in support of Thunder security operations. More than 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers and 140 military policemen patrolled the Riverfront to ensure crowd safety. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It literally takes an Army, specifically the Kentucky Army National Guard, to ensure the two-week party in Louisville, aka the Kentucky Derby Festival (KDF), goes off without a hitch.
Whether its traffic enforcement, security patrols, entertaining the crowd with give-aways and obstacles, or starting events with a cannon, the Kentucky Guard plays a huge role in Thunder Over Louisville, the kick-off to Derby Festival. The Soldiers and Airmen operate right alongside the KDF as well as local, state and federal agencies to ensure festival patrons have an explosive time, without incident.
The Kentucky National Guard’s 223rd Military Police and Louisville Metro Police officers coordinated patrols to keep Thunder-goers safe April 18, in Louisville. More than 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers and 140 military policemen patrolled the Riverfront to ensure crowd safety. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
“We are very grateful for what the National Guard provides us,” said Sgt. Phil Russell, Louisville Metro Police commander of media, public relations.
Approximately 250 Kentucky Guardsmen supported the 25th Thunder. The Guard has participated in the annual event in some capacity since its conception in 1990.
“When you are here, and in the uniform, you are an ambassador for the United States military; but especially the Kentucky Guard,” said 1st Sgt. Mike Ochs, 223rd Military Police Company first sergeant.
“It’s good for the crowd to see us, and the public is always wonderful to us,” he said.
Sgt. 1st Class Nick Vinson, a Guard recruiter, has helped coordinate the Kentucky Recruiting and Retention Battalion’s partnership with the KDF since 2008, and has worked everything from the Guard’s rock wall to the command center.
“Thunder emphasizes what the Guard does for Kentucky,” Vinson said. “It’s not only the largest event within this area of the state, but for our recruiters and our community relations personnel; this is the largest single-day event of the year. We impact as many people at Thunder as we do in a week at the State Fair.”
On the bridge, Soldiers assigned to the 138th Field Artillery Brigade know their cannons are not just a staple of Thunder, but something that many viewers look forward to hearing, and feeling. But their own experience is something they said they don’t take for granted.
“It was exciting to be part of Thunder Over Louisville,” said Spc. Tiffany Dirolf, supply specialist, 138th Field Artillery Brigade. “I am normally in a room all the time and today I had one of the best seats in the house.”
Whether patrolling the busy streets or loading the cannons, the Kentucky Army National Guard is always ready to make each Thunder better than the last.
Story by Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Col. Gail Halvorsen, a former U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who originated the idea of airdropping candy to German children during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, visits the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Halvorsen, who is known as the Berlin Candy Bomber, will be the guest of honor during the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18. The Airmen are standing in front of a Halverson Loader, named for the colonel, that can rapidly load up to 25,000 pounds of cargo onto airlift aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard will pay tribute to the famous “candy drops” of the Berlin Airlift during Saturday’s Thunder Over Louisville air show.
A Kentucky Air Guard flight crew will deploy two simulated bundles of candy over the Ohio River from the back of a Kentucky C-130 Hercules aircraft at 4:39 p.m., according to Lt. Col. John Ward, a pilot in the 123rd Airlift Wing who will be flying the aircraft.
The idea for candy drops originated in 1948 with C-54 pilot Gail Halvorsen, who was then a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Halvorsen, who eventually rose to the rank of colonel, will be the guest of honor at this year’s air show.
“It’s a real privilege to participate in this kind of tribute because it honors the tremendous accomplishments of Colonel Halvorsen and the proud military heritage of the airlift community,” Ward said.
“In a way, the Berlin Airlift was similar to the missions our own wing flew in Bosnia in the 1990s, when we were able to drop hundreds of tons of food and humanitarian aid to Bosnian civilians after they were cut off from the rest of the world by an intense ethnic war.”
Col. Gail Halvorsen, a former U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who originated the idea of airdropping candy to German children during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, visits with crew members from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Halvorsen, who is known as the Berlin Candy Bomber, will be the guest of honor during the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
In 1948, Halvorsen found himself flying airlift missions into West Berlin as part of Operation Vittles, the U.S.-backed effort to keep the territory supplied with food, milk and coal after the Soviet Union blocked road and rail access in what was to become the first major battle of the Cold War.
One day in July, Halvorsen was walking inside the perimeter fence at West Berlin’s Tempelhof Air Base — headquarters for Operation Vittles — when he came across about 30 children gathered on the other side.
“We had been bombing Germany just a few years before, and you’d thing they would be antagonistic, but they weren’t,” Halvorsen recalled Friday during a visit to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base. “I was there at the fence talking to them for about an hour, and when I turned to leave, I realized that not one had asked for candy. It was the first time that had ever happened to me when I was in a foreign country. And these kids hadn’t had any chocolate for a couple of years.
“They didn’t ask because they were grateful — grateful for flour and grateful to be free. They wouldn’t beg for something so extravagant as chocolate. When I realized that kids from 9 to 15 years of age had that kind of value system, that they valued freedom so much, it kind of blew my mind.
“So I reached in my pocket, and I had two sticks of Wrigley’s Doublemint gum, and I thought, ‘You can’t give that to 30 kids. You’re going to have a fight.’
“I turned to leave again, and I got about two steps when a voice came through to me clear as a bell: ‘Go back to the fence.’ It was almost a command. So I went back to the fence and pulled my hand out of pocket, and I broke the sticks in half so I would have four pieces.
“They didn’t push or shove, and the kids that didn’t get to have a piece of gum asked for a strip of the wrapper. They took those pieces of wrapper and put them to their noses so they could smell it, and their eyes got big just from the smell.
“That did it. I thought, ‘I gotta do something more.’
“I’d always flown by the book, and I got promoted because I flew by the book. But I told them, ‘Stand in this grassy area tomorrow, and when I fly overhead, I’ll drop enough chocolate for all of you to have some.’”
When the children asked Halvorsen how they would know which plane was his, he told them to look for the aircraft that’s wiggling it wings, earning him the nickname Uncle Wiggly Wings.
That same day, Halvorsen asked his crewmates to give him their chocolate rations. He then fashioned makeshift parachutes from three handkerchiefs, to which he attached the precious candy.
When Halvorsen’s crew returned to the airfield the next day while flying a re-supply mission, he looked down and saw all 30 kids standing exactly where they were told to be. The crew chief collected the tiny bundles and dropped them out of the plane from a flare chute behind the pilot’s seat.
“We didn’t know if the candy had made it over the fence, but when we flew over them again on takeoff, all 30 kids were lined up by the fence with their mouths going up and down, chewing like crazy and waving at the airplane.”
Col. Gail Halvorsen, a former U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who originated the idea of airdropping candy to German children during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, visits the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Halvorsen, who is known as the Berlin Candy Bomber, will be the guest of honor during the 2015 Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
Encouraged by the success, Halvorsen’s crew repeated the candy drop three more times — “and then I got caught.”
His superior officers were not happy by the unauthorized airdrops, and the phrase “court martial” was used more than once. But a general officer caught wind of Halvorsen’s stunt and, impressed by the kindness of the act, told him to keep it up. Others American aircrews soon joined in. By the end of the operation — and with the help of boatloads of candy from American manufacturers — more than 21 tons of sweets had been airdropped to the children of West Berlin.
Experts in foreign relations say the campaign “had a major impact on the transition of hate that West Berliners had for (Allied forces),” Halvorsen noted. “It really helped change the attitudes of the West Berliners and improve relations after the war.”
In fact, the impact extended far beyond the borders of Germany, affecting a global audience that had begun to view the actions of the Soviet Union with increasing unease.
“The Soviets were putting the screws to the West Berliners, while we were feeding their children chocolate,” Halvorsen said. “The contrast was remarkable, and several historians have said it helped end the blockade.”
The mission also made a lasting personal impression on Halvorsen, who is 96 and will forever be remembered as the Berlin Candy Bomber.
“It made me realize the importance of little decisions in my life,” he said. “Those little decisions that you make on the road of life put your footsteps on the path where you end up, good or bad.”
The voice that Halvorsen heard, clear as a bell in 1948, led to a very small decision that helped change the course of history.
In addition to the “Candy Bomber” tribute, this year’s air show will feature performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Marine Corps Harrier Harrier AV-8B Demonstration Team.
Other acts include the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute demonstration team, a Canadian Air Force CT-142 trainer, P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre warbirds, a United Parcel Service 767, and multiple aerobatic performances.
As in past years, the Kentucky Air National Guard is providing logistical support that enables military aircraft to participate in the show, which routinely draws crowds of more than 500,000 and is broadcast live by local TV and radio stations, said Capt. Josh Ketterer, air show coordinator for the Kentucky Air Guard.
“We log hundreds of hours of work every year to plan and support Thunder so the public has an opportunity to see for themselves the incredible abilities of the finest military aviators in the world,” Ketterer said. “It’s a privilege and an honor for us to support that mission, and I’m looking forward to great show.”
Story by Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Maj. Scott Petz, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration squadron, taxies his F-16 Fighting Falcon to a parking spot at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2015. Petz was in Louisville to coordinate logistics for the Thunderbirds team, which will be the marquee attraction at this year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
LOUISVILLE , Ky. — Two members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds arrived at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base today in preparation for the Thunder Over Louisville air show, flying their trademark red-white-and-blue F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
Click here for more photos of their visit to Louisville!
The Airmen are in town to coordinate logistics, maintenance and air show requirements with aviation officials and members of the Kentucky Air National Guard, who will provide the Thunderbirds with complete support during the April 18 air show, according to Maj. Scott Petz, the team’s advance pilot and narrator.
Maj. Scott Petz, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration squadron, speaks with members of the news media at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2015. Petz was in Louisville to coordinate logistics for the Thunderbirds team, which will be the marquee attraction at this year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show April 18. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
Petz promises an exciting show.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the whole crew — 60-plus personnel and eight high-performance F-16 aircraft,” he said. During the show, “six aircraft will fly within 18 inches of one another in a diamond formation, and two opposing soloists perform high-speed passes.”
“It’s going to be a great show.”
While the Thunderbirds will serve as the marquee act this year, Thunder Over Louisville continues to feature a wide range of civilian and military aircraft, said Mike Riordan, the show’s air boss.
Those aircraft include a T-28 “warbird” demo team called the Trojan Horsemen, and multiple vintage World War II-era planes. Other acts scheduled to perform include the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute demonstration team and the U.S. Marine Corps Harrier Demo Team.
“A lot of people don’t realize how big (Thunder Over Louisville) has become,” Riordan said. “It’s the fifth-largest air show in the country and draws up to 500,000 spectators every year.”
This year’s event, themed “Boom with a View,” is the 26th Thunder Over Louisville. The Thunderbirds last appeared here in 1997.
By Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, administers the oath of enlistment to 15 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard on the 2nd Street Bridge in Louisville, Ky., April 12, 2014. The event kicked off Thunder Over Louisville, the city’s annual air show and fireworks display over the Ohio River. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, toured the Kentucky Air Guard Base here April 11-13, meeting Airmen from units across the 123rd Airlift Wing and kicking off Thunder Over Louisville, one of the largest air show and fireworks displays in North America.
Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, speaks with Staff Sgt. Shelby Basham of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team during a tour of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 11, 2014. Clarke visited with Airmen from across the wing and examined mission capabilities ranging from contingency response to special tactics. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Horton)
Clarke also inspected the wing’s unique mission capabilities, including the only fully operational contingency response group in the Air National Guard and a special tactics squadron that combines both combat control and pararescue functions, according to Col. Barry Gorter, commander of the 123rd.
“It’s always good to get out of the office and talk to Airmen in the field,” Clarke said of his visit. “That’s the best part of my job.”
He was especially interested in learning more about the contingency response and special tactics units here.
Click here to see all of the photos from this event.
A contingency response group functions as an “airbase in a box,” Gorter said, providing the ability to rapidly establish an air cargo hub at remote locations worldwide in support of military operations or disaster-response missions. The unit’s Airmen are completely self-sufficient, bringing everything from housing, communications and power generation to all-terrain forklifts, aircraft maintenance and security forces.
Tech. Sgt. Ben Pelster, a combat controller from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, shows a MK-13 40mm grenade launcher to Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, during a tour of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 11, 2014. Clarke visited with Airmen from across the 123rd Airlift Wing and examined mission capabilities ranging from contingency response to special tactics. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Horton)
Special tactics Airmen are among the most highly trained operators in the U.S. Military. Combat controllers are certified air traffic controllers who deploy undetected into hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields while simultaneously conducting air traffic control, fire support, command and control, direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance and special reconnaissance. Pararescuemen are parachute-jump qualified personnel-recovery specialists. They maintain emergency medical technician credentials throughout their careers and provide life-saving trauma care in the world’s most remote areas, including combat environments.
After the tour concluded, Clarke said he was impressed by the Airmen and the capabilities of the 123rd, calling it “an excellent wing.”
“You can tell that the Airmen here are well-led and well-trained,” he said. “It’s an excellent wing, and a lot of the credit goes to the leadership here.”
One of the highlights of Clarke’s visit was the opportunity to kick off the Thunder Over Louisville air show by swearing in 15 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard during live television coverage.
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration squadron performs aerobatic maneuvers over the Ohio River and 2nd Street Bridge in Louisville, Ky., April 12, 2014. More than 650,000 spectators turned out for the event, which was part of the annual Thunder Over Louisville air show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
The annual show, which is staged over the Ohio River and featured performances this year by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and 15 other acts, drew a crowd of more than 650,000 spectators. Television coverage, broadcast in Louisville from 12:30 to 10:30 p.m., will be edited down for global rebroadcast on Armed Forces Network over the 4th of July weekend.
“It’s pretty exciting to begin my career in the Kentucky Air National Guard by having a three-star general swear me in on live television,” said Samantha Ruzanaka, a new recruit who will be joining the 123rd Security Forces Squadron here as a fire team member.
“This a great unit, and that was a great way to begin serving my state and nation,” she said.
The event also was a great experience for Clarke, whose son-in-law, Jacob Reynolds, was among the Airmen being sworn in. Reynolds is joining the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as a C-130 crew chief.
“This was my first Thunder, and I was just overwhelmed by the support of the local community,” Clarke said. “I was extremely impressed by how engaged people are with the military, how much they love the Guard and, especially, this wing.”
Senior Master Sgt. Shane LaGrone of the 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight demonstrates an EOD robot to Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, during a tour of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 11, 2014. Clarke visited with Airmen from across the 123rd Airlift Wing and examined mission capabilities ranging from contingency response to special tactics. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Horton)
Clarke noted that his friend, retired Lt. Gen. John Conaway, a former Kentucky Air Guardsman who served as chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1990 to 1993, had been encouraging him to visit Louisville and the 123rd Airlift Wing for a long time.
“General Conaway’s been telling me for years that this is a great unit,” Clarke said. “Now I can go back and report to him that he is correct.”
The 123rd Airlift Wing is one of the most decorated wings in the United States Air Force, with 15 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, six Distinguished Flying Unit Plaques, three Metcalf Trophies and three Spaatz Trophies. The Metcalf Trophy is awarded annually to the top airlift unit in the Air National Guard, and the Spaatz Trophy is bestowed on the country’s premier Air Guard flying unit each year.
Story by: Sgt. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Crump from the 138th Fires Brigade oversees Soldiers firing a salvo of Howitzer 105mm rounds from the 2nd street bridge in Louisville, Ky., during the 25th annual Thunder Over Louisville fireworks and air show April 12, 2014. Members of the Kentucky Guard highlighted the evening’s entertainment of music and firework displays.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
LOUISVILLE Ky., — Nearly 200 Soldiers gathered together as more than 750,000 people packed the streets of Louisville for the annual Thunder Over Louisville as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival held April 12.
Guardsmen from across the Commonwealth along with the Louisville Metro Police Department served and protected the city of Louisville during the event. No officer was left without a civilian counterpart. This year’s event was anticipated to be one of the largest Thunder Over Louisville events ever.
To see all the photos from this event, please click HERE.
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hawkins, from the 223rd Military Police Company, was assigned the duty to control traffic alongside an LMPD officer as the massive crowds began to flood the streets by the waterfront. He was honored to work with his civilian equivalent.
Kentucky National Guard Military Police Officers patrol the grounds Louisville with officers of the Louisville Metro Police Department April 12, during Thunder Over Louisville. (US Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandy Mort)
“It gives us a chance to support our local community as well as having the unique opportunity to work with civilian police officers,” said Hawkins, “When people see both sets of uniforms, I think they will have a better sense of security knowing that we have put forth a huge effort to keep them protected.”
Events like Thunder give Soldiers a yearly a chance to put their training to work and also show what the National Guard is all about, working hand in hand with local authorities to protect our home front.
“This is an event we conduct every year,” said 1st Lt. Jacob Lee, Company Commander with the 223rd MP Company, “Working with local officials is a great experience for our Guardsmen. It gives them the opportunity to work with someone who patrols these streets and protects them every day.”
Spc. Samantha Haynes, Information Technology Specialist with the 138th Signal Company prepares to fire a 105mm Howitzer during Thunder Over Louisville, April 12. Haynes has grown up watching the fireworks and was honored to be able to fire the cannon. (US Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandy Mort)
Whether it’s your first Thunder Over Louisville or your 15th, this event is something you will remember for years to come. Spc. Samantha Haynes, Information Technology Specialist with the 138th Signal Company, has grown up watching the air and fireworks show since she was young and was honored to have the opportunity to shoot the 105mm Howitzer cannon.
“When I was younger, I would always love hearing the cannons,” said Haynes, “It feels great to be able to pull the cord and make other people feel the same excitement I did when I was their age.”
As another Thunder came to an end, the effort put forth by the Kentucky National Guard and the Louisville Metro Police Department to serve and protect the Commonwealth of Kentucky shined almost as bright as the fireworks.
“Without the Kentucky National Guard, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” said Sgt. William Patterson, LMPD officer, second in command over traffic. “The guard has been with us for so long that without them we wouldn’t keep having successful events such as today.”
