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| - After the war, Halvorsen filled domestic responsibilities, but then in the early 1970's was the commander of the Tempelhof Airbase in western Berlin. He was required to host many social functions during his tenure in Berlin and was known for serving no alcohol, in line with his Mormon beliefs. The Deseret News included an article by the Associated Press reporting the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift: WIESBADEN, Germany — About 10,000 people, including U.S. soldiers, attended an open house at Wiesbaden Garrison on Sunday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift — one of the largest humanitarian undertakings of all time. The commander of the U.S. Army garrison, Col. Ray Graham, said the role played by allied forces who organized the airlift set the stage for NATO and closer ties ever since. "Through the staunch resolve of the Western allies, and the grit of the Berliners, the blockade was broken," Graham told a crowd that included Germans, American soldiers and their families. "And along the way, the foundations were laid for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Federal Republic of Germany." Utahn Gail S. Halvorsen, a retired Air Force colonel who received fame as the "Candy Bomber" during the airlift, was in Germany for the anniversary. With music playing and an air show at Sunday's event, participants remembered what has been regarded as one of the first and most decisive battles of the Cold War. From June 26, 1948, to May 1949, the airlift carried food, medical and fuel supplies to some 2 million West Berliners cut off from the West by Soviet forces. American, British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African pilots, among others, flew some 278,000 missions, mainly from the U.S. Army Airfield in Wiesbaden and what is now Frankfurt International Airport. During the operation, 73 allied airmen and at least five Germans died in accidents. In total they carried some 23 million tons in supplies. In 1995, Halvorsen served a mission for the Mormon Church with his wife Alta in St. Petersburg, Russia. During Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he dropped candy from a C-130. Halvorsen also participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the airlift in Berlin in 1998. In 2001, the U.S. Air Force's new, next-generation, 25,000-pound capacity aircraft loading vehicle was named in his honor. The Air Force also named the award for outstanding air transportation support in the logistics readiness career field the Colonel Gail Halvorsen Award. In 2002, the city of Orem, Utah, staged an event honoring the "candy bomber." In 2003, Overstock.com of Salt Lake City shipped free-of-charge toys, children's winter clothing and goods to American men and women in uniform in a "Support Our Friends in Iraq" program. Consumers purchased goods through Overstock, which were then shipped to "Chief Wiggles," a U.S. serviceman stationed in Iraq, for distribution to needy Iraqi children and American troops needing a taste of home. "Chief Wiggles" is a nom de guerre alluding to Lt. Gail Halvorsen. The In 2005, Halvorsen visited Berlin and Alabama. Halvorsen visited Berlin and East Germany for 17 days. He had the opportunity to visit the opening of the new Deutsches Technik Museum Air/Space wing. During his time at the museum, he had the opportunity to speak about his participation in the Airlift. Halvorsen also visited McNamara Barracks and the American museum which in Berlin. He also had the opportunity to visit some of the schools there and spoke to children at the JFK School and the Gottfried-Keller High School: The kids had all read Margot Raven's book, "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot," and had great questions for us," said Halvorsen. "What a reception! They had composed an original song about the airlift for us. It was wonderful." In 2007 Halvorsen participated in a fundraiser enabling Operation HeroFlight, which helped additional Utahns who served to see the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Gail Halvorsen was inducted into the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame. Halvorsen has authored a book: The Berlin Candy Bomber – Bountiful, UT: Horizon Publishers, 1990 – ISBN 0-88290-361-6 (3rd edition, 2002 — ISBN 0-88290-616-X.
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