Comments on: ‘Service Before Self’: Honoring the Berlin Airlift http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/ Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:25:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Leslie http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-149011 Leslie Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:50:21 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-149011 Azores: The monument to those who died in the Berlin Airlift isn't just "a sort of rounded wall." It is a bridge. The Germans called the Airlift the "Luftbruecke," the Air Bridge. And the monument is actually two monuments - one at Rhein-Main, one at Tempelhof. Each is a visible base of a bridge of air that leads to the other. I see the one at Rhein-Main whenever I fly into or out of Frankfurt International Airport, and I find it very moving. Azores: The monument to those who died in the Berlin Airlift isn’t just “a sort of rounded wall.” It is a bridge. The Germans called the Airlift the “Luftbruecke,” the Air Bridge. And the monument is actually two monuments – one at Rhein-Main, one at Tempelhof. Each is a visible base of a bridge of air that leads to the other. I see the one at Rhein-Main whenever I fly into or out of Frankfurt International Airport, and I find it very moving.

]]> By: Obama: Europeans so much better than Americans! | The Anchoress http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-72016 Obama: Europeans so much better than Americans! | The Anchoress Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:35:49 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-72016 [...] not need to speak French to save that nation…twice. Americans did not need to speak German to save the lives of our vanquished German enemy over a long, brutal winter with the Berlin Airlift. Americans did not need to speak Polish or any [...] [...] not need to speak French to save that nation…twice. Americans did not need to speak German to save the lives of our vanquished German enemy over a long, brutal winter with the Berlin Airlift. Americans did not need to speak Polish or any [...]

]]> By: Talnik http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-66890 Talnik Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:59:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-66890 I read "Armegeddon" by Leon Uris a couple of weeks ago, a very good (although fictionalized) story of the Airlift. Highly recommended. I read “Armegeddon” by Leon Uris a couple of weeks ago, a very good (although fictionalized) story of the Airlift. Highly recommended.

]]> By: Azores http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65967 Azores Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:45:40 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65967 But never count on Germans to be grateful. The monument to the heros of the Berlin airlift is a shame, some kind of rounded wall. Germans want, above all, to forget Soviet occupation and American protection. But never count on Germans to be grateful. The monument to the heros of the Berlin airlift is a shame, some kind of rounded wall. Germans want, above all, to forget Soviet occupation and American protection.

]]> By: John Samford http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65738 John Samford Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:16:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65738 It wasn't a battle. Only the clueless cannot distinguish between a battle and a logistic operation. It should have been the first battle in a war, but Truman, for all his other sterling qualities, was a craven coward and would not fight a battle that we would have won. I can make the argument that if Truman had reacted forcefully to Stalin's aggression, it would have been the end of the Soviet Union. Instead, Truman pissed down his leg and we got 40 years of "cold war". A cold war that produced more dead then WW1. 55,000 in Korea. 109,000 in Vietnam 115,000 in WW1. A lot of myths and fables involved with the Cold War. Starting with the 'cold' part. It was the N.Y. Times that bestowed the title of 'cold war' on the low level conflict that was Truman's gift to the Post WW2 world. The Soviet Union was in terrible shape in '45. They lost more men taking Berlin thenthe USA lost in all of WW2. Stalin was bluffing in '48.. Truman was a coward and afraid to call his bluff. Truman should have nuked Stalingrad (which was pretty much rubble still) and told Stalin he had 10 days to get ALL soviet troops back into Russia. Stalin would have caved, since the Soviets had NO atomic bomb and no fighter plane capable of intercepting a B-29. Stalin only had one advantage. Balls. He had huge brass ones, while Truman had tiny little glass beads. Weapons are an important factor in war, but not the decisive one; it is man and not materials that counts." - Chairman Mao Zedong (Tse-tung), 1938 It wasn’t a battle. Only the clueless cannot distinguish between a battle and a logistic operation.
It should have been the first battle in a war, but Truman, for all his other sterling qualities, was a craven coward and would not fight a battle that we would have won.
I can make the argument that if Truman had reacted forcefully to Stalin’s aggression, it would have been the end of the Soviet Union. Instead, Truman pissed down his leg and we got 40 years of “cold war”. A cold war that produced more dead then WW1.
55,000 in Korea.
109,000 in Vietnam

115,000 in WW1.

A lot of myths and fables involved with the Cold War. Starting with the ‘cold’ part. It was the N.Y. Times that bestowed the title of ‘cold war’ on the low level conflict that was Truman’s gift to the Post WW2 world.
The Soviet Union was in terrible shape in ’45. They lost more men taking Berlin thenthe USA lost in all of WW2. Stalin was bluffing in ’48.. Truman was a coward and afraid to call his bluff.
Truman should have nuked Stalingrad (which was pretty much rubble still) and told Stalin he had 10 days to get ALL soviet troops back into Russia. Stalin would have caved, since the Soviets had NO atomic bomb and no fighter plane capable of intercepting a B-29.
Stalin only had one advantage. Balls. He had huge brass ones, while Truman had tiny little glass beads.

Weapons are an important factor in war, but not the decisive one; it is man
and not materials that counts.”
- Chairman Mao Zedong (Tse-tung), 1938

]]> By: Dusty http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65526 Dusty Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:43:01 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65526 This is superb, B. And thanks for the reminder via such a great article. This is superb, B. And thanks for the reminder via such a great article.

]]> By: baldilocks http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65484 baldilocks Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:21:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65484 Thanks, folks. Thanks, folks.

]]> By: axel mehrle http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65249 axel mehrle Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:25:05 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65249 As both a survivor in post WWII Berlin, thanks to the efforts of the USAF and their Allied Air forces, and a veteran of the USAF I just want to thank ALL of you for your unstinting,heroic efforts that afforded me the chance to take my son to the Airlift memorial and explain its significance to him. Without the airlift I may never have survived to have a son. So once again on behalf of our family and all the citizens of a free and united Berlin our heartfelt thanks. Freedom should never be taken for granted and too often requires the sacrifice of many unsung people who are often forgotten. A humble berlin blockade survivor. Axel Mehrle New York As both a survivor in post WWII Berlin,
thanks to the efforts of the USAF and their Allied Air forces, and a veteran of the USAF
I just want to thank ALL of you for your unstinting,heroic efforts that afforded me the
chance to take my son to the Airlift memorial
and explain its significance to him.

Without the airlift I may never have survived
to have a son.

So once again on behalf of our family and all
the citizens of a free and united Berlin our
heartfelt thanks.

Freedom should never be taken for granted
and too often requires the sacrifice of
many unsung people who are often
forgotten.

A humble berlin blockade survivor.

Axel Mehrle
New York

]]> By: Karmi http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65231 Karmi Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:56:31 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65231 Great article! A part of American history that many have forgot and/or choose not to remember. Great article! A part of American history that many have forgot and/or choose not to remember.

]]> By: Jerald L. Johnson (J.J.) http://pjmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65182 Jerald L. Johnson (J.J.) Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:43:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/service-before-self-honoring-the-berlin-airlift/#comment-65182 This is an outstanding piece of journalism. Hats off to the editor!!!! This is an outstanding piece of journalism. Hats off to the editor!!!!

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