Open house showcases military might, yesterday's heritage

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ben Gonzales
  • Air Force News Agency
COAST GUARD AIR STATION BORINQUEN, Puerto Rico (AFNEWS) --  Nearly 500 visitors met current-day met warriors and a living legend during the March 22 open house at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico.

Military members and equipment, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol air assets, and an historic C-54 with Berlin candy bomber retired Col. Gail Halvorsen demonstrated today's capabilities to preserve freedom and showcase yesterday's workhorse that kept Berlin free.

Visitors of all ages were able to get an up-close look at a Puerto Rican Air National Guard C-130 Hercules, an Air National Guard communications satellite, Army National Guard vehicles, Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphins and an HU-25 Falcon, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection air marine branch helicopters.

Located on what once was Ramey Air Force Base, the air station houses approximately 100 Coast Guardsmen, has four HH-65C to monitor a 1.2-million-square-mile area. In attendance were more than 50 members of the Ramey AFB Historical Association who toured the station and recalled when the hangar used for the open house was the home for aircraft the Air Force flew from 1939 to 1973.

"My old office was right in this hangar," said Bob Davis, a former airman first class who was stationed at Ramey AFB from 1957 to 1960 as an aircraft mechanic. "This was the Air Force's greatest base. One part of the hangar was an old tire shop and the B-36 (Peacekeeper) was the primary aircraft at first. The KC-135 (Stratotanker) came here next and then the B-52 (Stratofortress) came in 1959."

"I believe people don't recognize (trhat) we are fighting the war on terrorism even here," said Capt. David Saucedo, who is the assistant professor of aerospace studies at the University of Puerto Rico. He helps teach approximately 60 ROTC cadets at the school and knows the importance of the Coast Guard, Air Force and border patrol forces enforcing the law on the island and protecting American borders.

"People may take (freedom) for granted. These guys here are the guys who protect and have protected us from tyranny and we need to thank our veterans," Captain Saucedo said. "This open house shows the young kids our history; it is history come to life."

One of those children who experienced history was Allyssa Williams. The 9-year-old third grader from Ramey School learned how to tie a handkerchief parachute to a candy bar by Colonel Halvorsen. The Berlin candy bomber flew C-54s during the Berlin Airlift and parachuted candy to children from his airplane.  During the open house he signed autographs and showed how he would drop sweets to the needy Berlin children.

"It was pretty amazing and exciting," Allyssa said. "(Colonel Halvorsen) showed me how to make the little parachute and how to tie the candy to it. We did it together and I learned something new."

"To see the light in the eyes of the kids when we threw the candy out and the parachute came down; it was like magic," Colonel Halvorsen said. "No matter where kids are from, what color they are, or what side of a border they are on, kids are all the same. They have a mentality of, 'I want to do it myself.' If we just give kids a chance to do something, let them have hands on and help them make something, it is all worth it."

For Chante Johnson, the open house was a chance for her 13-year-old son, Steven, to learn about the military. After watching a Coast Guard demonstration of a rescue from a helicopter, Mrs. Johnson said the military capabilities are amazing.

"The demonstration stimulated the kids and got them interested in the military," Mrs. Johnson said, whose husband, Coast Guard Chaplain (Lt.) James Johnson Jr., is at the air station. "Hopefully the open house will inspire them to join."

Already thinking of joining the military is 17-year-old Rocio Acaba. The senior at Luis Munoz Marion High School from Anasco is an Air Force Junior ROTC major and special assistant to the junior ROTC instructor.

"This was an awesome experience," Rocio said. "It's great to see all the planes and helicopters. I especially liked seeing the Air Force communications system because I really am interested in communications."


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