C.R. England Adds Six Drivers to "Honored Veterans Fleet"; Recognizes Post-World War II "Candy Bomber" Gail Halvorsen
SALT LAKE CITY, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- C.R. England has added six additional drivers to its Honored Veterans Fleet and recognized World War II-era veteran Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen USAF (Ret) "The Berlin Candy Bomber" as the first recipient of the first C.R. England Honored Veteran Award. The recognitions took place on Friday, June 17 at the C.R. England corporate offices in Salt Lake City.
C.R. England has been recognizing superior drivers with military service backgrounds in their Honored Veterans Fleet since 2014. The newest members of the Honored Veterans Fleet include:
- Mark Evans, 23-year Air Force Veteran
- Leland Boyles, ten-year Army Veteran
- Bryan Walk, eight-year Navy Veteran
- Dennis Hallowell, seven-year Marine Corps and Army Veteran
- Timothy Williams, four-year Navy Veteran
- Robert St. John, four-year Marine Corps Veteran
Following the recognition of the new members of the Honored Veterans Fleet, C. R England Chairman Dan England presented Colonel Halvorsen with the first C.R. England Honored Veteran Award. England noted that this award would be presented at future current or past members of the United States Military recognizing extraordinary service to the country.
After WWII, Halvorsen flew in the Berlin Airlift. During the 15-month airlift (Operation Vittles), American and British pilots delivered more than two million tons of supplies to the city. But it was Halvorsen's decision to airdrop candy to children (Operation Little Vittles) that clinched an ideological battle and earned him the lasting affection of a free West Berlin. Today, Halvorsen is affectionately known by Berliners and many around the world as the Candy Bomber ("Rosinenbomber"), Uncle Wiggly Wings ("Onkel Wackelflugel") and the Chocolate Pilot. Much of the candy dropped was provided by The Hershey Company. The blockade of Berlin began in June 1948 and ended in May 1949. Flights continued until September 30, 1949 to build up reserves.
Katie Freisen, Senior Director, Global Distribution & Transportation represented The Hersey Company and presented Colonel Halvorsen, the new Honored Veterans Drivers and those in attendance with Hershey candy bars. Hershey was a significant contributor of candy airdropped by the Candy Bomber.
About Colonel Halvorsen
Gail Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 10, 1920 and grew up on small farms in Utah and Idaho. He earned a private pilot license under the non-college Civilian Pilot Training Program in September 1941. Almost concurrently Halvorsen joined the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in June 1942. Halvorsen's fighter pilot training was with the Royal Air Force after which he was returned to the Army Air Corps and was assigned flight duty in foreign transport operations in the South Atlantic Theater. Visit http://wigglywings.weebly.com
About C.R. England
Founded in 1920, C.R. England, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah and is one of North America's largest refrigerated transportation companies. C.R. England services include National, Mexico and Regional Truckload service in addition to Dedicated and Intermodal services. Visit www.crengland.com.
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SOURCE C.R. England, Inc.
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