Compassion Published Dec. 19, 2008 By Lt. Col. Michael Grubbs 30th Space Wing chaplain VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Our Air Force leadership has declared this year to be "The Year of Leadership." In December the leadership theme is Compassion. It may appear strange to some that an organization with extreme military might would focus on compassion, but great acts of compassion surround us. Leaders without compassion are bullies. Compassion is a combination of empathy with the distress of others and a desire to alleviate their suffering. Throughout history military men and woman have demonstrated their understanding of compassion. After World War II, the Soviet Union blocked the Western powers' access to the rails and streets leading to Berlin. In response, the Western Allies formed the Berlin Airlift to supply the city with rations. Airlift pilot Lt. Gail Halvorsen was so struck by the plight of Berline's children that he devised a plan to spread a little cheer. He bought all the candy available at this base. Next he created miniature parachutes out of strips of cloth and attached the candy to the parachutes. The candy was then airdropped to the children of Berlin. The American Confectioners Association heard about the effort and sent tons of candy and gum to assist. Twenty-two schools in Chicopee-Massachusetts made parachutes, tied on candy or gum and sent the finished product to Germany for the children of Berlin. Chaplain Russell L. Blaisdell and other servicemen and women helped sheltered hundreds of children orphaned in war-torn Korea. In December 1950, Chinese troops were about to capture Seoul. Chaplain Blaisdell refused to leave those children behind. Chaplain Blaisdell organized the evacuation of over 950 orphans in what became known as Operation Kiddy Car Airlift. Within hours of Hurricane Katrina's landfall members of my prior unit patrolled the skies of the Gulf coast looking for stranded civilians. Literally hundreds were pluck from the rising waters and taken to safety. Two years ago I was attending some training at Air University and was asked to dinner by a former coworker attending another course. During dinner he relayed how one of Vandenberg's chaplain assistants had rushed to the aid of injured friend forces on several occasions to provide first aid while the camp was still under attack. A few months, later another chaplain assistant sent pictures of his deployed unit helping the local children. The pictures showed dozens of Airmen gathered at the chapel after 12 hour shifts to stuff backpacks with school supplies for the kids. There are so many stories of compassion that this newspaper can not print them all. I hope that each person will take time during the Holy Days of December to search for someone who is stricken by misfortune and act to alleviate their suffering. Compassion is part of our proud heritage and tradition of honor. Compassion is vital to continuing our legacy of valor. True leadership demands compassion.