Berlin Airlift: 60th Anniversary

60 years ago (minus one day) 'Operation Vittles' was launched from Wiesbaden Airfield to supply broken off Allied troops in Berlin with food, ammuntion and medicine during World War II. Today the Airfield (now Wiesbaden Army Airfield) held the celebration on the 60th Anniversary by opening the gates to the public and having a display of past and present aircraft.


C17, "The Spirit of Rhein-Main"

The Flight line had about a dozen different planes and helicopters both Army and US owned. The hangars housed several WWII jeeps, medical trucks, and personnel dressed in the attire of the day. The days events included several concerts, helicopter rides and re-enactments of the food drop as the choppers dropped bags of candy from above. There were also several veterans that flew during the real Airlift but I couldn't find any of them.


Operation Candy Drop




The C-130

Strasbourg, France

The beautiful Ill river winding through the city of Strasbourg, France.


Seated on the French side of the German-French border along the river Ill Strasbourg is France's 9th largest city and seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.


The Strasbourg Cathedral



This was a last second trip for me this weekend as I read about it and got the last remaining ticket two days before the trip. We started off viewing the 4th tallest church in the world, simply named The Strasbourg Cathedral. Inside the vast church is one of the world's biggest astronomical clock which simply tells of the position of the sun and moon and other astronomical statistics. Exactly at midday (1234) the clock came to life with characters with symbolic meanings. While watching it, it reminded me of a giant Coo-Coo-Clock.


The Astronomical Clock housed in the cathedral

After the clock show we took to the river in a large tourist boat. It was a quick way to see the city but afterwards I realized I could have walked the entire river and got better pictures (which I did later). It was enclosed so all the pictures that I took had a bad reflection on them and thus unusable. The boat ride was relaxing as it came with an audio guide pre-programmed for English speaking tourists. The interesting part came when the level of the river raised and lowered sharply and the only way safely maneuver the boat was to drive in to a lock like the Panama Canal uses. This lock opens in one end to allow the boat to enter. It then proceeds to fill with water (or remove it) to the new level and the front gate opens so the boat drives right out at the new water level.


Once the tour was over I set out on my own to go and look at the places I just saw and recaptured them with the camera. Some of the Cathedrals were two far from the river to even get look at them from the boat so I was glad I walked it instead of being satisfied with the boat trip.

More Pictures from Strasbourg, France

Note: click on the pictures to get a bigger and better view


The Maison Kammerzell: one of the most preserved midieval buildings of Gothic architecture


The rotating bridge opening for the passage of the tour boat


Inside the main hall of the Strasbourg Cathedral


A view of the Strasbourg Cathedral from the plaza


Eglise Saint Pierre le Jeune, the largest dome of the city



The tour boat getting lowered in the gate


St. Paul's Cathedral


This view of the river and flowers is me trying to be artistic


St. Thomas Cathedral: The main Protestant Cathedral in Strasbourg. The organ inside was once played by Mozart


The Rhineland black and white timber framed civil architechture

Settling In (Update 15JUN08)

It's been almost two months since arriving in Germany. I feel like I won't be able to truly settle in here until I get all my stuff, which is predicted to get here in July. The base is about 10 miles from both cities it lies between and I don't have a car yet so any trips into town cost money and with the Dollar to Euro rate being as bad as it is, I don't make too many trips. The majority of my time off is spent at the gym or at the office working towards the next promotion. I have been trying to get my 2 mile time down to thirteen minutes flat, which right now seems unatainable. Come October if I haven't been promoted yet, the army will change things around in which they do promotions. I'm trying to be ahead of that change by doing all these courses at the office, hoping that everyone on the list ahead of me isn't thinking the same way.

Work at the Vet Clinic has taken off great. I was left with some big shoes to fill (as everyone tells me) but being bored out of my mind in Sasebo, I think I am ready for the challenge. I had my own room for the first time on Monday and got through it without a hitch. I have three doctors here (one Army, and two German). The Germans are going through contract issues and work only one day a week (Mon, and Wed). The Army CPT takes over on Tuesday, leaving Thursdays for Army training and Fridays for problematic clients, catching up on work, and whatever we can think of. My direct NCOIC will be leaving in the near future so in case his replacement doesn't show up in time (which happens alot) I have to learn everything he knows about the Wiesbaden Branch (food side and logistics). It'll be alot of hats worn but will look great on my evaluation report. For the most part I get along with everyone here and enjoy working with them. We have all gone out to dinner on a couple occasions. The problem is all but one leaves by December and the CPT leaves in May so I will be more than likely working with a whole new crew for the bulk of my time here.

I just got approved for a loan from the local credit untion for the car I want to buy. Climbing out of debt before getting here was definitly a good thing as I got the lowest rate possible from everywhere that I looked. The papers have been processed and I am waiting for the buyers guide to get to me before it all becomes official. Stay tuned for the post and pictures about my NEW CAR!!