Senior Airman Joseph Doria and Capt. Stanley Kimball watch after pushing a box of humanitarian assistance goods out of a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, call sign "Santa 23" to its drop-zone in Yap Islands during Operation Christmas Drop, Dec. 14, 2010. This year more than 60 boxes will be dropped to 55 Island weighing in at more than 20,000 pounds.Airman Doria is a 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Captain Kimball is the 36th Airlift Squadron flight surgeon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
Airmen from the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, watch as the parachute deploys and a box of humanitarian goods travels to the Yap Islands below during Operation Christmas Drop, Dec. 14, 2010. Operation Christmas Drop is the Air Force's longest-running humanitarian which began in 1952. What started as a WB-50 aircrew returning to Guam on its final flight before Christmas has turned into the longest running humanitarian campaign in the history of the U.S. Air Force and the entire world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
Airmen from the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, load boxes of donated goods worth more than $93,000 onto a C-130 Hercules prior to take-off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during Operation Christmas Drop Dec. 14, 2010. This year more than 60 boxes will be dropped to 55 Island weighing in at more than 20,000 pounds. Operation Christmas Drop is the Air Force's longest-running humanitarian campaign which began in 1952. Airmen today continue the tradition delivering supplies to remote islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Yap, Palau, Chuuk and Pohnpei. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
by 2nd Lt. Christopher Love
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
12/17/2010 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Airmen stationed in Japan and Guam are experiencing the joy of giving on an epic scale this holiday season.
This year marks the 23rd year Airmen from Yokota AFB are participating in Operation Christmas Drop, an annual humanitarian mission hosted in conjunction with volunteers and personnel from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam.
At 59 consecutive years, Operation Christmas Drop ranks as the Air Force's longest-running airdrop mission.
As the name implies, the mission involves dropping a "gift" -- a crate full of food, clothing, tools, toys and other items essential for everyday living -- to Micronesian islands, in the spirit of goodwill and holiday cheer.
"We, in the C-130 (Hercules), community enjoy a great deal of versatility, whether it's in combat or humanitarian relief," said Col. Otto Feather, the 374th Airlift Wing commander. "This opportunity not only allows us to share our blessings with the rest of the community here in the islands, but it also allows us to train with three different wings."
That cooperative training is invaluable when it comes to preparing to respond to a call for assistance.
"Every aspect of our Air Force has come together to make this mission a success," the colonel said. "When it comes together, it's like an orchestra that just sounds great."
Yet the success of Operation Christmas Drop depends on Air Force personnel and on the time and generosity of numerous charitable organizations, including some from Japan.
"The fact that we're down here at Guam, so many miles away from Japan, and knowing that our neighbors from Tachikawa came together to put together money for chutes and supplies to be able to deliver to these islands, is really huge, " Colonel Feather said. "We enjoy a very good relationship with our Japanese partners."
Colonel Mark Hering, the 374th Operations Group commander, participated in Operation Christmas Drop in December of 2009.
"I can say that in my 20 years of flying the C-130, it was one of the most moving missions, just hearing the voices on the other side of that radio and the excitement from all the islanders, hearing that a C-130 and a bundle from the sky were coming inbound."
