Team Andersen Airmen and audience members render a salute as Taps is played, in honor of the lives of 33 men and women that were lost during Operation Linebacker ll, at a memorial ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 17. The ceremony commemorates the 38th anniversary of the campaign that led to the end of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Team Andersen Airmen and audience members render a salute as Taps is played, in honor of the lives of 33 men and women that were lost during Operation Linebacker ll, at a memorial ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 17. The ceremony commemorates the 38th anniversary of the campaign that led to the end of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Brig. Gen. John Doucette, 36th Wing commander, and retired Lt. Col. Charles "Chuck" McManus, formerly a Strategic Air Command master navigator, lay a wreath during an Operation Linebacker ll memorial ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 17. The Arc Light Memorial Park on the base stands as a memorial to the men and women of the Strategic Air Command who worked, flew, and died during the ARC LIGHT operations of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Brig. Gen. John Doucette, 36th Wing commander, and retired Lt. Col. Charles "Chuck" McManus, formerly a Strategic Air Command master navigator, lay a wreath during an Operation Linebacker ll memorial ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 17. The Arc Light Memorial Park on the base stands as a memorial to the men and women of the Strategic Air Command who worked, flew, and died during the ARC LIGHT operations of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Brig. Gen. John Doucette (right center), 36th Wing commander, and retired Lt. Col. Charles "Chuck" McManus (far right), formerly a Strategic Air Command master navigator, render a salute during the National Anthem at the Linebacker ll memorial ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Dec. 17. Operation Linebacker II got underway when, on Dec. 18, 1972, 87 B-52s were launched from Andersen in one hour and 43 minutes. Throughout the 11-day operation, Andersen-based B-52s flew 379 of the 729 sorties. Often called "the 11-day war," Linebacker II led to the renewal of the Paris Peace Talks and, on Jan. 28, 1973, the signing of a cease-fire agreement with the government of North Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Brig. Gen. John Doucette, 36th Wing commander, speaks during an Operation Linebacker II memorial ceremony at Arc Light Memorial Park, Dec. 17, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Operation Linebacker II went underway when, on Dec. 18, 1972, 87 B-52s were launched from Andersen in one hour and 43 minutes. Throughout the 11-day operation, Andersen-based B-52s flew 379 of the 729 sorties. Often called "the 11-day war," Linebacker II led to the renewal of the Paris Peace Talks and, on January 28, 1973, the signing of a cease-fire agreement with the government of North Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) Aircrew members from the 36th Expeditionary Refueling Squadron, representing Airmen that lost their lives during Operation Linebacker ll, stand in formation during the memorial ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 17. Operation Linebacker II was conducted from Dec. 18, 1972, to Dec. 29, 1972, after peace talks between the U.S. and North Vietnam broke down. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell) REMEMBERING LINEBACKER II: It's about the heroes, not the missions by Airman Whitney Tucker 36th Wing Public Affairs 12/19/2010 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -  -- A ceremony to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of Operation Linebacker II took place at Arc Light Memorial Park here Dec. 17. Often referred to as "the 11-day war," Operation Linebacker II was conducted from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29, 1972, after peace talks between the U.S. and North Vietnam broke down. Linebacker II led to the renewal of the Paris Peace Talks and, on Jan. 28, 1973, the signing of a cease-fire agreement with the government of North Vietnam. "Linebacker II was one of the most successful campaigns in the history of airpower and is often held up as an example of how air wars should be fought," said Lt. Col. Mike Cardoza, 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander. During operations, Andersen Air Force Base was the site of the most massive build-up of air power in history. "The objective was to destroy major target complexes such as radio stations, railroads, power plants and airfields located in the Hanoi and Haiphong regions," Colonel Cardoza said. "More than 15,000 people and 150 B-52s lined the flightline. Eighty-seven B-52s were launched from Andersen in less than two hours. Throughout the 11-day operation, Andersen-based B-52s flew 379 of the 729 sorties." Despite the success of the offensive, 33 B-52 crewmembers were killed or missing in action when the smoke cleared and Operation Linebacker II concluded. "It is important that the Airmen who gave their lives to the pursuit of freedom be celebrated for the magnitude of their accomplishment," said Brig. Gen. John Doucette, 36th Wing commander. "It is because of their unyielding commitment to the mission that Andersen Air Force Base has become the premier source of air power in the Pacific Region." The sacrifices made by those lost in Linebacker II paved the way for the current iteration of expeditionary bombers. "This really helps us remember what our profession is all about," Colonel Cardoza said. "By continuing this warrior legacy as a part of the continuous bomber presence, we honor their legacy every day. Events like this really help drive that point home for many of us."