Operation Christmas Drop

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Visiting aircrews and some of Andersen's Airmen pulled together December 14 - 18 to initiate Operation Christmas Drop from the airfield here. 

This operation is possible because of the Air Force's unique capability to deliver palletized war fighting supplies from the air to any place on the globe. 

In a nutshell, this holiday aerial delivery operation is comprised of Andersen's Airmen and families donating various supplies, gifts and other festive items at selected points around the base. Then, volunteers help palletize the items and the pallets are loaded on 374th Air Wing C-130 Hercules' visiting Andersen from Yokota Air Base, Japan. The aircraft transport the pallets to various islands in the Western Pacific and deliver them by parachute from the rear cargo area of the C-130. 

Senior Airman Joshua Coda, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130 loadmaster, said the particular mission he flew December 14 was an obvious success. 

"All eight bundles made it to the villages," he said. "That speaks for itself." 

Airman Coda helped his Hercules deliver its holiday cargo to the islands of Ta'u, a small island at the eastern end of the Samoa archipelago, Satawan Atoll, which is part of the Mortlock Island in the Caroline Island chain, and Kutu, a southeast islet of the Satawan Atoll. 

"I'm honored to be a part of it," Airman Coda said of his Operation Christmas Drop experience. "It's an exciting mission and we learn a lot by being here." 

The impact of Operation Christmas Drop was touted by Anderson's leadership in the flying community. 

"There's a tradition of Airmen giving back to whatever community they're a part of and I'm very pleased we're continuing that proud legacy here," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "The C-130 aircrews that visited us and our permanent as well as deployed Airmen made this happen. I applaud all their efforts for making Operation Christmas Drop a success." 

The aircraft and aircrews based at Yokota Air Base, Japan, dropped a total of 18.5 tons of holiday cargo during their stay at Andersen. 

The visiting C-130s demonstrated America's commitment to the region and, once again, allowed Airmen to project their global reach capability from U.S. soil in the Western Pacific.