Gen. LeMay: "We must have a bad phone connection. It sounds like you are asking whether we have planes for carrying coal."Gen. Clay: "Yes, that's what I said. Coal."Gen. LeMay (after a long pause): "The Air Force can deliver anything." (pg 252)For three years following the end of WWII, Germany was an occupied country and lived at the mercy of its occupiers. But when the Soviets began overthrowing Eastern European countries and making attempts to push the Americans, British, and French out of Berlin, the situation grew tense. And when they closed the supply roads leading into Berlin (which was over 100 miles inside the Soviet partition of Germany), everyone thought it was only a matter of time until the Soviets gained complete control. It was also widely feared that the world was on the cusp of WWIII and that atomic weapons would be used again. But an amazing thing happened that summer of 1948. The American commander, General Lucius D. Clay, asked for the city to be supplied by air. It was a ridiculous suggestion that 2.25 million people could be supplied by air, but he thought if they could send a message that America would not be pushed around it might at least buy them some time. But as the Soviet blockade dragged on, the Berlin Airlift kept going. Initially it was a haphazard "cowboy" operation with little organization and failing to deliver anywhere near the needed amount of food and supplies, but under Maj Gen William Tunner's command the airlift became streamlined and efficient.Cherny explains that many Germans were willing to capitulate to the Soviets in the face of starvation, but the change in attitude for both Germans and Americans came when one of the pilots, Gail Halvorsen, began dropping candy attached to handkerchief parachutes to the children gathered at the end of the runway – which was against the rules. But as news of the candy drops spread among the children and other pilots it eventually became sanctioned by Gen. Tunner, and "Operation Little Vittles" became a widespread campaign to win the hearts of Berlin.As Cherny tells this inspirational story foremost among the many heroes are Clay and Halvorsen. Even though the Blockade extended throughout a brutally cold and foggy winter, the Airlift showed the determination of the Americans to keep Berlin and Germany from falling in the face of Communist intimidation and violence. And he shows that even though the suffering was intense that winter, it was their trials during this stand for freedom that changed both German and American hearts. This is a very uplifting and inspirational story of when America built a tremendous amount of goodwill around the world.