Man at podium speaking.
On Saturday, May 18, W
ilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences
,
Departments of History
,
Languages
,
Peace Studies
and
Communication Studies
and the Center for Global Education hosted a breakfast with Chapman University honorary doctorate recipient, Colonel Gail Halvorsen.  In attendance were 2013 Harmon Wilkinson Award recipient Kathy McCarrell, Consul General Bernd Fischer, Chapman University Trustee David C. Henley, German socialite Prince Frederic von Anhalt, Isaac Burks (Arts & Culture Deputy for Tom LaBonge Council member, 4th District), and members of the Wilkinson College Dean’s Executive Council, and International Advisory Council.

Colonel Gail Halvorsen is a retired career officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force.  During the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, he became known as the “Candy Bomber” because he repeatedly dropped candy attached to parachutes to German children from his aircraft on approach to the runways.  Halvorsen had wanted to help raise the morale of the children during the time of uncertainty and privation.  Halvorsen’s actions as the original candy bomber had a substantial impact on the postwar perception of Americans in Germany and are still pointed to as a symbol of German-American relations.  Due to these major contributions, an honorary doctorate was conferred to Colonel Halvorsen at Wilkinson College’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

View more photos from the breakfast!