Operation Christmas Drop Brings Holiday Cheer to Island Residents

Pearl Harbor, HI- The holidays are always a time for the U.S. Armed Forces to give back to their communities, and the 2022 holiday season was no different. Beginning on December 4, 2022, Airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan; the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; and the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii partnered with Airmen from allied countries in the Pacific to execute the 71st humanitarian assistance mission known as Operation Christmas Drop. This weeklong mission saw the participating Airmen dropping donated supplies to approximately 20,000 people in need throughout the islands of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. These items included things like food, books, and clothes for the islands’ residents.

While Operation Christmas Drop was a humanitarian mission itself, it also allowed Airmen to practice for airdropping humanitarian aid to those in need after natural disasters or during conflicts that may occur in the future. The 56 remote islands that encompass the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau cover a significant area, which allowed the Airmen to practice combat readiness in aircraft generation and recovery while also providing the citizens of the islands a bit of Christmas cheer. Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing Commander reported on the 2022 mission: “Operation Christmas Drop continues to be an important annual tradition meant to deliver valuable humanitarian assistance to those in need, and we are excited to launch and execute OCD 22 as part of a joint effort with our allies and partners in the region.”

Because of their dedicated service to bringing Christmas cheer to the citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau, Salute recognizes the Airmen of the 374th Airlift Wing, the 36th Wing, and the 15th Wing as the Unit(s) of the Quarter for the Spring of 2023. If you know of a unit doing great things, please email us at editor@familymedia.com.