‘Operation Christmas Drop’ Delivers Gifts, Goodwill in Guam
The Air Force tradition started more than 70 years ago and is considered the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian and disaster relief training mission.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Zach “Badger” Overbey, Operation Christmas Drop 2023 mission commander and pilot, holds up a peace sign on the ramp of a 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules after airdropping humanitarian aid for the islanders of Koror. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
Operation Christmas Drop is an annual humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training mission led by the U.S. Air Force in the South-Eastern Pacific.
This year's mission delivered over 200 bundles of essential goods, including food, tools, toys, and clothing, to more than 55 remote islands from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
The initiative involves partner nations like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, emphasizing international cooperation and shared values.
Dating back over 70 years, it is the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian aid mission, utilizing low-cost, low-altitude air drops.
Christmas came early this week in the South-Eastern Pacific as the U.S. Air Force resumed its annual humanitarian assistance training mission delivering donations to remote islands in Guam.
The weeklong event officially began Monday with a push ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
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