'Bomber' is about more than candy

Sixty years ago, Americans waited in anticipation for the peace they craved or worried about another long European conflict.

They watched Berlin as the Russians blockaded the city's western section of the city and the Allies pulled together an initially sloppy, makeshift airlift to provide residents with basic necessities.

There were politics, egos and human lives to consider, and it was a complex and conflicted time for those struggling to navigate the postwar world.

In his book, "The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour," Andrei Cherny pulls together facts and individuals into a beautifully written, compelling story of hope, gratitude, loyalty and accomplishment.

Cherny said that writing such a detailed, layered account required four years of research in libraries and with individuals, but that he believes the story is appropriate for today.

"The issues we were dealing with then — how to occupy a country and have it turn out well, how to win friends around the world — were relevant to today," he said. "And the more I looked into it, I realized there were some fascinating characters with interesting twists and turns that would make an interesting story to tell."

These characters, including President Harry Truman, Gen. Lucius Clay and Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, are depicted realistically. Cherny documents their successes and failures, gifts and faults. He said that this should not take away from them but serve as a testament to their accomplishments.

"Truman and his generals were incredibly imperfect people," Cherny said. "I wanted to show them as they were, which doesn't make what they did less inspiring. It makes it more inspiring. Here were people in the midst of terrible circumstances who were able to avoid World War III and change the course of history."

Of all the dramatic, tense moments and bold leaders in the story, for Cherny, the most moving part was the experiences of Berlin's children.

"The parts that get me the most are the parts I didn't even write, were the letters of the children," he said. "Reading those was really a highlight for me."

Cherny said that the story of the Berlin Airlift and those involved teaches of the power of America's image as a source of inspiration and courage, but also the ability of individuals to make change.

"The book is about human kindness," he said. "Someone like (Utahn) Gail Halvorsen who, without thinking about it, did acts of kindness that sent ripples through history and changed the world we live in fundamentally. It's a good reminder to all of us that the small things we do can have huge ramifications."