Did you know the United States had expeditions to Antarctica? It was on one of these expeditions in 1956 that the young Robert Barger III arrived on the icy continent.
When Barger was 17, he was chosen to take part in a mission. The mission was to make a base in the South Pole in Antarctica! He was one of 80 people selected to go. He would be responsible for taking pictures and recording videos. Barger was chosen because he was in the Civil Air Patrol and comfortable in cold weather. The Civil Air Patrol is a partner of the US Air Force. It helps with search and rescue missions.
Barger arrived in Antarctica on October 25th, 1956. He stayed and helped until early 1957. While he was there, he tested a new Navy swimming suit in freezing water. He also helped fly in supplies for the new South Pole base. When he went home, he brought back a piece of history. He gave President Dwight D. Eisenhower a horseshoe that he found at the South Pole. The horseshoe belonged to Robert Scott. He was a British explorer from 1910!
In 2021, the Air Force found out that Barger was eligible for a medal for his service in Antarctica. They awarded him the Antarctic Service Medal. The medal is given to people who spend at least 15 days in Antarctica while serving in operations there. You don’t need to be in the military to earn the medal. You just need to be helping the United States!
What Do You Think? Could you dedicate yourself to a mission like Robert Barger did?
Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (USDOD)
