Vice President JD Vance pours beer for a service member during a visit to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 24, 2025. Vance chatted and served beers to dozens of service members during a refueling stop at the installation. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Vice President JD Vance toasted U.S. service members with a beer stein in hand during a visit Thursday to this major military transportation hub.
Accompanied by his wife and children, Vance served beers to service members to show his appreciation during a brief refueling layover at the installation, part of his return from a weeklong trip to Italy and India that began late last week.
The family also toured a C-130 and spent time speaking with several dozen airmen, soldiers and Space Force guardians while at the installation.
The hangar hosting the event buzzed with excitement as music played and service members chatted while eagerly awaiting Vance’s arrival. Hot dogs, fresh popcorn and a variety of cold drinks added to the festive mood.
Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe — Air Forces Africa, greeted the Vance family on the flight line upon their arrival.
When the vice president stepped into view, service members welcomed him with cheers and prepoured beers in hand, courtesy of the USO.
Vice President JD Vance pours beer for a service member during a visit to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 24, 2025. Vance served beers during a refueling stop to show his appreciation to service members. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Vice President JD Vance speaks with a U.S. service member during a visit to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 24, 2025. Vance raised a toast to service members and then offered them beer. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
A U.S. service member records a video of Vice President JD Vance at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 24, 2025. Vance’s plane made a refueling stop at the installation. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Brig. Gen. Adrienne Williams, the 86th Airlift Wing commander, welcomed the vice president with a commemorative beer stein bearing the wing’s insignia.
Vance used the stein to offer a toast in honor of the troops.
“To the airmen of this base and all of our troops serving overseas, God bless you guys,” he said.
“We know that military service, especially at the level you guys do it, is an incredible sacrifice,” he said. “We’re grateful to you guys. We’re thankful for what you do, and as a small token of appreciation, I’m going to serve you some beers.”
He then manned a nearby beer tap, topping off drinks and spending the better part of an hour chatting with service members, thanking them personally and posing for photos.
“I was one of the first in line,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Killebrew, a cyber technician with USAFE-AFAFRICA’s directorate of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
“He’s been in our shoes before, so he understands what it means to sacrifice for your country. This was a really exciting experience for me and my troops to meet someone so high up in our chain of command.”
