A wake-up call from Luke AFB, Arizona: A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. JK Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit. The complaint: “Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns’ early-bird special? Any response would be appreciated.” The response: Regarding “A wake-up call from Luke’s jets” (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer’s recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I’m sure you didn’t hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son s flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, “Whom do we thank for the morning air show?” The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives. Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke Air Force Base, Arizona Gumiflex
That letter and Lt Col Pleus’ reply were letters to the editor in an Arizona newspaper last year. The original letter writer wrote back the next day apologizing profusely for his too hasty a letter, stating that he was unaware of the reason and significance of the early morning “air show” and further stating that he wholeheartedly approves of the salute. Human beings do make mistakes now and then and this man’s mistake just happened to get a lot of publicity.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Interesting. I have a ton of respect for the military,and don’t honor on Memmorial Day as much as I should (4 family members currently serving, around 20 with prior service-most deceased). I wish there were more positive public acknowledgement of incidents like this. I have personally witnessed a slew of people wearing hats at the local ceremonies,and it bugs the [censored] out of me! Sorry, that was my two cents on the issue.
Allen
Seems like the original letter writer should have been reminded of a quote by Abe Lincoln before he decided to trash his local military:
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
I guess he removed all doubt.
For those that have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know! For those who have died for freedom, it is our duty to remember and honor them especially in the face of the ignorance of others.
People are too “sissified”. Jets flew over his house and woke him up. WAH! and it was ten after 9 anyway, what’s that lout still doing in bed?
One would have thought the correct course of action for the original letter writer would have been to publish a public apology in that same newspaper apologising for the ill-timed remarks.
It would seem that he or she was not aware of the circumstances concerning the timing and location of the fly-by, and it’s inconceivable that the letter would ever have been written if the writer knew the reason why the formation flew on that morning.
It was, indeed, the most honorable of formations.
My prayers and toughts go out to the family of Capt. Fresques, and to all who currently serve in theatre.
My first response would be to think that this “lout” is the kind of person who builds a new home off the end of a runway, next to some railroad tracks, then complains about the noise and wants the airport and railroad to move their operations.
BUT, reading Darwin’s post about the fellow apologizing profusely, yes, we do make mistakes, and hasty judgements sometimes. When I was a teenager, I was at a LHS, and a fellow was staring at me slack-jawed, and I made a nasty, sarcastic remark. Well, at the time I wasn’t paying attention, that fellow had Down’s Syndrome, his father reprimanded me, and I felt like dog poop smeared on the sidewalk.
Now I have a multi-handicapped son, and am usually pretty patient and give people the benefit of the doubt when they make mistakes like that.
“But for the grace of God, there go I…”
I don’t know if it’s me or not but I love the sound of Jet Noise to me it’s the Sound of Freedom!!, and to be wakened by that noise just makes my day!!! That’s why I’m still serving in the Armed Forces (USAF Reserves to be exact { with a tour in Afghanistan & Iraq ). It makes one proud to hear that sound and to top it off be “Honored” to see a 4 ship to missing man formation would be the most one could do to Honor the fallen, because most of the time when you see a 4 ship formation flying around town and there is no advertisement of a local airshow then it means a military furneral is going on. How soon we forget about our fellow citizens that are in the military are fighting for freedom overseas in places like Afghanistan & Iraq
MA i have a kid the same as yours[:)]
when i was a kid in the early 60’s we would be shocked once a day sometimes twice with sonic booms from the jets
no one complained
You know, I take exception to this “people make mistakes” and “people are not perfect”. I have had my foot in my mouth plenty of times and on more than one occasion have received someone’s fist to accompany my foot, amazing they both fit!
This guy is complaining about noise…when was the last time any one experienced absolute silence?
He never considered anything beyond himself…shameful!
I had a similar experience…I was working in an office of a consumer lender, had big plate glass windows. Low and behold this gentlemen walks across the parking lot towards our office. He was older, bedraggled hair, grungy overalls and did not look real “nice”. One of my coworkers started in with some comments, thinking himself to be a real crack up…well this gentlemen turns out to be related to someone in the office, father to be precise…my father. Dad was working splitting wood after pulling a 24 hour shift at the hospital, hell anyone would look rough…
I tried to be a good person and allow for a “mistake”, but couldn’t…
Eh, this is what happenes when people don’t consider reasons and just complain. For two years in a row when the Thunderbirds came to Atlantic City, people complained about the noise from their practice runs! Me, on the other hand, videotaped it and enjoyed it. Jet noise and beaches go together well.
As the son of a veteran, a veteran myself, the brother of two veterans and the father of two veterans, having a total of 45 years of uniformed service, I can only say, “This country allows you to utter uncaring, unfeeling remarks like this, whether or not ignorant of the reason for the noisy fly-over.”
God bless America,
Grandpa Tom
I realize that you have no way of knowing (or maybe remebering) but this was posted before.
Steve
A few thoughts from across the pond.
Although I appreciate the reasons for the salute; I wonder how much forewarning was given. Anyone who has been to an airshow knows how much noise one jet aircraft making a low pass can make. Four making a, possibly, unannounced pass over a mall, at such a low altitude, must have been quite a shock.
Things are probably different over there regarding low over flights of civilian areas and I don’t know the previous history of this airbase covering noise problems but, to me at least, the initial response is understandable. It should be noted the writer did apologise.
Hello!
I am a “Tanker” , and I work at a Training Area , in Canda .We have had complaints about Aircraft , and Helos, flying too low , as well as artillery , and tanks , that go " Boom " , in the night .It upsets their kids , or what ever.These people asked us to stop operations , in the training area.( Imagine that) .We did not .Canadian soldiers / airmen, just like American soldiers / airmen , train to be the" Best " ( and yes the navy , the Unsung Heroes) , and we are , to keep us Free. So if I lived near an airbase , and I heard a F-16 /CF-18 , flying over a my home at 0300 hrs , it is comforting , just knowing " That there is someone out there " .
Frank
" PERSEVERANCE "
Here-Here, good answer Strath, what ticks my clock is that there are people who buy a house near an airport or a raceway that has been there since before 1930’s and they complain about it after they move in, my question is why on earth would a person want to live by those places that have lots of noise 24-7 in the first place, if they wanted to live in a quiet area then move to the sticks (in the woods for those who haven’t heard that fraise) and commute to work then live next door to it, those places where there way before most of those who complain where even born and what ever happened to common since? I think they are the ones who complain just to hear their lips a flappin’
He ought to be thankful the jets that woke him up had star and bars on the wing. Any other aircraft might have been doing a little more than making noise as they flew over, like dropping bombs on his head. And like others here have said, if he doesn’t like the noise, MOVE.
How many of the people who have replied with disparaging remarks about the original letter writer have actually read his letter? He states that he was at a mall not in bed. The guy made a mistake and apologised profusely.
Does anyone know what sort of announcements were made in advance of this show of respect? If none then his initial reaction would be understandable.
Can you honestly say that the unannounced arrival of four powerful jets flying at very low altitude over a built-up area would not shock you?
I often hear of Americans proclaiming their christian faith. Perhaps now would be a good time for a bit of christian forgivness.
Also let us remember the words of the Christ: Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Many years ago I was at a meeting where the A-10 flyovers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire was being discussed. Many people complained about the low flying airplanes. Discussions ended when one resident spoke up and said something like this “When I look up and see them I know they are ours and I am safe.”