Luke AFB disturbs shopper at Arrow Head Mall, VANITY -Not mine

e-mail to me | August 8, 2007 | Unknown

[CHEE]

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.

A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. 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 AFB

[Dov in Houston]

Classified however the reason for the Alerts is to make sure we have enough weapons in the air to defend the country. Those Alerts were year round and you can bet your money that we were not going to defend the country with empty bombays.

Our on base housing was about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the end of the runway. So when they took off it was climb as rapidly as possible and slam the Jato to it and we definitely felt it when they took off on our end. And once you got used to it you slept right through it. Funny how the body adjusts. Sleep right through a dozen B-52’s yet when the phone rang at 3 A.M. to warn of a problem or a mission and it knocked you out of bed.

We still have the B-52’s retired the 47’s and are leaning more toward the Fighter/Missile Technology every day.

Those were the days.

[GreatWest]

I agree with many here concerning those who don’t think before making mistaken and knee jerk statements such as the one this guy made. I also agree with others to give him credit for coming forward and admitting his mistake. Many liberals wouldn’t do 1/10th as much because they don’t understand what honor, respect, and self sacrifice are. I was raised in a military family and have many fond memories of SR-71’s, KC-135’s, some MAC and TAC aircraft taking off from Beale AFB in Northern California (at the time a SAC base). My father was a boom operator on 135’s. I was born at Beale. I spent 4 years stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas many years later. The sound of those jets never bothered me because I was raised to know what that sound means – my freedom and to remember those who flew and paid the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom. I live far away from any military bases now, and I miss the sounds of freedom, but still remember and give thanks to those who have provided that freedom to me.