Letter to the editor of the Arizona Central

Arizona Central | 28 June 2005 | Tom MacRae, Peoria

[ChuckHam]

The following is a letter to the editor of the Arizona Central by an obviously self-absorbed idiot, followed by a reasoned response a few days later. This was published in the Arizona Central.

A wake-up call from Luke's jets

Jun. 23, 2005 12:00 AM

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. - Tom MacRae, Peoria

Flyby honored fallen comrade

Jun. 28, 2005 12:00 AM

Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets"

On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship 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

Luke Air Force Base

The writer is commander of the 63rd Fighter Squadron.

[ChuckHam]

Thank you for setting the record straight, Col. Pleus. RIP Capt. Fresques.

[SmithL]

I suspect Tom MacRae was being less than truthful about any response being appreciated.

[jdm]

Nice. Tore that bastard down pretty easily.

[359Henrie]

Saw this awhile back. At least this Mutt apologized.

[PAR35]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1445578/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1441214/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1438755/posts

[ChuckHam]

Dang, I knew I should have searched for this one. Mod, delete if you feel like it.

[linear]

The writer was a Navy Vet - he was obviously chagrined when he found out what he did, and later he publicly apologized.

Time to give this one a rest.

[PAR35]

I think they all had different titles, so I withheld the usual obligatory sarcastic comments. But if you get less discussion than you anticipated, that may be why.

[A.A. Cunningham]

I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute

Of course he didn't because there wasn't one. Pleus needs an education: 21-gun salute

[Daaave]

To his credit, the complainant, Mr. MacRae, tendered a written apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July:

Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28):

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).

I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.

I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.

This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.

I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.

I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Tom MacRae, Peoria

Being a Vietnam veteran is not a free pass to forgiveness for the mistakes they make. I specifically mean this person and Sen. John Forbes Kerry, and no others.

snopes.com/

[Daaave]

Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, of Clarkdale, Ariz., is seen in this undated photo provided by his family. Fresques was one of four Americans killed Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2005, in a plane crash in northern Iraq. An Iraqi single-engine plane crashed near Jalula, about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad, killing the four Americans and the Iraqi pilot, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Fred Wellman said Monday.