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**hacker15** · 09-27-2006, 03:05 PM

A Wake-Up Call From Luke AFB in Arizona

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 Air Force Base, Arizona

kayl · 09-27-2006, 03:08 PM

I hope the citizen that wrote in felt like the biggest arse in the world...

propellerhead · 09-27-2006, 03:27 PM

Nice!!!

**PackerfanXD** · 09-27-2006, 03:50 PM

I bet that guy felt like a tool.

I'm doing some side work at Luke this week. The place is amazing, although a little lax on security IMO (I accidentily brought my XD40sc on base with me

). As long as they keep those F-16's from crashing (which happens a little too often), I don't care if they fly through the mall...

**Kauzi XD45** · 09-27-2006, 04:18 PM

I Hope the guy that complained thinks a little next time, maybe the fact that he can choose when to get up, or write a letter complaining about a military flyby, is given to him by the same guys he is complaining about! Is his life really so busy and important that 20 seconds of noise is a huge burden! +1 to the responding officer, I hope the guy felt lower than whale ****!

The Knight Of Light · 09-27-2006, 05:34 PM

Huah!! Air Force!!

chupacabrachus · 09-27-2006, 05:37 PM

What a cry-baby.

**VaGunNut** · 09-27-2006, 05:39 PM

I am retired from NASA's Langley Research Center now but when I worked there often while having a conversation we would be interrupted by jet noise from Langley AFB on the co-located base.

Whenever folks would complain about the interruption I would just say listen to "The Sound of Freedom!"

CavSoldier · 09-27-2006, 05:58 PM

Thats pretty bad. But not as bad as those protesters with the signs saying "Thank God for dead soldiers" standing at the funerals for servicemembers. A couple weeks ago my troop lost a man a really nice guy that was very religious and "they" showed up. It was a true shame.

coastemac · 09-27-2006, 06:02 PM

Great post... thanks for posting it. Its a great way of reminding us ALL that there are a whole lot of men and women that we can thank.

09-27-2006, 03:05 PM	#1
hacker15 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 3,480	Luke AFB - Interesting! A Wake-Up Call From Luke AFB in Arizona 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 Air Force Base, Arizona __________________ If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. Mark Twain

09-27-2006, 03:08 PM	#2
kayl XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: WI Posts: 1,252	I hope the citizen that wrote in felt like the biggest arse in the world... __________________ Have you talked to your XD today?

09-27-2006, 03:27 PM	#3
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,517	Nice!!! __________________ XD-9 Tactical for IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three calibers, three models, three purposes. No compromises.

09-27-2006, 03:50 PM	#4
PackerfanXD XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ground zero of the invasion Posts: 7,060 Blog Entries: 1	I bet that guy felt like a tool. I'm doing some side work at Luke this week. The place is amazing, although a little lax on security IMO (I accidentily brought my XD40sc on base with me ). As long as they keep those F-16's from crashing (which happens a little too often), I don't care if they fly through the mall... __________________ The wealthiest nation in the world with the mightiest army man has ever assembled could not stop them. http://www.break.com/usercontent/200...00-358890.html PALIN/McCAIN '08 An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject. -Author unknown.

09-27-2006, 04:18 PM	#5
Kauzi XD45 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Wonderful Wild West - Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 2,141 Blog Entries: 1	I Hope the guy that complained thinks a little next time, maybe the fact that he can choose when to get up, or write a letter complaining about a military flyby, is given to him by the same guys he is complaining about! Is his life really so busy and important that 20 seconds of noise is a huge burden! +1 to the responding officer, I hope the guy felt lower than whale **! __________________ Respect Few, Fear NONE! Sic Vis Pacem Parabellum! People understand compassion, mercy, dignity and honor.... Predators understand STRENGTH!**

09-27-2006, 05:34 PM	#6
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,840 Blog Entries: 12	Huah!! Air Force!! __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

09-27-2006, 05:37 PM	#7
chupacabrachus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,398	What a cry-baby.

09-27-2006, 05:39 PM	#8
VaGunNut XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yorktown, Virginia Posts: 503	Sound of Freedom I am retired from NASA's Langley Research Center now but when I worked there often while having a conversation we would be interrupted by jet noise from Langley AFB on the co-located base. Whenever folks would complain about the interruption I would just say listen to "The Sound of Freedom!" __________________ Osama - Obama - The agenda of either would destroy America! If your shooting from the hip, beware the other guy hasn't already taken aim at you!

09-27-2006, 05:58 PM	#9
CavSoldier XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 95	Thats pretty bad. But not as bad as those protesters with the signs saying "Thank God for dead soldiers" standing at the funerals for servicemembers. A couple weeks ago my troop lost a man a really nice guy that was very religious and "they" showed up. It was a true shame. __________________ Higher, this is Lower: We're combat inneffective here, over.

09-27-2006, 06:02 PM	#10
coastemac XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami Area, Florida Posts: 1,194	Great post... thanks for posting it. Its a great way of reminding us ALL that there are a whole lot of men and women that we can thank. __________________ coastemac U.S. Coast Guard Gunnersmate XD Service Dark Earth .45 ACP (new) XD Sub-Compact Bi-Tone .40 cal Savage Model 10 FP (6X-18X 42mm) Marlin Model 336RC 30-30 Marlin Model 17VS .17 HMR Taurus PT-908 9mm Ruger 22/45 .22lr (and a few others...)

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