Friday, July 27, 2007

THEY Get Letters

From: Campbell Col Michael F Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 4:58 PM
To: CBIRF_Officers; CBIRF_SNCOs
Subject: FW: Luke AFB wake up call
Importance: Low

A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ

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

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