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February 11, 2009
Letter From An Air Force Pilot
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' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by 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 fly by, 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 fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives 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 make the 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.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the Am erican Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.
USAF
Wild Thing's comment.......
What an awesome letter!
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 05:47 AM
Comments
Great Response!!! Our thoughts and prayers to Capt Fresques family and friends. Thank you.
Posted by: James M at February 11, 2009 07:08 AM
We are blest to have C-5 and C-17 aircrews living in our rural neighborhood and the Maryland A-10's fly over our houses too. I waved a South Carolina flag at the A-10's (used to be at Myrtle Beach AFB in 1977 - 1980) and they waved their wings! THE SOUNDS OF FREEDOM and remember guys, "GO UGLY EARLY with the A-10 Thunderbolt Warthogs!"
A-10 Thunderbolts (MB) F-4 Phantom (SP)
C-5 Galaxys (DAFB)
(What a wonderful mission from 1976 - 1997)
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 11, 2009 08:30 AM
Its amazing how complacent Americans can get and how irate they can feel when their staid lives get interrupted by something like a fly by. Then to complain in such a fashion in order to heap ridicule on the Air Force. Pity, these people have no life at all. But pity too, how they take their freedom for granted.
When we lived in Ohio, we lives about two country miles from the 910th Air wing. They were all C-130s those big wonderful slow birds that seem to take forever to make a turn. One Saturday, I was in the house and it sounded like one of those planes had crashed into the house, a moment later there was another. Ran outside and there were F-16's all over the place, in the Air, come to fine out there was a huge Air show at the base the next day on Sunday. They were practicing for the next days air show. It was just awesome.
Posted by: Mark at February 11, 2009 09:21 AM
They guy who wrote the initial letter complaining was a Navy and Vietnam Veteran. He wrote another letter apologizing for what he said.
Posted by: BobF at February 11, 2009 09:32 AM
Love that comeback, thanks. Here's another great AF response from the Tactical Airlift point of view.
Posted by: Jack at February 11, 2009 12:56 PM
His letter of apology speaks volumes. Once in awhile us old veterans get something wrong, and have the courage to own up to it. Of course this is the way we were brought. Unlike the Ilk on the left today, who can't own up to making a mistake like that of Ho-bama.
Posted by: Mark at February 11, 2009 01:43 PM
Perfect response.
Posted by: Les at February 11, 2009 04:31 PM
Jack, that Tactical Airlift response was great. Still, I wouldn't want to fly a C-130 as they are too slow. It's just unfortunate the AF didn't give Pelosi one when she demanded her own AF plane to ferry her between Washington and San Francisco.
Posted by: BobF at February 11, 2009 05:47 PM
James M. glad you got to see it too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 07:56 PM
Darth, that is sooooo fantastic.
Thank you so much for sharing about that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 07:58 PM
Mark, fantastic, thank you for sharing about that. I love Air Shows.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 08:00 PM
Jack that is hilarious.
That was what the 910 in Ohio a Tac-Airlift.
Posted by: Mark at February 11, 2009 08:02 PM
BobF., thanks for the information and link.
I am glad the person wrote back and explained and to be a Vet I know he had to have felt bad about it too. I am proud of both of them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 08:03 PM
Jack, thank you so much. LOL oh wow hahahhaha
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 08:04 PM
Mark, I agree, what a difference.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 11:27 PM
