Wake Up Call from Luke AFB

[Ghery]

I received the following from a friend...

A Wake Up Call from Luke AFB, AZ

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

 

[PoAdeleted5]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

It's true, but as the thing gets passed around the internet, it gets embellished or changed as it goes. I've seen several versions of this passed around, but snopes has the whole chain of letters and what happened.

 

[silver-eagle]

The remark was inappropriate as was the ones from the New York residents who thought they were under attack during fleet week. People don't stop to analyse what they see and hear, only that they've been inconvenienced and feel they have the right to complain.
Perhaps next time, they'll take the time to THINK before shooting off their mouths.
As a former serviceman and Vietnam Vet, he should have KNOWN better.
"A closed mouth gathers no flys."