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Posted: 11/16/2008 4:56:50 PM EDT

Luke Air Force base 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 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 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 American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.


Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Link Posted: 11/16/2008 5:05:19 PM EDT
[#1]
Sad but effective.
Link Posted: 11/16/2008 6:35:52 PM EDT
[#2]
Really happened. The wifey and I were stationed at Luke when this happened. She was on that Honor Guard detail, and led the firing party at the funeral.

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


ETA: Who the hell is Rosensteel? (The 63rd Fighter Squadron Commander) Lt. Col. Pleus wrote the first reply, and (the 56th Fighter Wing Commander) Col. Rand wrote the other. There was no Rosensteel.
Link Posted: 11/17/2008 10:15:32 AM EDT
[#3]
The person that wrote the original letter to the editor also wrote a sincere letter of apology when he was informed of the reason for the flight.
Link Posted: 11/17/2008 10:34:12 AM EDT
[#4]
That's in the running for the dumbest thing I've ever heard.  Even if it weren't a formation to honor a fallen soldier, who is dumb enough to complain about the air force base flying jets after 9 AM at the mall?

Did the noise prevent you from spending your money on that pair of shoes, ruin your world record breaking game of Donkey Kong at the arcade?  I mean WTF could you possibly have to complain about other than the sand in your vagina?  It would be a little different if the guy were in his house sleeping at 6AM and that happened, but even then the would know he lives right near the air-force base.  This is just pure stupidity.

Its nice to see he got verbally bitch-slapped for being such a dumb-ass.
Link Posted: 11/17/2008 6:19:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
That's in the running for the dumbest thing I've ever heard.  Even if it weren't a formation to honor a fallen soldier, who is dumb enough to complain about the air force base flying jets after 9 AM at the mall?

Did the noise prevent you from spending your money on that pair of shoes, ruin your world record breaking game of Donkey Kong at the arcade?  I mean WTF could you possibly have to complain about other than the sand in your vagina?  It would be a little different if the guy were in his house sleeping at 6AM and that happened, but even then the would know he lives right near the air-force base.  This is just pure stupidity.

Its nice to see he got verbally bitch-slapped for being such a dumb-ass.


Yeah, the entire base thought he was being a dumb-ass for writing it.

The Air Force global doesn't show a Grant Rosensteel.

Link Posted: 11/17/2008 6:34:29 PM EDT
[#6]
That is really bad taste, shouldn't complain about something that was there when you decided to move in. And being that is was for a memorial service just makes it even worse. Hell i used to live on that base not too long ago and i never complained about the jets being loud.
Link Posted: 11/17/2008 8:24:43 PM EDT
[#7]
Letters to the editor really bring out the best in people.
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