Who said that the Air Force were wussies ?

[Knightt]

Well I did, until I needed them to deliver the close air support that saved me and my men from being wiped out in Afghanistan.

I did, until I learned to jump out of their aircraft at VERY high altitudes of 35,000 feet and found out how dangerous it was for THEM as well.

I did, until I learned that when we conduct an airborne assault (jumping out of a an aircraft to take an airfield or other objective, usually in the middle of the enemy), they fly their aircraft (a huge C-130 aircraft) as close to the ground as 800 feet and slow down to a speed that is 'just about' to the point where the engine stalls.

I did, until U.S. Air Force PJs helped save the lives of my friends in 'the Mog' Somalia, Oct 1993... and where some of those PJs died fighting right beside us.

I did... but I no longer say those things that I used to about those 'wing nuts', who 'never see the enemy they kill'... but that does not mean that their job is nonetheless dangerous. And now has made me forever grateful.

I was sent this article today from an old 'Air Force Spec Ops' good friend of mine... and this made me pause.

Here is the article.

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/SHOULD have stung a bit.

The complaint:

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 for an 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 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 airshow? 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

'Nuff said...

[steverino]

'Nuff said...

Indeed.

[Phoenix8008]

As a former member of the Air Force, all I can say is...

[Heath]

for Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.


for the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques

[turborip]

I'm always fascinated by 'foot-in-mouth' (or 'head-up-*SQUEE*') stories, and I'll admit to having said some stupid things myself before....but even if the facts about the maneuvers never came to light, it blows my mind that this person complained that her mall trip was interrupted.

A mall trip....not that her newborn baby was awakened, not that it interrupted a hospital full of old people, but that it disturbed her at Mervyn's.

It's funny, my family is not military by any means so I'm unfamiliar with a lot of jargon that some of you all spout, but when I was a teenager they settled into the rural area inbetween Camp Roberts and Ft. Hunter Liggett in California and the first week after we moved in we got to experience night maneuvers, complete with explosions that rocked the house.

Never once did we complain. We just knew those guys were out there doing their job and we're the ones that chose to buy that property. After a while, it became a comforting sound that never disturbed anyones slumber.

[Knightt]

Never once did we complain. We just knew those guys were out there doing their job and we're the ones that chose to buy that property. After a while, it became a comforting sound that never disturbed anyones slumber.

I know exactly what you mean. When I was stationed at Fort Stewart, GA my senior enlisted quarters that I was living in during my tour of duty there was located about 500 meters from a tank trail... those guys would go at it all night AND an artillary range was nearby as well. Sometimes the booms would rattle the house. And when we moved out here to Fort Huachuca, AZ.... it was quiet all night. We ended up missing Fort Stewart and those tanks.

[J-Scott-R]

You know I love my country, but I swear sometimes it just makes me sad to hear a bunch of whiners complain about the guys like you, me, quite a few other guys on this site, and millions more across this country who gave them the freedom to complain like that in the first place. Don't get me wrong, most people realize what the men and women in the armed forces have endured thru the years to keep them safe, but there are a loud, obnoxious few who really need a serious reality check.

Scott

[Cyberstrike]

What an *SQUEE* (the moron that complained) if you live near air base (or airports, highways, train yards, and etc for that matter) then you should expect a LOT of noise from jets flying over head and the noise that comes along with it. My advice if you don't like it then move away from the base.