Excerpt from Cyclerides.com Weekly Update 7/6/05:
I normally don't pass things like this along, but this one is just a classic "open mouth and insert foot"
case from some idiot in Peoria that has nothing else to do but write letters to the Arizona Republic about something
that wouldn't make a difference to most of us. In this case he spouted off before checking out the situation and
Lt. Col. Pleus made him look like the jerk that he is. Here is the scenario: This ungrateful idiot from Peoria
writes to the AZ Republic the following complaint:
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"A wake-up call from Luke's jets"
Jun. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
"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."
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The following is the reply from Lt. Col. Scott Pleus at Luke Air Force Base:
Flyby Honored Fallen Comrade
Jun. 28, 2005
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 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
Luke Air Force Base
The writer is commander of the 63rd Fighter Squadron.
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WHO AH! To Lt. Col. Pleus!!!!
For the guy that complained would be so insensitive to think that these pilots would be doing anything other what
was totally professional and necessary is incomprehensible to me. What a dork! I live under the flight pattern
for Luke and hear these jets go by every day and am proud that they are ours. I know these guys are out there to
protect us and if they have to do maneuvers at 3:00 in the morning then so be it. When I see them fly by I look
up and say "go get 'em guys". It is the least that I can do for these guys that are risking their lives
for us.
OK, I have vented, but with so many bad things going on in this world that this guy could be focusing his energy
on, it incenses me that he would take the time to write that letter about our own Air Force.
My thanks to our Air Force and our pilots at Luke for every flight they make.
Barry Caraway
www.cyclerides.com
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Excerpt from Cyclerides.com Weekly Update Letter 7/13/05
For those of you that did not see last week's Extras column about the man from Peoria
that sent a letter to the Arizona Republic complaining about a fly over from Luke Air Force jets and the pointed
response from a Lt. Col Pleus at Luke Air Force Base, Click Here to read. But for those of you that did see the
story, this week I received an email from the man that wrote the original letter to the Arizona Republic complaining
about the 4 man flyover. Apparently he is also a reader of Cyclerides.com. Here is what he wrote to me:
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Barry;
Now that you have stated your opinion and correctly stated, please allow me to comment in the same manner. As you
have seen, I was totally out of line and need to be more patient before blasting off my opinions to the Republic.
It is quite easy to blurt out comments as you have so eloquently done in hammering me.
Please feel free to pass my reply printed in Saturdays Republic (An apology from the heart to the Airmen at Luke)
on to your readers. Thank you for your time and I think cyclerides is an excellent Web site where I have spent
enjoyable time and will continue to do so in the future.
Regards;
Tom MacRae
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It is obvious that Tom made a grave mistake in attacking our Air Force in the condescending way that he did and
there is no doubt that he has received a lot of negative repercussions from that faux paux. I'm sure that most
of us have shot off our mouth without clearly thinking it through, we just don't do it and send it to the Arizona
Republic for everyone to see. But I will give Tom credit for making amends for his mistake with a sincere apology,
again for everyone to see. Thanks Tom.
The following is what Tom sent to the Arizona Republic:
An apology from the heart to the airmen of Luke
Jul. 9, 2005
Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" Letters, June 28):
I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning
an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23). I had no idea of the significance
of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.
I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to
explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused. This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining
about noise. I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart
goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.
I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy
and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.
Please accept my heartfelt apologies. - Tom MacRae, Peoria