Mark's Rant # 6 Nov. 5, 2007 Buying Panties at the mall

Welcome to issue six. As always it's worth slightly less than you're paying for it, and as always you can be deleted with a simple email request. So far we have no cancellations.

Thanks also to those who forward Rant material to me. Acknowledgement at the end of the column.

Please feel free to forward and if anyone would like to be added have them send me an email.



A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ 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 Squadron Commander 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 AFB -- John Segreto MS 213/4 650-604-4112 NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field CA, 94035


Mark's Rant:

Today's issue was sent in by Cliff Fincher. Another loyal subscriber or at least he hasn't asked to be removed yet. There is really not a lot to say other than what Lt. Col. Scott Pleus has to say. Just another hater of the military.

Thank God they are putting their lives on the line protecting that idiot's right to go to the mall and buy panties and boxers. Good thing, because the way they get them in such a twist they probably have to change them 2 or 3 times a day.

I often see F-16's other jets and copter's most of them flying at 500 feet or less, down the coastline, when at the beach. I usually walk out to the end of the boardwalk and wave at them and usually if they see me, they tip a wing to say thanks.

Wonder what it feels like to get athletes foot in the mouth.

God Bless the troops.

Mark

Oh and by the way, Republican Congressman Water "Chicken Strip" Jones NC District 3, has still not responded to my email.