Redemption and Understanding through the Sacrifice of Captain Jeremy Fresques, USAF

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Subject: A WAKE UP CALL FROM LUKE AFB
Date: Tues, 26 Jun 2007 15:32:24 -0700

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-16's that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, I hope it 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-16's 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

From Dan: We all certainly make mistakes and I was really glad to see the gentelman who lodged the complaint recognize his mistake and make amends. In response to Lt Col Pleus' letter:

An Apology From the Heart to the Airmen of Luke
Jul. 9, 2005 12:00 AM
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"

From Dan: I think reasonable Americans can accept Mr. MacRae's apology and learn from his mistake of jumping to conclusions. How many times have you "popped-off" without thinking?

AP Obit:

Age: 26
Hometown: Clarksdale, AZ
Date of Death: 5/30/2005
Incident Location: Eastern Diyala province, Iraq
Branch of Military: Air Force
Rank: Capt.
Unit: 23rd Special Tactics Squadron
Unit's Base: Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Jeremy Fresques entered the Special Forces a short time after graduating from the Air Force Academy _ but he tried to reassure his parents by telling them he had an office job. "He didn't sign up for Special Forces because he wanted to push a pencil. He wanted to make a difference," said his uncle, Jerry Fresques. Jeremy Fresques, 26, was killed May 30 in a crash of his surveillance plane about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad. He was based at Hurlburt Field. Fresques had been married for a little more than a year to Capt. Lindsay Shaw, who called him "the perfect husband." In their off-time, they volunteered for their church. "Lindsey wants people to remember Jeremy as a strong Christian man, a good husband and someone that we can all be proud of," said her father, Chuck Shaw. Fresques had wanted to be in the military since he was a child, and was promoted to captain the morning of his death. Fresques graduated from high school in Framington, N.M., but his family later moved to Arizona and he lived with his wife in Florida. He was a star athlete and student _ "an exceptional, dynamic person," his uncle said.

I want to leave you with comments written about Capt Fresques on http://www.fallenheroes.com/:

"Dearest Jeremy and family (Nick, Sherry and Justin),

My heart is so heavy over the news of your passing. For a while, I was in denial, because I had just seen you on 28 May 05 in Al-Udeid, Qatar. The couple of hours that we spent reminiscing over a blizzard at Dairy Queen was a blessing in disguise. When I look back over the memories that we had, I still smile.

I don't even remember how we met, but I know that you were a sophomore and I was a junior at the USAF Academy. I'll never forget all the great times we had: working out in the ghetto gym, TCBY, movies at Chapel Hills Mall, DQ, Chipotle, Zio's, your visits to FL (Walt Disney World, the shark pool, getting baptized at Merritt Island Baptist Church, going out on the boss' jetboat and my parents), your mini-BUDs experience (especially when you dislocated your shoulder) and my visits to AZ (your mom's cooking, the hot-air balloon ride over sunrise, Justin's graduation and all those video games). But, above all, you knew that all these things would pass away and wouldn’t matter except the relationship you had with God.

I'll never forget in Dec of 2000, when you told me about your salvation. You know how confused I was by this, but I promised to keep an open mind and in Feb of 2001, your prayers were answered! Then, we got baptized together at First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, Florida. I’m still amazed how God worked in our lives through Stacy Boggs and Todd Allison. You blossomed into a true man of God. Knowing you has changed my life and, for that, I am eternally grateful. For those that you left behind, they will certainly remember you for your bravery, honor and courage. Not a lot of people could have taken the leap from Communications Officer to Special Tactics Officer.

During the pipeline, all the training and all the deployments, you had a tremendous influence on more people than you could ever imagine. Your prayers were answered again when your parents surrendered their lives to Christ on the day of your funeral. God is good and I was overjoyed when I heard this news!! God works in so many different ways and I know that He had put you in my life for a reason.

There is no doubt in my mind that when you entered heaven, the Lord said, “Well done, my faithful servant.”

You will certainly be missed and I look forward to the day that I see you again in heaven.

In Christ’s love always,

Dare’ Rapanotti, Capt, USAF
(Stationed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, but currently deployed to Djibouti, Horn of Africa)"Dare' Rapanotti of Djibouti, Horn of Africa

---------------

"I wrestled with Jeremy on the scorpion squad back in high school. He was the epitimy of good faith and a true warrior. The only thing I can say is that he left an image in my head of what a good person is and should be. I'm also in the service and headed to Iraq and all I can say is that I will defend good people like Jeremy because without them this world would be worthless.

Thanks Jeremy,

SWP La Familia Por Vida,

SPC Benito Gonzales,
US Army 29th sig bn
Benito Gonzales of Tacoma Washington/ USA

From Dan: I lost a few friends in Iraq. I didn't know them terribly well, but attending one funeral at Arlington National Cemetary and then seeing three other men I knew who died in service to each of us was probably one of the most sobering and difficult moments in my life.