“We did not know how much we needed you until we needed you”

From: USAF Fighter Pilot’s E-Mail Address Withheld
Subject: Appreciation From Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
Date: June 7, 2013

TO: Mr. Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation

FM: (USAF fighter pilot’s name, rank, unit and title/job assignment all withheld)

SUB: Appreciation

Mr. Weinstein, I am one of the 22 USAF airmen who MRFF represented last Friday when you were able to get the USAF to remove the unlawful and offensive painting. From the Wagon Wheel dining facility at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. To begin with, I am asking that you please remove any information from this e-mail to you which might allow USAF officials or anyone else to figure out my identity. If I was found out, there is no question that my career as a USAF fighter pilot would be over instantly. Or worse. So the readers of this know, I am a practicing Christian, have a family and belong to and regularly attend a (protestant denomination withheld) church here in the general local area. I graduated from the (university name and year withheld). I love my country as much as anyone.

I wanted to say a very, very serious thank you. From me and my fellow airmen, Mr. Weinstein. Thank you and the MRFF for doing what I and my colleagues were too afraid to do. That fighter pilot-crusader painting (I know some say that it was a cop but nobody I know here saw it as anything but a fighter pilot) has been a source of unending dissention and disruption for a real long time here. I don’t need to tell you of all people how wrong it was. Its display was totally messed up. Most of us knew it too. A while back in (month and year withheld) my unit held a get together for an enlisted member who had just received an award. We gathered at this same Wagon Wheel dining facility over the lunch hour. Not everyone was able to come of course but enough did. My (title withheld) Commander made special notice of that fighter pilot-crusader painting and in front of everyone said aloud “This is why we fly and fight. We have our jets and we have our faith in Christ. Victory in the air. Victory in Christ. This is America.” I am not paraphrasing here, Mr.Weinstein. He said every single word as I just wrote it to you. You could have heard a pin drop. Noone dared to say anything. Especially since a bunch of the (unit’s name withheld) members were clapping and otherwise jacked up expressing their approval. I was floored as were some others. But we did nothing. To our shame. None of us will forget that we failed to act.

We are also thankful to our Wing Commander Col. Short for taking action quickly to take down that crusader painting. After you called HQ USAF in Washington and then spoke to him directly. What Col. Short did was right and we all noticed. The NCO who spoke to you for the 22 of us has our gratitude as well.

In the week that has followed the removal of that painting, we have been told over and over that we all should take these matters to our chain of command first before going to outside agencies like MRFF. That is very easy for them to say. Too easy. I have read many things you have said and written Mr. Weinstein. I have watched many vidoes of your speeches and You Tubed your television and radio appearances and talks. My wife (name withheld) and my fellow pilots and airmen (MRFF client-pilot’s and airmen’s names and ranks withheld) have done this with me. (wife’s name withheld) has also ordered your book called No Snowflake. The one thing you say that means the most to me and my fellow pilots and airmen is so simple. That until the USAF gets serious about punishing those that wrongfully push their religion on their lesser ranking airmen noone and I mean nobody will ever use the chain of command to report abusers. Why? Because the USAF will destroy them. Totally and forever. We have seen it happen. Alot. I could tell you stories of this. so could my friends.

I waited a week to send this to you on behalf of myself and many others here who you stood up for. Was it not for the MRFF we would have no place to turn to. We did not know how much we needed you until we needed you. Does that make any sense? If you are ever out this way, a bunch of us from (USAF unit designation and nickname withheld) would like to treat you to drinks at (off base restaurant’s name withheld). Your money will be no good out here. We all owe you. Let us repay you and the MRFF if we can.

V/R

(USAF fighter pilot’s name, rank, unit and title/job assignment all withheld)