The Stingers of VFA-113, circa 1992
Although I’ve had this blog for over a year, I’ve primarily used it for talking about our photography business and sharing a little bit of our work, as well as sharing a little bit about our awesome clients. I have never really used it to talk much about what is going on personally. But I think tonight is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
First of all, it’s Memorial Day weekend. For many Americans, it’s just another holiday and a great reason to have a cookout. But I hope that we will all take the time this Memorial Day to remember and to honor our American service members who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. As a US Navy veteran, this day has always been special to me, as I have personally known more than a few close friends who have done just that. I have heard Taps played and watched F/A-18’s fly by in the Missing Man formation during ceremonies that were not conducted in conjunction with the national holiday. They were the individual memorials of heroes, fathers, husbands – my friends.
This Memorial Day is uniquely poignant, as I just learned tonight that I have one more friend to add to that list. Tonight I learned of the tragic death of a former squadron-mate and dear friend, Commander Luke “Meat†Hook, USN, killed in a civilian plane crash last night, along with three of his daughters.
Many of you who have only known me in recent years or through our photography business may not know that I was an F/A-18 pilot in the US Navy for nine years. I flew Hornets off of aircraft carriers. “Meat†(Luke’s fighter-pilot call sign) was another pilot in the VFA-113 “Stingers†squadron when I showed up for my first tour as a new Hornet pilot. Meat was the total icon of a Navy fighter pilot – medium height, wedge-shaped from shoulders to waist, tight flat-top haircut, chiseled square jaw…the nicest, friendliest, gentle-giant of a man that could crush you with his strength and kick your tail in a dogfight. In the above photo, Meat is the stocky guy standing just left of center, right in front of the tallest guy in the photo. I’m just right of center in the back row.
Meat was not only a great friend to me, he saved my rear-end on more than one occasion. Meat was one of the Landing Signal Officers in our squadron. He was one of the guys that stood at the back of the ship and talked to us on the radio when we were landing aboard the carrier. He was responsible for making sure that we got aboard and landed safely. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, do some Google searches for Navy carrier landings. It’s truly fascinating/amazing/dangerous stuff). For two years, Meat was the calm, reassuring “Roger Ball†voice on the radio that told me it was going to be Okay. When it was dark, the ship was moving, the weather was bad, or I was just having a bad night and couldn’t get aboard, Meat was there – always calm, always sure, always steady.
Luke stayed in the Navy after I got out and he went on to be a decorated war hero several times over, a squadron commander, and was currently serving as the second-in-command of Fallon Naval Air Station in Nevada, home of the famous Fighter Weapons School of Top Gun fame. Though you may have never known him, you and all of your family and friends owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He devoted his life to your service and protection. Lucky for all of us, he loved it – and was good at it.
I learned of his death on a Fox News radio report while driving home. Though I haven’t spoken to Meat in over 7 years, hearing the name of a close friend on the radio along with the words “plane crash†and “killed†hit me like a hammer. His smile, his voice, his laugh, all flooded my mind like he was in the car with me. I still can’t believe it’s true.
This Memorial Day will be so very different. Do me a favor, if you’ve read this far, take a moment this Memorial Day to really remember our heroes. Say a prayer of thanks for them. Fly your flag proudly in their honor. Enjoy your friends, your family, your cookout, and your freedom. Lift up a prayer of comfort and peace for Meat’s family. Pour yourself a cold beer, lift your glass, and raise a toast to CDR Luke “Meat†Hook – a Navy fighter pilot, father, husband, friend… American hero.
Commander Luke Hook
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