Jets over Tulocay | Napa Valley Register

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Jets over Tulocay

Air Force pilots will honor Napa veteran

Friday, July 31, 2009

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By DAVID RYAN
Register City Editor

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Military jets flew low over Napa Thursday, spooking some east Napa residents while training for a burial ceremony of a U.S. Air Force veteran this morning at Tulocay Cemetery.

The jets — T-38 Talon aircraft — are used as supersonic trainers for pilots. The jets come from Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County, where their group, the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, is based.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jack Bartlett, Sr. of Napa will be buried at Tulocay Cemetery Friday with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, the playing of “Taps” and T-38 Talons flying over in a “missing man” formation.

According to his obituary, Bartlett died Monday at the age of 78 after a long career serving his country. A native of the Bay Area, Bartlett was born in Martinez in 1930 and graduated from Alhambra High School and San Francisco City College. Bartlett joined the Air Force in 1951, serving at various bases throughout the world, including Alaska, Okinawa and Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Bartlett retired from the Air Force in 1975 and moved his family to Napa.

Not through with learning, Bartlett then attended Napa Valley College and earned degrees in horticulture and plant science. He was also active in community service, serving at one point as Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and as a Eucharistic minister at St. Apollinaris Parish.

He is survived by his wife Joan, five children and 15 grandchildren. Bartlett’s funeral is 10 a.m. at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, 3700 Lassen St. in Napa. Bartlett will then be interred at Tulocay Cemetery with full military honors, including the flyover. His son, Jack Bartlett, Jr., said the flyover will happen at 11:30 a.m.

23 comment(s)

mickeyfan69 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:53 AM:

" We heard the jets yesterday at work and went out side to look. It was very cool but didn't know why they were there, it is nice to have an answer. Will watch for them again today. "

Proud Daughter wrote on Jul 31, 2009 10:38 AM:

" Very nice tribute and well deserved. That was a little unnerving yesterday, but we figured it was a fire or something close.

We will watch for the jets today and will send a special prayer up for the surviving family members of this man. May he rest in peace. "

pernodboi wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:02 AM:

" I will watch from Angele's - should be a perfect place to view the fly over. "

Mr_Napa wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:39 AM:

" A hero! "

livinggood wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:34 PM:

" Yeah, what a great way to spend money during a recession... i am sure all that money could be spent in a more productive way... "

ferrarigtc wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:15 PM:

" @Livinggood

Obamas rent Republican's $20 million house on Martha's Vineyard. Yea that's money well spent too. Least this man served our country for a good part of his life. "

leavintown wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:24 PM:

" livinggood wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:34 PM:
" Yeah, what a great way to spend money during a recession... i am sure all that money could be spent in a more productive way... "

It was a great way to spend money. He spent 24 years of his life serving our country. He more than deserved that!!! "

NAPAdocumentor wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:25 PM:

" livinggood: How utterly disrespectful, insensitive, shameful and rude for you to say such a thing about a ceremony for a hero who served his country!!

Anyway, may Mr. Bartlett rest in peace. It's such a beautiful thing to see our veterans honored in this way.

I filmed both days of flyovers. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dXnKXvmpl4

--Seth Herbey "

napagirl76 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:44 PM:

" livinggood- first how rude for you to say that. did you ever think his family might read this? i'd rather have my tax dollars spent honoring heros then paying for druggies on welfare. This man served the country, he fought for our freedom and that of others. His family im sure would go weeks maybe months without seeing him. the least we can do is say thank you and honor him with a fly by. "

vinovalleygirl wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:51 PM:

" Thank you for serving....and I agree, this is a very nice tribute and WELL DESERVED after his years of service....I was AF for 4 years, and I salute Lt. Col. Bartlett! And thank you to his family for supporting him while he served and beyond. Nothing more honoring than a 21 gun salute during a time of loss...
SO YES i am happy to see this display of thanks and appreciation, even during a time of economic struggles.
A HERO for sure! "

livinggood wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:00 PM:

" i knew I would be called "disrespecful", I am glad Mr. bartlett served our country, that has nothing to do with it. My grandparents served our country too, that is not the issue.. The issue is money... and yes I agree about the 20 million on obamas vaca. that is obsurd as well.. People are losing thier homes, thier jobs, thier well being.. Arnold is cutting health benefits, aids/hiv research, etc.... this is my point people!!! "

grape wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:03 PM:

" I saw them today and wondered why they were here. Now I'm so happy to read what it was for. What a wonderful tribute to a veteran. God bless his family. "

vinovalleygirl wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:07 PM:

" seth and napagirl! HERE HERE! I applaude you!

Livinggood-have you every served in the military? "

knick-knack-at-thedam wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:13 PM:

" Hey Seth--Thanks for the link, but I can't seem to get it to work. :( Can you give me a few keywords to use? Maybe I can find it that way... "

NVR-Dan Ross wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:19 PM:

" OK folks, enough. If you want to debate government spending, take it to one of the opinion forums.
thanks
--Dan "

napamomma wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:02 PM:

" Seth, thank you for the link. I was anxiously awaiting the planes and then missed the fly over and was really bummed. "

knick-knack-at-thedam wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:20 PM:

" Seth--I got it! Thanks again! "

milkman wrote on Jul 31, 2009 7:51 PM:

" @ livinggood

You have the right to voice your opinion in a public forum......thanks to men and women like Lt. Col. Bartlett.

You obviously have a computer, and I would assume a decent job to afford the computer and other such things......thanks to men and women like Lt. Col. Bartlett.

Just remember one thing, freedom is NOT free. This man and all veterans, and active duty military personel were, or are willing to put their lives on the line and make the ultimate sacrifice for you and your freedoms and rights. To deny him the burial ceremony of a warrior is just plain wrong, reguardless of money. "

marigold83 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:04 PM:

" Livinggood, just remember its because of people like him that you can say things like that. Thanks to all who have or are serving in our military you all rock. "

softballmom wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:35 PM:

" Much love and respect to all the Bartlett family as you mourn your dear father, husband, grandfather. What a beautiful tribute to a brave defender of our freedom! Love you Mimi! "

someguyinnapa wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:45 PM:

" How's that go?

If you can read this, Thank a teacher...

If it's in English, Thank a Veteran!

BOOO on you livinggood...

It is because of those of us that served and more over men like him that made a career of it that you have the RIGHT to feel the way you do...

Lt. Col. Jack Bartlet; I salute you, Sir. Thanks for a job well done. "

thoughtank wrote on Aug 1, 2009 12:23 AM:

" I agree with livinggood. What is the big deal about flyovers honoring a service person? They cost a lot of money, create air and noise pollution and have no real lasting positive societal effects.

How about a scholarship to honor the service person? That seems a much more significant and appropriate way to insure that a person's legacy continues.

Oh, and before the criticisms, come in, no, I have not served in the military. But the niece I helped raise is currently serving and my father (WWII) and grandfather (WWI) both served their country honorably. My father spent his entire career in a high level Defense Dept. position and decried the waste and fraud he witnessed.

"Flyovers" and other ridiculous ceremonial rituals are vestiges of the cold war worship of all things defense related. The military-industrial complex encourages this ridiculous kind of pomp and circumstance because they have a vested interest in promoting their products.

Let us all grow-up and get over this propaganda-induced sentimentality before it bankrupts our coffers as well as our common sense. "

glenroy wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:41 AM:

" Let’s hope this tradition continues… it was cancelled under the Clinton Administration, we couldn’t even get a Bugler for a Decorated Vietnam Lt Col who volunteer for 3 tours…shot down twice. "

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