'Above all else, an American'[F-15 pilot 1st Lt. Ali M. Jivanjee][FL]
Florida Freedom Newspapers ^ | 28 Feb 2008 | Mladen Rudman
Posted on 2/28/2008 3:59:18 PM by BGHater
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE
Laughter filled the 33rd Fighter Wing hangar Wednesday afternoon during a memorial ceremony for F-15 pilot 1st Lt. Ali M. Jivanjee.
Jivanjee, 26, died Feb. 20 in a midair collision with another 58th Fighter Squadron warplane. The accident is under investigation. “When I look at Ali, I see a very complex man,” said squadron commander Lt. Col. Todd Jaax.
He described Jivanjee as a top-notch fighter pilot, a stellar officer, a terrific son and husband, as well as a devout Muslim who played a merciless game of poker. Jaax also suspected Jivanjee’s preference for frugal dates turned out to be a good way of determining who the young fighter pilot would marry.
While the UCLA graduate made dates pay for meals by feigning he had forgotten his wallet, Jivanjee had no trouble picking up the tab for a grilled cheese sandwich when it came to one special person. “Sara, (he knew) you must have been the one,” said Jaax, looking at Jivanjee’s widow. She was at the ceremony with Jivanjee’s mother and father and other family members.
Other humorous episodes in Jivanjee’s life were recounted. While working to get his fighter wings, Jivanjee would sign e-mails “Jihad,” which many interpret as Arabic for “holy war,” to make sure Air Force security people were kept busy, said Jaax.
Although Jivanjee had a playful side, he took flying seriously. His posthumous Air Force Commendation Medal citation noted this pilot had hundreds of Red Flag air-to-air kills. “Above all else,” Jaax added, “Ali was an American.” The hangar ceremony included an outdoor gun salute. Four fighter wing F-15s flew a missing-man formation to conclude the event.
Many people left with tears in their eyes. Jaax held back a few shortly before concluding his remarks.
During the memorial, Jivanjee had an F-15 with tail number 82-043 named in his honor. The Eagle’s nose art was a circular American flag emblem with “Spirit of 9-11” written in script above and the phrase “Let’s Roll” in block lettering below.
Jivanjee’s death touched the entire fighter wing, but it was felt most by his squadron. Capt. Mike Reilly said he and Jivanjee were wingmen. They never flew against each other in training, but Reilly praised his comrade. He described Jivanjee as “precise” and “studious.”“We’re all very tight. It’s like one big family,” said Reilly. “This was not just one guy being assigned to the squadron. He really was like a brother.”
