Mission of Honor: A moral compass for a moral dilemma

by Jim Crigler

Most of us never get to test ourselves in combat. As a Uh-1 Helicopter pilot flying in the jungle highlands of South Vietnam, Warrant Officer Jim Crigler and the men he flew with were tested daily. Coming of age in the late 1960s and early 1970s was challenging for most young men of that era. Throw in drugs, free love, draft notices, the Vietnam War and a country deeply divided, and you have one of the most important books of this genre. This true story is a raw, bold, introspective autobiography where the author openly wrestles with his personal moral dilemma to find meaning and purpose in his life. He calls it his “Mission of Honor.”

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2017

About the author

Jim Crigler grew up in the farm country of south eastern Missouri. Graduating high school in the turbulence of 1968, Jim's goal was to be the first in his family to get a college education. A draft notice interrupted that dream. During his four years of service in the Army, Jim served as a warrant officer helicopter pilot flying in Vietnam with A Troop 7/17 Air Cavalry and the 129th Assault Helicopter Company. Jim flew with some of the finest helicopter pilots in the world in Vietnam and personally flew thousands of combat missions during his tour of duty. He received an honorable discharge in August of 1974 and with the help of the GI Bill graduated magna cum laude with a BS degree in Business Management from the University of Missouri. For the last 22 years Jim has been President and CEO of Winona Search Group Inc., a human resources consulting and search firm. He lives in the woods just outside of Winona, Minnesota with his wife and two youngest daughters.

Reviews

[Richard Denne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars? Yes! Why? If you want to read an eye-opening account of the Chopper war in Vietnam, this is a very quick read and it places you in the author's cockpit. How quick? I read it in one night. The reason for that is because I also served in Jim’s outfit, the 129th Helicopter Company as a door-gunner in a Gunship, only five years earlier. Jim took me back to that experience and made me feel his triumphant, fear, frustration and boredom. Jim will put you with him in the cockpit of his Huey during months of combat flying in Vietnam. This is one of the best of the books I've read by the guys who did this work. The valor of these dudes was made tragic by a nation of politicians who never had a plan for victory and just required the slaughter to go on rather than take up their responsibility to stop the madness.
The harrowing conditions under which the Army helicopter pilots lived, fought and died is told in painful detail by Warrant Officer Crigler. His journey from recruitment, officer training, and flight training is as told over and over by thousands of young American men in their transition from civilian life to experienced combat pilots in Vietnam. Again, this is a great Vietnam helicopter book. By the way, The Army doctrine of using helicopters to transport troops and materiel into and out of "hot LZ's" (when under fire) is a sad tale of incompetence, poor planning and bad doctrine on the part of the Pentagon and the Army. Also, it is a great follow-up to the original Chickenhawk by James Mason.
“Yea that I fly through the Valley of Death I will fear NO man?” Bull puckey! As a combat door-gunner, I can attest to Mr. Crigler's accurate accounts of his firsthand experiences. The Vietnam war was NOT pretty, often confusing, and filled with self-doubt, yet heroism was displayed daily as men fought not just for their country but mainly for their unit buddies. Jim does a magnificent job of recounting how life in the most austere conditions can be weathered through camaraderie of spirit. Being shot at on a daily basis either breaks a man or makes him tempered steel. There is no good combat, but with friends and buddies, even the most horrific of battle can be endured. Jim does an excellent job of relating his experiences as a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam. His book is descriptive and understandable to the reader even if you are not a pilot. His memory and detail of the missions he flew, training, and army life make this a highly interesting Viet Nam war book.
Now, for the title ‘Mission of Honor’. I am sure that many readers will think that it has something to do with his Jim’s feelings about honoring his service to his nation. Some will believe it is his feelings about the Gold Star families or his buddy he buried? I have another thought as Jim states in his book, that he came to terms with realizing he was really fighting for his comrades in arms.
That is disturbing to me and here is why,
I served in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne in the “No Slack” 327th infantry in 1966
And as a door-gunner on a gun-ship for the 129th in 1967.
As I understand it, these are the two most dangerous duty assignments one can serve in the military.
[Why our warriors fight?]
As a combat veteran who fought in the field of battle I feel I have a right and obligation to set the record straight. Since the Vietnam War every time a warrior is ask, “Why are you fighting this war,” the response I always hear is, “I am fighting for my “Brothers-In-Arms.”
That retort from an American soldier is WRONG and downright sick and repulsive to me and should be for every American citizen who respects our way of life and the purpose for fighting any war.
This made me wonder as should you, about the motives of our leaders in sending such
vast numbers of troops into Vietnam/Afghanistan/Iraq. Thousands of U.S. lives were being lost, with numberless casualties on both sides; the wages of war, with no clear purpose. No clear purpose…
Again; “What are we fighting for?” They invariably replied, "I'm fighting for my brothers, and that's it. Really?
{Isn’t that an answer that would come from a soldier fighting for an imperialistic army?}
Isn’t that answering, wrong, evil and diabolical?

Such a response does not allow for loyalty for home or country or the inalienable rights of people. That were still fighting there, that still leaves the root cause and reason for getting into this war unanswered.
It seems to me that a warrior who is “truly fighting for a noble cause” would say, "I'm fighting for the freedom of the Vietnamese/Afghan/Iraqis people." But none of the soldiers I knew said anything remotely like that. None! Nada, zip…

That left me with no good clear logical reason for fighting these wars, other than “It’s our duty” and “We’re here to do what we were told to do.” “You are either with us or against us?” **** ” Let’s, roll?”

We should all know the reasons for fighting a war without hesitation; they should be obvious and true. {If they are, ‘then’ let’s rock ’n’ roll.}

If they’re not, then all was lost for us.
One thing I did know: We are now in a world that does not abide by any of the rules I had been taught. Not a blessed one. America, we really do have a problem.
If our soldiers deserve our respect and support they should have a better answer than the one, they are expressing now.
Dick Denne
Author of “Sorry About That;” a story

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Crigler's memoir, Mission of Honor, tells the story of his life during the 60's and 70's including his tour of duty in Vietnam. After getting two girls pregnant at the same time, he struggles with the dilemma and wants to do the "right thing"...mentioning it dozens of times through the story and his four years in the Army; readers are left hanging until almost the end.

Aside from that, Jim shares his experiences during basic training, flight school, and as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. The war was winding down in '71/'72 and other than the Easter Offensive, there were no large battles and everyday was more of a routine. I would have thought Jim would have expounded on more of his experiences, -mentioning, at times, only that he had completed 35 missions or so during the day without detailing anything about them. His writing about his Vietnam tour also seemed to be more of a summary instead of him showing us the nuts and bolts about the job.

If I were to guess on the author's motivation for writing this story, I'd have to say that it is intended more for his family to see how he struggled early in life with the dilemma he faced and how he intended to do the right thing all along. Not a Vietnam War Story, per se, but still worth a read.

[Ann Buslee]

The book was absolutely spellbinding. I finished it in 24 hrs. It filled in so many gaps in my understanding of what daily life was like for a helicopter pilot and crew in the Vietnam War. But the technical information related to flight and military life was not difficult to understand. It is a compelling memoir and I highly recommend it to anyone.

[Jim Buckingham]

This is a great book about Jim's life and tour in Vietnam. Everyone needs a cpmpass to guide them. I met Jim at a retreat and shared stories and information. Jim is a great person and it took a lot to share his story.

[Dave T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into the end of the "police action"

This was another good look into the impact that public opinion had on the soldiers fighting for their lives and our country on a foreign land. May we never forget.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite five-star book. Jim Crigler tells his story about dealing with many moral dilemmas in his life. Mission of Honor, tells his story of his tour to Vietnam and what it was like in the US when he returned. This book opened up my eyes to see what actually went through the mind of a helicopter piolet in the Vietnam War. This book shows how Jim had the perseverance to overcome all the obstacles that he faced throughout his entire life. Jim learned many lessons from his tour in Vietnam and shared them though many stories in his book.

[Chris Lytle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening perspective on the Vietnam War

On December 1, 1970, the US Selective Service System held a lottery to determine who would and would not be drafted. Of course, being drafted most likely meant serving in Vietnam. That night, my number came up 295. From that point on, I didn’t have to think about serving in Vietnam. Jim Crigler’s number was 144 and he got drafted and became a 20-year old helicopter pilot flying hazardous missions into enemy territory. His book got me to think about the Vietnam war again and to see it in a completely different way.

“Mission of Honor” is the riveting story of this young man’s year in Vietnam. It’s written from the perspective of his older self, nearly fifty years later. Jim describes harrowing helicopter landings on treacherous hilltops. He recounts being shot at frequently and hit occasionally. His story is especially compelling because we get the perspective of the man in the middle of a war. It’s not a big picture story of the politics and theater of war. It’s one man’s recollection of hour after hour of flight time and downtime. Along the way, we meet officers, pilots and fellow servicemen and mentors who came into and out of his life.

There were tears in my eyes when I read about his friend and mentor, Tom Shaw, whose body he escorted back to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Escort duty is a great honor, but a difficult task. Jim Crigler’s respect and advocacy for Gold Start families of Vietnam soldiers is inspiring. While it was an unpopular war, the men who served in it deserve our respect and appreciation. They did what their country asked them to do and paid a high price for. “War is Ugly” is the title of one of the chapters. Jim writes vividly about war’s ugliness. War also creates lasting friendships and bonds forged in circumstances most of us will never face or possibly understand. He writes beautifully about those bonds.

Thank you for your story, Jim. And thank you for your service, Sir.

[John Van]

I had the privilege of meeting Jim Crigler in the month of August while he was in our city flying Huey's. He was very personable and suggested that I read his book which I did. I found Mission of Honor to be well written and difficult to put down. My only disappointment was that I finished the book in short order and wished it would have had another 200 pages or more. I am Jim's age but never served in our countries military, although wish that I had. I failed my physical in Denver, Co January 1970 and was classified 4-F which made me unfit for OCS or any other level of enlistment or service.

I would recommend Mission of Honor to those who like historical reads dealing with military actions. It also deals with Jim's personal conflicts during the same period of time. Through his writing, Jim exposes himself as to what was happening with his life during this period of time.

I would also recommend that you visit the Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, WI. I have lived in the state of Wisconsin most of my life and never knew it was here until Jim mentioned he felt it was the best veterans memorial park he had ever been to - honoring those who fought in WWI to present day in what is a very lovely and serene setting at one of Wisconsin's highest points. I have been to all of the monuments in the Mall of Washington DC on three separate occasions and found this be the on par if not better due to the overviews and beautiful landscapes. I was just there this week.

Honor those who have made the greatest sacrifice - go and walk the grounds. I love America - John

[Marc Liebman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission of Honor is not just another memoir about flying in Vietnam. It's a poignant story about a man on a quest who flew Hueys during the Vietnam War. The book is at times hilariously funny other times, very sad. On the surface, it is a tale of men fighting a war that was growing increasingly unpopular back here in the states. Underneath, there is a story of man with a sense of duty to two young girls. Depending on your perspective, one might smile or recoil in horror when you read that Jim managed to get not one, but two women pregnant just before he was drafted. Both kids were borne out of wedlock and the families refused to allow him to communicate with or see his daughters for years. One briefly allowed him into her life after he came back from Vietnam but then pushed him out the door – literally – and disappeared. The other just ignored him and never answered his letters. It was only through happenstance and the passage of time as in at least a decade that the truth was told to the two young women. Both wanted to know Jim and have him become part of their lives. Jim flew with honor and did his duty in Vietnam. More significant was that Jim did his duty and persisted in searching for his two daughters on a more important Mission of Honor. The book is a fast, enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. It will make you think and say to yourself, “Good on you, Jim Crigler!”

[Marc Cullison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give few books 5 stars because the writing is not that good, the content lacks substance, or too many errors are left unchecked. But Jim Crigler's "Mission of Honor" deserves 5 stars. I like the author's casual conversational style and the development of the story. Jim details the history that formed who he was and led to the decisions he made. Unlike so many books written about the Vietnam War, it is not a story of bluster, self-praise, and a pilot trying to be a hero, but rather a self-effacing account of the real horrors of war and the effect on a soldier's self-worth, beliefs, and spirit. The tragedy of losing those close to you and dealing with the consequences take a toll on a person. Jim brings these feelings to life with the simplicity of his writing. I was also a Vietnam helicopter pilot. I was there, and Jim's story hit home. I applaud him for having the courage to write about his experiences. So many veterans won't or can't, and this is unfortunate because that is the only way we, as a society, can truly understand what war is really like. Voices from the trenches tell it like it was, not what someone who wasn't there imagined it to be. This is an accurate account of a helicopter pilot's role in the Vietnam War. An excellent book.

[Chris Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story chronicling Jim's life from childhood to near present day with a focus on his tour in Vietnam as a Huey pilot. Many times in the book I could see myself and feel the pressures, joys, sadness, and disappointments in life. Not being a vet, I cannot comment in this regard as others have with similar experiences have but I can say that even if you are not interested in war, or military history, it contains gems of wisdom and is a great read.

Disclaimer: I happened upon this book in the most unexpected way. 5 months ago I discovered that my children are genetically related to relatives of Jim. Being adopted, my wife reached out to Jim through his family and he gave the go-ahead for me to take a DNA test on Ancestry. I waited for the results prior to reading the book which we had just purchased. The results revealed that Jim is my half-brother and it was after that that I read this book.

It was surreal to read stories of my family that I had never met, and the stories in places that I too frequented while younger. While not explicitly in the book, my life story is in part there in the pages as a shadow. I've talked to many of my long lost Crigler brothers and sisters, and look forward to reunions in the future.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vietnam was almost done by the time my generation got to the war. President Nixon pulled our troop numbers down and few of my friends were sent. But for Jim Crigler that meant that the pilots and soldiers already there were being hammered by the enemy and demoralized by the press and civilians back home. "Mission of Honor" opens up "in country" and puts you in the co-pilot seat alongside the Huey pilots that were the lifelines to those front lines. Every page is a thrilling adventure that keeps you ducking under your seat.

Jim was brutally honest in his writing about his early years and the terror of coming home after war. PTSD was not a label back then, but obviously these guys came home with it. Finding answers meant reconnecting with family and righting the wrongs of his past. My only regret in the telling of his story was that I was left wanting to know more about the man he is today. He has become part of an organization that honors the Gold Star families of Vietnam and I hope he tells that story soon.

[Steve Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book -- once you start it, you won't put it down. Jim Crigler has chronicalled the fear, excitement, frustrations, and sadness of being drafted into the Army and serving - proudly - as an active combat helicopter pilot in View Nam. As I read and kept my wife apprised of Jim's then-current endevours, she said "that could be a soap opera", and she was right! In real life, we are fortunate and proud to know Jim and his family. He is 13 years older than me and, as I read his book, I was struck that I could have been reading the account of an older brother, as I was old enough at the time to be very aware of the fighting in Viet Nam, but young enough that the war was over when I came of age. I would have been very proud to have had Jim Crigler as my older brother. THANKS Jim -- and all of the other Viet Nam vets and your families - for serving our country so well.

[Joseph Xiong · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars? Obviously! Jim expresses his life in a heartfelt way towards many readers. Holding within many stories ranging from his time growing up and doing combat missions in his helicopter company. Jim is in the 129th Assault Helicopter Company as co-pilot. During this time Jim's friend, Thomas (Tom) Shaw, gives Jim advice and that advice becomes his moral compass for when Jim faces a moral dilemma. It is shown in the book, but you will have to read to figure out what that dilemma is and how it still affects him to this day. Recently my school had the chance to have Jim Crigler as a special speaker come to our school and talk more about the book. Jim's presentation of the book was very phenomenal and interesting as he told our classes about this trip down the Mississippi. Signing off, a very great book for a typical high schooler taking and learning US History.

[Hannah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I did not previously know much about the Vietnam War, and reading this book gave me a new perspective. Along with Jim's war time experience, he also wrote about his friends and family struggles in his life. The book had very serious moments, but there were sometimes I laughed out loud for his humor. I liked so many parts of this book, but I think the ending would be my favorite. He ended the book leaving me satisfied. He wrote about his life after the war and how he tried fixed all of his moral dilemmas. The lessons learned in this book have an impact on you, and will leave you thinking. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes war action with some drama.

[Ruth Suman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission of Honor is a raw honest account of a Huey Pilots experience in Vietnam. Warrant Officer, Jim Crigler shares some of the most personal aspects of his life in this book. I could not put it down. I was a teenager during the Vietnam War and really did not understand the scope of the sacrifices that these men and their families gave to our Country. After reading this book, I feel a profound duty to give back by thanking Gold Star Families for the sacrifices they have endured. I highly recommend this book to everyone! Thank you Jim for sharing this story and for your Service to Our Country!

[Ben Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission of Honor was assigned to my 10th grade U.S. History class to read during our Vietnam War unit. It very quickly became my favorite book. Mr. Crigler addresses struggles that he had as a young man growing up in the late 60s, many of which still apply to some teens today. He also talks about getting drafted to go to war in Vietnam during a time where the United States was very divided. The book is not hard to follow, and is a relatively quick read. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Vietnam war, or anyone who may need a moral compass to guide them through a dilemma, just like Mr. Crigler did.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very open about the stories of war and other life challenges that the author faced. The story was written with such emotions and detail that it made you feel like you were almost right there seeing what was happening. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in hearing about not just the soldier's life while in combat but the events that brought them there, and then the lessons they carried on with them throughout the rest of their lives. Jim Crigler truly has an amazing way with sculpting his own story into a beautiful book on how it changed his outlook of life.

[Ellie Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in reading an action-filled, realistic, humorous, hard to put down book about Vietnam, I would definitely recommend reading this book. Crigler opens up his whole life story in this book and allows you to get a taste of what it was like to be a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He was very open about what happened throughout his journey, good and bad, which made me be able to relate to some of the things he was going through. Throughout this book, I learned several life lessons and also gained a significant amount of appreciation for everyone who fights for our country, as well as gold star families.

[Xavier Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Crigler tells his story of what it was like to be in and out of the Vietnam war. He tells about his struggles in and out of combat. He shares about his lessons that he learned so that he may pass them on. He also tells about his moral compass in life, which was suggested to him by his friend and roommate Tom. This helps him through the moral dilemmas that he has throughout the rest of his life. He also takes on a few tasks that he calls "missions of honor." Read this book to discover more about them and how he got through them. This book is a wonderful read, filled with great detail and information. Pick it up if you want to enjoy a good book.

[Reece Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission of Honor was great mix of the hardships at war and at home. Through his struggles and experiences, he was able to portray a very important lesson. This was a quick read, and the chapter separation allowed for a very organized and easy to read book. Jim Crigler did a great job at expressing the details about war, but he also explained his internal thoughts during it as well. He is an amazing man and continues to do great things, for the profits from this book go to helping gold star families. His story is one to remember and definitely one worth reading about. Mission of Honor has changed my perspective on war, and of all people; and taught me very important life lessons.

[Samarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not the type of person to really be interested in learning about history but Mission of Honor has given me a different perspective which allowed me to enjoy this book far more than other history books. I am also not the type to read books in general. I enjoyed how short the chapters were and the book kept me interested all throughout the read. The story got straight to the point but did not leave out any detail. I think Mission of Honor is a good read for mature teens who enjoy reading books that leave you with something whether it is a life lesson or just a thought.

[Wheelchair Kratos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission of Honor was a great book to read, despite how odd it may have seemed at times. But what good book doesn't have those odd moments. Anyways, the book itself was well written and displayed a well told story about a Chopper Pilot in the Vietnam War, encapsulating what day to day life was like both in and out of combat zones. This stretches from the moral compass, as stated in the title of the book, to the loss of something greater to Jim himself. For the sake of leading readers into the book, no details besides simple ones will not be put, read the book yourself if you want to know what happens.

[Janet L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a confused young man in the 60's who got two girls pregnant. This creates a moral dilemma he struggles with throughout the story. He becomes a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war. He puts you in the pilot seat flying many of his missions and some of their near misses. It is an easy read with short chapters. He and his roommate agree if either should die, the other will escort his body home to his family. His friend was killed the next day. I believe this became the turning point in his life.
Since getting out of the Army he has continued to be active in Huey 369 Helicopter associations. He also works to recognize the many Gold Star families that exist today.

[Bobirley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding, Well Written, Easy Read

I lost friends in the Viet Nam war. I have collected many books over the years about that war because I wanted to learn. Honestly, this is the only book I have been able to read so far of that collection. Mr. Crigler does not glorify the Evils of war but instead simply states that he was human doing his job that cost him dearly as a man. I thank you Mr Crigler for your service in the past and your service now to enable a few peek back and appreciate the cost to you as a man as you served.

[Brook Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was one of the best books the I've ever had to read for school. Mr. Crigler explains the journey he goes through when he goes to Vietnam. While I was reading this book it was hard to imagine that this could actually be someones life because of all the drama and hardship he was faced with. The book is very open and gives the readers a new insight into how the war affected the solider's in it. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone because this book is truly filled with emotion and real life issues that solider's have to deal with.

[Aiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually not too bad of a book. I went in thinking it would be boring but by the time it ended I can happily say I was quite satisfied with my read. I'd say I want to read more but seeing that the book was written based on real-life events that happened in Jim's life, I wouldn't want more of that happening to anybody. It's overall a really good book and I do really recommend it, which is rare for me because of how little I actually read, but I really enjoyed this little book here. Thanks Jim.

[Brynn Hundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book to read. It teaches you some real important lessons and it shows you what the Vietnam war was really like. He went through some tough situations and he had to find his way in life and how to navigate his life. He took something that was hard and then turned it into something good. He worked his butt off to get to where he is now and it shows. I really suggest reading this book to be able to understand what the war was actually like and plus it is a page turner and you never know what is going to happen next so it keeps you interested in the book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a reader of war related books, but I met Jim Crigler recently and read his book shortly afterwards. It was a quick read and I found the story very compelling - both from the perspective of learning about the Vietnam War and the incredible role these men played as well as how Jim found direction in his life. It was certainly an unexpected story. I'm sure it wasn't easy to write this book and replay those memories but seems like he found the right thing to do both in sharing his story and honoring these men and their families. I highly recommend reading it.

[Eric Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a firsthand account of a soldiers life during the Viet Nam War. As a son of a pilot killed in action in the Korean War and young ROTC cadet at a major college campus during the waning Viet Nam years this book touched me deeply. Well written and very informative, Jim Crigler opens his soul to share an incredible story. I read it in four sittings.