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Making a Night Stalker
David Burnett takes readers into a unique world of the 160th Special Operations Aviation regiment. His journey starts in a conventional Army unit where he doesn't feel fulfilled in his duties and obligations. This lack of responsibility drives David to pursue the dream of becoming an MH-47G Chinook helicopter crew chief in the most secretive and elite aviation unit in the world.
David is met with constant hurdles and set backs trying to achieve his ultimate goal but he is more determined than ever. After graduating from the units five week selection process he is thrown into school after school and non stop training before being able to step foot on the aircraft he so desperately dreams of crewing on.
After almost a year in the Special Operations unit he is trained and ready to deploy with 160th, and it is nothing short of intense. He learns quickly that his new units mission op tempo is exactly what he had hoped. He is eager to prove himself among the ranks and continues to hone his craft over the next four years. After five deployments with the unit as a crew chief he is discharged from the military.
After leaving the fast paced world of the SOF community he falls into a deep depression. Alcohol becomes the new most important thing, and he finds himself in a new and reckless battlefield. He never saw this coming.
David is met with constant hurdles and set backs trying to achieve his ultimate goal but he is more determined than ever. After graduating from the units five week selection process he is thrown into school after school and non stop training before being able to step foot on the aircraft he so desperately dreams of crewing on.
After almost a year in the Special Operations unit he is trained and ready to deploy with 160th, and it is nothing short of intense. He learns quickly that his new units mission op tempo is exactly what he had hoped. He is eager to prove himself among the ranks and continues to hone his craft over the next four years. After five deployments with the unit as a crew chief he is discharged from the military.
After leaving the fast paced world of the SOF community he falls into a deep depression. Alcohol becomes the new most important thing, and he finds himself in a new and reckless battlefield. He never saw this coming.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2019
72 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 28, 2019
I checked this book out of the local public library, after I requested they buy a copy. Rather happy I did, David really told a honest story about how tough it is just to make and stay in the Special Forces units. In this case, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) that inserts & extracts Special Forces operators that go out and capture/kill terrorists like bombmakers and yes, terrorist kingpins.
However, the book is maybe 1/3rd to 2/5ths about training while flying like how to conduct fastropes and operate a Forward Area Refueling Point/FARP, maybe 1/5th about David's courageous deployments to Afghanistan and the rest about training to a point able to train while flying like getting dunked and simulating being a Prisoner of War (POW). I would still recommend the book, especially as I've seen the 160th SOAR MH-47G Chinooks up close & personal at several airshows. Gives one a new appreciation of the enlisted personnel who keep the Chinooks flying and fighting - and those enlisted crew chiefs do so much more than just shoot the door guns!
However, the book is maybe 1/3rd to 2/5ths about training while flying like how to conduct fastropes and operate a Forward Area Refueling Point/FARP, maybe 1/5th about David's courageous deployments to Afghanistan and the rest about training to a point able to train while flying like getting dunked and simulating being a Prisoner of War (POW). I would still recommend the book, especially as I've seen the 160th SOAR MH-47G Chinooks up close & personal at several airshows. Gives one a new appreciation of the enlisted personnel who keep the Chinooks flying and fighting - and those enlisted crew chiefs do so much more than just shoot the door guns!
January 6, 2020
NSDQ
As a former nightstalker this book tells a very true and real story. I was assigned to the unit in the mid eighties and saw it grow by leaps and bounds. When it was planed to start the 3rd Bn. I was selected to transfer there and help get the unit up and running. We started with a lot of new people and old equipment but we became a proud unit. We were the first soar unit on the ground for the first gulf war and we were blessed to return to home base in one piece.
To be a member of the 160th is an honor and something to remember for all of your life.
To all the men serving now and that served in the past remember
Nightstalkers Don't Quit
As a former nightstalker this book tells a very true and real story. I was assigned to the unit in the mid eighties and saw it grow by leaps and bounds. When it was planed to start the 3rd Bn. I was selected to transfer there and help get the unit up and running. We started with a lot of new people and old equipment but we became a proud unit. We were the first soar unit on the ground for the first gulf war and we were blessed to return to home base in one piece.
To be a member of the 160th is an honor and something to remember for all of your life.
To all the men serving now and that served in the past remember
Nightstalkers Don't Quit
December 2, 2018
The Real Deal!
If you’ve ever wanted a “no fluff” look at the experiences of the American soldier look no further than this book. Although Mr. Burnett’s story takes place in the context of one of America’s most elite and secretive SOF units, I feel like anyone who has ever had to overcome great obstacles to achieve a goal will relate to this story. The tales of brotherhood, deployments, loss, and “embracing the suck” reminded me of my own time serving in the Army during OIF. The story of life post-military reminded me of the battles that many of our warriors still face. This is a must read!
If you’ve ever wanted a “no fluff” look at the experiences of the American soldier look no further than this book. Although Mr. Burnett’s story takes place in the context of one of America’s most elite and secretive SOF units, I feel like anyone who has ever had to overcome great obstacles to achieve a goal will relate to this story. The tales of brotherhood, deployments, loss, and “embracing the suck” reminded me of my own time serving in the Army during OIF. The story of life post-military reminded me of the battles that many of our warriors still face. This is a must read!
August 1, 2019
The perfect modern aviation biography
To a regular everyday soldier this book might not be as mesmerizing as most other war fighting books. As a crew chief, this book speaks to me on all kinds of levels. The fact that there is finally a book that helps portray the hard work, dedication, and lively hood of crew chiefs is an eye opener for most. My words can’t not do justice. I highly recommend you take the time out of your busy life and listen to what the former night stalker has to say.
To a regular everyday soldier this book might not be as mesmerizing as most other war fighting books. As a crew chief, this book speaks to me on all kinds of levels. The fact that there is finally a book that helps portray the hard work, dedication, and lively hood of crew chiefs is an eye opener for most. My words can’t not do justice. I highly recommend you take the time out of your busy life and listen to what the former night stalker has to say.
July 8, 2019
What a Ride
Well written and a great story. Author did a great job of putting you right in the action. That was good and bad. Good going through Green Team and bad sitting in the living room. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in joining the Night Stalkers or Army Aviation in general.
Well written and a great story. Author did a great job of putting you right in the action. That was good and bad. Good going through Green Team and bad sitting in the living room. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in joining the Night Stalkers or Army Aviation in general.
April 4, 2022
profoundly powerful book
The book starts with a detailed and accurate portrayal of the path to becoming a special aviation warfare soldier. The middle half is an interesting but not exceptional war story which would have been 4 star worthy on its own. The conclusion, however, was totally unexpected, personal, and profound. The best military book I have read in a long time.
The book starts with a detailed and accurate portrayal of the path to becoming a special aviation warfare soldier. The middle half is an interesting but not exceptional war story which would have been 4 star worthy on its own. The conclusion, however, was totally unexpected, personal, and profound. The best military book I have read in a long time.
May 23, 2019
Good play-by-play of what it takes to make it to the highest level. Really liked the story angle that David was in the Army for a while before taking it up a notch to become a Nightstalker.
June 27, 2019
Intense. Very real for all the right reasons.
This caused me to have a lot of my own nightmares, but I still enjoyed the telling. The body cries out years after these events.
This caused me to have a lot of my own nightmares, but I still enjoyed the telling. The body cries out years after these events.
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July 28, 2020A realistic portrait of what it takes to become a Special Operations officer.
January 13, 2024
Covers joining the Night Stalkers as flight crew for a special ops Chinook. Interesting, not up to Dick Crouch's standards.
April 14, 2019
This was a good biography of a man who joined the regular army and then wanted to go special forces. This book does a very good job about describing characters and situations that the author went through while serving in special forces. The author goes through very vivid scenarios about his time in Afghanistan and then his transition to the civilian world. While reading this book I could tell the author was honest and that the stories in this book are genuine. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to know more about the 160th special forces aviation community and their role on how they contribute to that community.
December 25, 2021
Truly a great read for Veterans that have served in harms way. Burnie brings the fight to you. Just really impressive how the author opens up about the highs and lows that many combat Veterans live through.
April 14, 2020
Great book.
November 14, 2022
Awesome book! It kept my attention the whole time.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews