Honoring Veterans - The Meaning of Honor

On Veterans Day, we reflect on the Army core value of Honor and how it is deeply instilled in Night Stalkers through commitment to mission and comrades.

Date

November 11, 2023

Category

Community

November 11th is upon us. On Veterans Day, we remember those who served honorably. On this Veterans Day, while we remember those who served, I want to take a moment to recognize the importance of the Army core value of Honor. And, I would like to give you a glimpse into how this trait is deeply instilled in Night Stalkers.

To a Night Stalker, Honor is living a life in service to a mission. As a values-based organization, defined by a creed, members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) are ingrained with an idea more important than self. Personal courage is expected and demanded. It's a tough life, with outcomes defined by minutes and seconds on a clock and inches on the ground.

When flying a mission, Night Stalkers use the "One Minute" time warning to synchronize the formation before an air assault begins and is a time warning to alert the ground force just before landing on the target. At "One Minute" the target is in sight, and it is time to call upon the sharpened awareness which exacts the very best from each Night Stalker.

Commitment is universal in those final seconds: a commitment to a cause, to the Soldiers on your left and right in the aircraft, to each and every Soldier on the ground. Because of this moment, we owe it to each other to uphold a higher standard. And through this commitment, we Honor every Soldier on the mission as well as the memory and sacrifice of those who went before us.

This Veterans Day, please acknowledge the hidden wounds that can be left behind by such a commitment to Honor. Please reach out to a Night Stalker or Veteran to check in and ask: How are you, my friend? Then Listen to what they have to say.

We've lost too many this year. Don't let a Friend, a Patriot, or a Veteran fade into the annals of history. Show your commitment of Honor, by checking in with those who served.

We thank Night Stalkers and all Veterans for their service. And we at the Night Stalker Foundation commit to them by supporting Soldiers, families, Gold Star Spouses and all of those who served in the 160th SOAR(A).

I serve with the memory and pride of those who have gone before me for they loved to fight, fought to win and would rather die than quit. (Night Stalker Creed)

Night Stalkers Don't Quit!

Bill Golden
Chairman, Night Stalker Foundation

Author
Bill Golden

LTC (Ret.) Bill Golden is Chairman of the Night Stalker Foundation. A former 3/160th SOAR(A) Battalion Commander, he served as a Task Force Commander for SOF rotary wing assets in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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