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Steven Hartov
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Michael J. Durant
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The Night Stalkers: Top Secret Missions of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Aviation Regiment Kindle Edition

by Michael J. Durant (Author), Steven Hartov (Author), Robert L. Johnson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 620 ratings
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From the New York Times bestselling authors of In the Company of Heroes comes a thrilling account of military aviation for history buffs and “for those who love vivid tales of battlefield heroics” (Publishers Weekly). 

In the world of covert warfare, Special Operations pilots are notoriously close-lipped about what they do. They don’t talk about their missions to anyone outside their small community. But now, Michael J. Durant and Steven Hartov shed fascinating light on the mysterious elite commandos known as SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) and take readers into a shadowy world of combat they have only imagined.
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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Dutton Caliber
  5. Publication date
    December 28, 2006
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. File size
    4771 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Until 1980, Special Forces (Delta, SEALs, Rangers, Green Berets) relied on ad hoc transportation from other units to get to every operation. That led to disaster in 1980, when the failed Iranian hostage rescue left hulks of five helicopters in the Iranian desert. The U.S. Army decided to do it right the next time, resulting in the creation of SOAR, the Special Operations Aviation Regiment, a highly trained, aggressive unit of helicopter pilots and crew. Durant (In the Company of Heroes) and coauthors recount half a dozen SOAR missions from Grenada in 1983 and Panama in 1989 to Afghanistan and Iraq today, all with abundant fireworks and casualties. However, in this account, bravery occurs only on our side, while opponents are gleefully cackling comic-book villains blown to smithereens by America's deadly firepower. Readers who wonder why our magnificent troops are assailing, say, the Panamanian army, which no one would mistake for the Wehrmacht, have picked up the wrong book. It's written for those who love vivid tales of battlefield heroics and seek no more insight from books than they do from video games. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Three authors, all army veterans, join forces for this history of their service's Special Aviation Regiment. Founded in the 1970s, the unit received a boost from the Iran hostage fiasco. It first went to war in Grenada in 1983 and since then has flown, usually by night, hence the name Night Stalkers, everywhere army special-ops troops have needed to be delivered and supported. Durant and coauthor Robert L. Johnson are veterans of the regiment itself, so they can retell, vividly but discreetly, what it feels like to go into action against what are frequently blood-chilling odds. Sometimes the Stalkers use state-of-the-art stealth helicopters, in whose development the regiment played a significant role; at other times, they use more conventional "birds" and rely on darkness and skill. The book's action scenes are numerous and spine-tingling, its portraits of men living a life of danger absorbing, and the regiment's sadly long roll of honor distinctly moving. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004GJW51S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton Caliber (December 28, 2006)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 28, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4771 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0451222911
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 620 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Steven Hartov

    Steven Hartov

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    Steven Hartov was born in New London, Connecticut, attended public schools in New England and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Boston University. In 1973, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine Military Sealift Command, beginning a series of adventures that would later appear in his non-fiction pieces and fictional works.

    In 1977, he volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces Airborne Corps, serving first as a paratrooper and later in a Special Operations branch of Israeli Military Intelligence. He subsequently spent 13 more years as a reservist in the IDF, and later as a Task Force commander, rank of major, in the New York Guard.

    In the mid-1980s, he began writing a series of espionage novels based in the Middle East. His trilogy, “The Heat of Ramadan,” “The Nylon Hand of God” and “The Devil’s Shepherd,” earned nominations for the National Book Award, top ten placements in the Book of the Month Club and translations into six foreign languages. In 2003, he co-authored the New York Times non-fiction best seller, “In the Company of Heroes,” followed by “The Night Stalkers” and "Afghanistan on the Bounce."

    His newest novel, "The Last of the Seven" (August 2022) is the second part of a thrilling WWII trilogy that began with "The Soul of a Thief" (May 2018), also from Hanover Square.

    He is the former Editor-In-Chief of Special Operations Report, a professional journal on military and law enforcement special tactics. His works are recommended readings by the U.S. Army War College.

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  2. Michael J. Durant

    Michael J. Durant

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
620 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the plot amazing and inspiring. They also find the content highly interesting, accurate, and brave beyond words. Readers describe the book as well worth the read and perfect for military aviation lovers. They mention the book is a good read and the backbone to successful operations.

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ReadabilityContentPlot
63 customers mention "Readability"63 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very well written, easy to follow, and filled with action. They also say it's committed, dedicated, and the backbone to successful operations.

"...It isn't overly dramatic like a novel, but it's a very good read...." Read more

"A very good read, even for someone who has walked the walk. Lots of plenty of stick time in this book" Read more

"...The overall reading experience is positive and interesting, it's just that many times you wish the authors would be allowed to tell us more of the..." Read more

"...Downloaded Night Stalkers and it is a great book about some of our best military personnel...." Read more

38 customers mention "Content"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly interesting, accurate, and well-researched. They also say it provides a great history and good story telling that transports them to the middle of the battle. Readers also describe the book as an excellent, must-read for aviation enthusiasts. They say the soldiers are amazing and brave beyond words.

"...This is a fascinating book for anyone into military history. Most of the stories are recounts from many different people...." Read more

"...is usually invisible for us "mortals", and does so in an interesting and engaging way - recommended." Read more

"This book strikes an incredible balance between providing historical context and the heroic stories these men have endured. Truly a great read!" Read more

"...Night Stalkers provides a great history, information on a number of very challenging missions and details of the warriors who made it happen...." Read more

14 customers mention "Plot"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot amazing, with lots of things happening. They also say the book is well-written and grabs their attention.

"This was a captivating book about the members of the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and their astonishing exploits." Read more

"...There are lots of individual stories within this volume that tell of the many heros of this organization, both living and dead...." Read more

"Good detail and nice narrative. Describes a unit that I am very proud of...." Read more

"...It is very well written,easy to follow and filled with action...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Robb Fladry
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
Full disclosure - My father is one of the 160th pilots mentioned throughout this book, as he is a plank holder of the Nightstalkers.

Much like one of the other reviewers on here, I grew up knowing my dad was a helicopter pilot and that was about it. I knew he was in the 160th and he was gone a lot.. and that meant we couldn't talk to him on the phone or really know where he was. I thought this was normal, I had no idea what was really going on. When I was really little I knew he had a helicopter accident but never knew the specifics.. that is until I read this book. And of course, when I finally read the chapter that went into great detail about my dad's accident I was a little boy all over again, balling uncontrollably.

This is a fascinating book for anyone into military history. Most of the stories are recounts from many different people. Some of the minor details may be a little bit off, as they are recounts from many different parties. It isn't overly dramatic like a novel, but it's a very good read. I have a personal connection yes, but I know other people who have read the book and were really into it.

It's pretty cheap, so give it a shot. Would be a good gift for someone who is into the military, history or helicopters.
18 people found this helpful
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Donald Neeley
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
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A very good read, even for someone who has walked the walk. Lots of plenty of stick time in this book
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Shawn Callaghan
5.0 out of 5 stars Night Stalkers Are Unsung Heroes
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023
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I originally purchased this book for my wife. She raved about it, so I read it. A tour de force of the 160th SOAR! The stories make you feel like you are in the cockpit with the aircrew. You feel their excitement and suffer with their losses, which are many. You learn about their history, development, missions, training and reputation. If you wanted to be a part of their unit, they decided if you were good enough and if they wanted you! Your rank, tenure and position didn’t matter. In a specialized unit like this, skills and abilities are more important to successes. You laugh at their humor to lighten the mood in life or death instances. Real heroes don’t seek recognition, but their stories need to be told to keep their memories alive and honor their sacrifices. In the end a new chapter in the world of SOCOM.
One person found this helpful
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Flying Photographer
4.0 out of 5 stars An overview of the development of Special Ops Aviation in the US Army
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
The authors are presenting a brief and bit shallow overview of the history of the US Army's Special Operations Aviation Regiment, from it's first missions after Vietnam to Afghanistan, through short chapters, each one dealing with one particular mission and with extensive narrative from the participants.

As a former member of this regiment, Mr. Durant is evidently well prepared to tell the stories "from within". Unfortunately, as with so many books dealing with the rather secretive Special Forces, the need to keep (still widely used) tactics and procedures secret means that sometimes many interesting facets of the operations are kept untold. At least I found myself (too) many times asking "why" and "how", without finding any answers in the book.

Nevertheless, the brief glimpse that the reader is allowed into this secretive world reveals a long succession of very professional men (and women) with a strong dedication to their job and a deep sense of duty and honor. The overall reading experience is positive and interesting, it's just that many times you wish the authors would be allowed to tell us more of the full story behind the few facts uncovered. In case you wonder, only the truly gripping description of the (failed) mission in Afghanistan is well worth the price of the book!

Overall, the authors provide us with a unique insight into an area of the US military forces that is usually invisible for us "mortals", and does so in an interesting and engaging way - recommended.
14 people found this helpful
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Dale T Fortney
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about the 160th SOAR!
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023
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This was a captivating book about the members of the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and their astonishing exploits.
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Edward A. Lehan, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Intense Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2022
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I listened to an interview of Durant on the Jocko Podcast and it t was riveting. Downloaded Night Stalkers and it is a great book about some of our best military personnel. Knew little about this special team and now have tremendous respect for them. And grateful for their devotion and commitment to our freedom.
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Thomas H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight into The Special Operations Aviation Regiment
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2022
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This book strikes an incredible balance between providing historical context and the heroic stories these men have endured. Truly a great read!
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Steve Dietrich
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting History and Adventure - Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2009
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As other have noted it is more historical than In The Company of Heroes and that is perhaps its strength.

Durant and his co-authors trace the evolution of the Night Stalkers from the flaming tragedy of aborted Iranian hostage attempt that doomed the Carter administration. The dilemma of the Iranian operation was that it required both long range helicopters that would not look out of place on a carrier deck and warrior pilots. The mistake was to focus on the machines over the pilots.

To reach full effectiveness in the operations which require air assets the special forces community needed a dedicated air component rather than borrowing assets for various missions.

Night Stalkers provides a great history, information on a number of very challenging missions and details of the warriors who made it happen.

Highly recommended.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente de Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing inisght to what the SOAR does
Reviewed in Mexico on August 8, 2022
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I think this is an even better book by Mike Durant than Company of Heroes, this is a compendium of mission tales from Granada to the beginings of the war in Afghanistan. All the stories told here are amazing and shoudl be coveted by serious readers and helicopter pilots.
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Yogesh
2.0 out of 5 stars Quality below expectation
Reviewed in India on August 26, 2021
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The quality of cover and paper is below average.
Definately not commensurate to the cost.
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Jamie Norris
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story
Reviewed in Australia on March 17, 2021
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This is a peek inside a very secret part of the US Army, that I highly recommend to read. I really enjoyed reading it myself.
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David Chabot
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh this book was amazing. The 160th deserves more recognition in the special ...
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2015
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Oh this book was amazing. The 160th deserves more recognition in the special ops scheme and from a civilian point of view, the book opened my eye on their history and capabilities. Highly interesting read, I'd recommend to any military enthusiast. Keep in mind that they don't reveal huge secrets, just basic stories and eye openers.
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Franco Nocera
4.0 out of 5 stars Libro che racconta efficacemente i Night Stalkers ed il loro lavoro.
Reviewed in Italy on April 3, 2016
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Ho approcciato alla lettura di questo libro con parecchi dubbi sul contenuto poiché parte del lavoro del 160° SOAR è classificato e quindi non divulgabile.

Mi sono ricreduto: la descrizione degli eventi storici raggiunge il livello di dettaglio necessario per far sentire il lettore pienamente appagato. Anche la descrizione da un punto di vista tecnico del volo e delle missioni, per quanto semplificata, lascia sufficientemente appagati. La narrazione (forse un pò "epicizzata" se mi si passa il termine) è avvincente e per quanto l'inglese non sia la mia lingua madre il libro si fa leggere tutto. Il racconto poi dei lati umani (o superumani visto i personaggi al centro delle vicende) chiarisce le difficoltà che questi uomini devono affrontare ed il loro approccio mentale alla professione, alla vita che comporta e nei confronti della morte che è quasi sempre presente nelle vicende narrate.

Un bel libro quindi indicato ad un pubblico affascinato dal mondo militare, dalle forze speciali, dall'avventura e perché no anche dalla Storia.
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