Mack and his fellow Night Stalkers flew at night, at low altitude, through mountains, weather, dust, and enemy fire, often relying on night vision goggles and the instruments in front of them. Their missions took them deep into Afghanistan and Iraq, inserting and recovering special operations forces, evacuating wounded troops, and bringing soldiers home.

But Chinooks in the Dark is about far more than helicopters and combat missions. It is about the people who made those missions possible. Pilots, crew chiefs, flight engineers, maintainers, and support personnel worked together with a level of trust earned through years of training and shared experience. Everyone had a job to do, and everyone depended on the person beside them to do it.

The book also captures the personalities, humor, and friendships that existed alongside the danger. Characters like Bitchin’ Betty and Jabba, along with the occasional search for Baskin-Robbins ice cream, remind readers that even in difficult circumstances, soldiers find reasons to laugh.

Ultimately, Chinooks in the Dark is a story about what it meant to be a Night Stalker. The aircraft were remarkable, but they were machines. What mattered were the people who flew them, maintained them, and climbed aboard knowing where they were going and what might be waiting when they got there. They trained hard because other people’s lives depended on them. When the mission came, they went.

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit

Their two-fold mission – Personnel Recovery (PR) and Unconventional Warfare(UW) involved flying in terrain and weather previously not thought possible. But, if that wasn’t enough, they pushed the flight envelope of their specially modified Chinooks to the limit and beyond.

Alan shares his behind-the-scenes perspective of the Horse Soldier’s infil into Afghanistan. He discusses the hunt for Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora and describes his shootdown during Operation Anaconda. Years later, he chased Beau Bergdahl, rescued hostages in Iraq, and the Lone Survivor from the Kunar Valley.

Alan’s near-death experiences and frequent deployments not only affected him but pushed his wife toward prescription opioids. Her developing addiction led to friction as he kept her secret and continued to deploy.

He lived by his unit’s motto, Night Stalkers Don’t Quit! He wouldn’t quit on his unit – he couldn’t quit on his family. His story of success, tragedy, and ultimate happiness is as old as warfare itself.