HOOAH: Night Stalkers singled out for special heroism Nine Line News Team October 9, 2020 Nine Line News 514 The mission of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. Nicknamed Night Stalkers, these soldiers are known particularly for their prowess during nighttime operations, when they’re able to strike undetected under cover of darkness. Their motto is “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit.” On October 2, U.S. Army Gen. Richard D. Clarke, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command awarded presented four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Combat device, three Air Medals with Valor and seven Air Medals with Combat device to Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. “The heroism displayed by these crews represents the best of what Special Operations bring to the Joint Force every day,” Clarke said. “These Night Stalker Soldiers risked their lives under fire to accomplish the mission and save the lives of their comrades on the ground. These medals are small acknowledgements of what our Special Operations Aviation Regiment teams and special operations forces put on the line.” According to the United States Special Operations Command Facebook page, “The medals arise from two separate multi-day missions last year. One mission removed a terrorist leader from the battlefield while under heavy fire deep inside enemy territory in an undisclosed location. The other mission occurred in Afghanistan where the Soldiers lifted casualties to safety during a battle that required the crew to land about 75 yards from an enemy strong point.” Soldiers of the 160th have been actively engaged in the War on Terror since October 2001. Today, the continues a sustained and active forward presence in the U.S. Central Command area of operations at multiple locations in support of operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and New Dawn, in Iraq respectively. Crews also provide support to U.S. Southern and Pacific commands. At Nine Line, we feel a particular connection to the Night Stalkers – after all, our CEO, Tyler Merritt was also a Night Stalker in the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment, providing close air support in Blackhawk helicopters to Rangers, Delta Force, Special Forces and Navy SEALs. It was during his service in the 160th that Tyler got the idea to create a company that would honor the sacrifices made daily by all men and women in uniform, whether they wear the uniform of police, firefighters or warfighters, and inspire every American to be a patriot. One sentence in particular in the Night Stalker creed imbues everything the company does: “I am a tested volunteer seeking only to safeguard the honor and prestige of my country.” Tyler named the company Nine Line, a term known throughout the military as a call for help, because he wanted to make sure those who have served this nation knew they would always have a voice and a lifeline in their hour of need. The Nine Line Foundation was created help severely wounded service members and advocate for veterans on other issues. In the last five years, the foundation has spearheaded initiatives to build wheelchair-accessible homes and tiny homes for homeless veterans. We salute the fine warriors honored this week — just up the road from our Savannah HQ — who “loved to fight, fought to win and would rather die than quit.”
