Shawn Ryan Show
#148 Alan C. Mack - Flying Through Hell: Real Combat Stories from a Night Stalker Pilot
09 Dec 2024
Alan C. Mack is a retired U.S. Army Master Aviator and veteran of over 35 years of service. He spent 17 years with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the "Night Stalkers," flying MH-47 Chinook helicopters on missions such as the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the rescue of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell during Operation Red Wings. Mack's career included roles as a Flight Lead, Instructor, and Commander at West Point, amassing over 6,700 flight hours and earning accolades like the Distinguished Flying Cross and Legion of Merit. In his book, Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars, Mack shares gripping accounts of his combat experiences and personal challenges, including the toll of frequent deployments on his family. Now serving as a Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services in New York, he continues to inspire audiences with stories of resilience and leadership. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://shopify.com/srs https://helixsleep.com/srs https://betterhelp.com/srs https://hillsdale.edu/srs https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner Alan C. Mack Links: Website - https://alancmack.com Book - https://alancmack.com/razor-03-a-night-stalkers-wars X - https://x.com/alancmack2015 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alancmack2015 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlanCMackAuthor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-c-mack Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
Alan Mack, welcome to the show, man.
Oh, thanks for having me.
It's my pleasure. So, first helicopter pilot on the show from Night Stalker TF-160, Man, I've been wanting to get one of you guys for a long time. And then we connected, what, about two years ago? About a year and a half. A year and a half ago. And then for whatever reason, the conversation kind of fell off. But now you're here. And, man, I'm pumped. I'm glad to be.
We've had a ton of requests for TF160th guys. So thank you for making the trip. Glad to be here. That's all I can say. But, yeah. So everybody... Starts off with an intro. So, man, you've been a part of like so much history, high profile missions in the GWOD. I just can't wait to get another perspective. We've interviewed a lot of guys that you've,
A lot of guys that have been on ops that you've been a part of and very apparent. We have a lot of mutual friends. As I got blown up, hey, you got to get this guy on the show. But I can't wait to get another perspective, and I want to dig into your training and all that stuff and get the life of a Night Stalker documented. But... Quick rundown of your intro.
You've served more than 35 years, 17 of which were served in Army Special Operations as a combat and instructor pilot. Entrusted with the United States Military Academy Flight Detachment at West Point, New York, logged more than 6,700 flying hours, 3,200 with night vision goggles. Taken part in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and was a major factor in the Global War on Terror.
Flew MH-47s while assigned to 160th SOAR, the Army's only special operations aviation regiment. Your crew was one of the first into Afghanistan and the first into Mazar-Sharif as part of America's response to the attacks on 9-11.
Highly decorated, receiving the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, ten Air Medals, one with Valor, Combat Action Badge, and the Army Broken Wing Award. Now you serve your local government as Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services for Orange County, New York. You're the author of Razor 03, A Night Stalker's Wars.
And you have another book coming out, from my understanding, from when we spoke at breakfast.
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