WEBVTT

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(patriotic music)

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- [Narrator] Chief Warrant
Officer 5 Don Tabron

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was born in 1956 in
the suburbs of Chicago.

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Following High School, he
enlisted in the Army in 1975.

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He was initially assigned
to Fort Sill, Oklahoma,

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as an Artillery Man

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and then to Korea as a Personnel Manager.

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His ambition to fly was
one born of curiosity

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but became his passion and driving force.

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In 1979, Chief Tabron attended

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Warrant Officer Candidate School.

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He was appointed an Aviation
Warrant Officer in 1980

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before attending flight school.

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He was assigned as an OH-58A
Kiowa scout pilot in Germany.

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But in 1992 he assessed
and was selected to join

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the elite 160th Special
Operations Aviation Regiment,

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the Night Stalkers, to
fly the MH-47 Chinook.

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He's deployed in support of operation

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Provide Comfort, Restore Hope,

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Desert Thunder and Southern Watch.

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Within 12 days of September 11th, 2001,

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he was deployed as support
of the War on Terror.

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In the early hours of March 4th, 2002,

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a helicopter was severely damaged

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by enemy fire in eastern Afghanistan

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while attempted to insert
a team of Navy Seals

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on the peak of a mountain
called Takur Ghar.

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During the aborted insertion,

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Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts

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fell from the back of the
helicopter onto the mountain top.

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Chief Tabron was the Air Mission Commander

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on the Quick Reaction Force

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tasked with inserting a team of rangers

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to locate the fallen seal on the mountain

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that would become known as Roberts Ridge.

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During this mission,

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his MH-47 was shot down
on the peak by enemy fire,

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beginning an 18 hour battle for survival.

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Despite receiving a gun shot wound,

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Chief Tabron immediately assisted

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in securing the perimeter
of the crash site

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as well as gathering and
caring for the wounded.

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An intense fire fight ensued

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with a numerically superior
and entrenched enemy.

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Chief Tabron repeatedly exposed himself

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to heavy machine gun and
rocket propelled grenade fire

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while running through open terrain

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to provide ammunition
resupply to the rangers force.

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He never stopped fighting the enemy

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and providing aid to his
critically injured comrades

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until they were able to be
extracted the following night.

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He was awarded the Silver Star

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for his heroic actions on Roberts Ridge.

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Chief Tabron continued
to serve with distinction

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and deployed with the

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160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

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until his retirement in 2010.

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He accumulated almost 6,000 flight hours

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over his distinguished
34 year Army career.

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He continues to serve his country

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and the Night Stalkers
as a civilian contractor.

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Chief Tabron embodies the
Night Stalker motto of

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Night Stalkers don't quit.