"What do you remember from your life after combat?" An interview with a real Delta Force officer from Black Hawk Down

"Norm Hooten" is one of the Delta Forces special operations officers.
In Operation Gothic Serpent, he and his team went on a mission

He completed the mission before everything started going wrong from the second.
Where a Black Hawk plane was shot down and during a raid and capture mission
It later became a rescue mission.



His story has inspired the design.
Delta Force character "Hoot" in the movie Black Hawk Down.
The owner of the famous phrase "This is my safety"

If you haven't read the article about this scene, you can watch it at this link.

" This is my safety " A famous phrase from the movie Black Hawk Down
By the actual officers at the event – ​​Valor Tactical

And today .. we will interview Norm Hooten to share his experiences.
Including his life story after the Black Hawk Down incident.



"If there is anything to be gained from fighting,
That's when you do anything, stay mindful, don't lose your mind."

"The real situation is not as good as you think, and it is not as bad as you think either.
But remember to keep your head down and find a way to get out of here."

Hooten said in an interview…

Back in the summer of 1993, Delta Forces
Working with US Rangers on an arrest mission
Or assassinate extremist leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Who is behind the massacre and torture of innocent people?
Within the city of Mogadishu, Somalia



On October 3, intelligence received information that
A group of high-ranking Aid officials who were the main targets
There was a plan to hold a meeting in the building, and that led to an operation called
Operation Gothic Serpent, whose main mission is to raid and arrest
VIPs, collect information and take them out of the area.

At that time, everything went smoothly.
Until the turning point was when the Black Hawk helicopter
The guard was shot and fell into Somali territory.

You can watch video clips of actual events.
In the second the plane crashed, you can see it at the link below.



The incident caused a chain reaction.
From a mission that should have ended in less than an hour
It turned into a rescue operation and continued clashes.
With Somalis for almost 2 days, taking lives
Up to 18 US personnel and hundreds of Somalis



Hooten began serving in the Army in 1980.
Was inducted into the Delta Forces in 1987.
And he retired from government service in 2001.

He has fought in many tough battles outside of Mogadishu.
Whether it's around Lebanon, Jordan, or the Balkans

He now owns his own cigar and whiskey business.
Under the brand name "Hooten Young", which is his business
I have partnered with my long-time friend, Tim Young.

And he is also a pharmacist who supports fellow veterans.
From chronic painkiller addiction and still performing duties until today

And here is his interview...



Interviewer: Okay.. I understand that you can't disclose.
Many details related to
Delta Forces units are abundant.
But can you share your story with us?
About the feeling when you are in the unit
What many people don't know about
Being a member of Delta Unit?

Norm Hooten : When I look back to when I first joined the unit,
I think the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Delta is a muscular, athletic guy.
It's like everyone is coming out of the NFL.
In the national league) are strong, aggressive, and different from ordinary people.

But in reality, it's not like that at all... What makes them different
From soldiers or ordinary people, it is a thought process pattern.
Discipline, strong organization and readiness
In every action he takes there is always preparation.


(Red circle: Norm Hooten during his Delta Forces recruitment.)

When you were in a regular unit, when you went to war
Or when you go on active duty, you have the opportunity to come back home and relax with your family.
And waiting for the time to return to duty...

But being in Delta is not like that..
Throughout my 15 years in government service
There has never been a day that I have neglected or forgotten that I must
Check my equipment including my armor and firearms.
Be ready for action because in every minute of life
You may be called on a mission at any time.



It's stress and pressure, it's like
The rope that pulls our minds and we call it "The Short Sting"
Which, with our jobs, has become common sense.
That makes us feel like we have to be ready at all times.

Whether it is physical fitness, ability
In shooting accurately, as in shooting, language and communication.
Every technique in strategy execution requires you to be proficient.
And always be ready. You can't let your guard down.
That's what's always been in our heads, and that's what makes
We are different from other units in the army.

Which I believe many people might think, "Hey... this might be the answer.
"I think it's just a good Delta officer's." But I'll tell you this.

Of all the Delta officers I've worked with throughout my career,
I have never met anyone who lives a life different from what I have described above.
There is not a single one. Everyone lives their life this way.



Interviewer: And with this way of life...
How do you balance your personal life with your work?

Norm Hooten : Let me tell you something.
I tried very hard to get into this unit.
I am proud to be part of the unit.
Just like everyone else who is in the same spot

And that made me feel like I had to do everything.
So that they don't get disappointed, so every day
The only thing I was focused on in my life at that time was that I had to make sure that
I will not become someone who weighs others down.
Or disappoint others in the team

When I first joined the unit, I was single.
And I don't have a family, which is very easy.
In managing life, many people I know
Had a family before being assigned to the unit



And when the time comes that you need to spend up to 300 days a year,
On duty and when it's time for you to return home
Even though you are at home, you don't feel like you are at home.
Because you were trained, your life is more about mission than your home.

That makes family life very difficult for them.
Making many families feel that their husbands and fathers have changed.
For me.. it's much easier and it seems to be an advantage for me.
He never had a family during the first 8 years of his service in the unit.

After the first 8 years, I started to adapt to it better and better.
And I had the opportunity to meet a good leader who had experience in combat.
Including the combat commander during the Vietnam War, he gave good advice.
In living with me, I was able to successfully balance my life.

The trick is ..

"You don't have to take yourself away.
Compare yourself to others, don't be too serious about being superior.
Or maybe there is someone better than you. Try to let go and try.
Let's step forward in a relaxed manner, in a way that makes us feel comfortable.
Life doesn't always have to be serious about everything. "

And that really helped me a lot. It had an impact on my life.
This concept helps in making many decisions in life.
Even when I decided to leave the army
and apply to study to become a pharmacist at the Veterans Hospital



The turning point for me was when I lost my friend.
From the symptoms of drug overdose (Overdose), which seems normal.
Of former soldiers in that era ...

We've all been through battles, we've all got scars.
Whether it's physical or mental, especially for special forces personnel.
We experience many forms of pain, many injuries.
That makes us accustomed to taking painkillers or other medicines.

Ultimately, it leads some of us to rely on it.
Some people even become addicted just because they need to use such painkillers.
To make them feel like they can live a normal life

That made me determined to study this subject, to find the cause of the problem.
And how to fix it properly made me choose my new life mission.
That is, I want to help my fellow soldiers to escape from addiction.
Using painkillers, I want them to return to living a happy life.



In addition, the decision to launch a whiskey and cigar brand
It is another choice that I chose to do because of peace of mind as well.

We started this business by making cigars.
Because we all like to smoke a lot, this time the problem is
It is quite difficult to find a whiskey that goes well with cigars.
So we ended up making more whiskey.

And it's all very well. I think I'm happy with my retirement.
In my own way and in the way that I am most comfortable with.



Okay...let's get into some easy questions.
What is your all-time favorite movie?

Norm Hooten : I like the series Band of Brothers.
I feel like this is a movie that captures all the feelings of being a soldier.
A complete package in one movie, especially when it comes to leadership.
And going through all the stories together, every time I watch it.
I always get new ideas from this movie.

I think every officer who is inspired wants to be a good leader.
You should watch this movie at least once, and if you want to recommend it,
Another movie would be Saving Private Ryan that gives you that feeling.
Similar to what I mentioned

If there was a zombie outbreak in the world, what would be the first thing you would do?

Norm Hooten: 5.56 ammo, about 10,000 rounds.
And an M4 rifle with a dot and night vision device.



What has been your biggest fear since you began your career?

Norm Hooten: There are actually a lot of stories.
That scared me a lot, but this is the best for me.
It was the last parachute jump of his official career.

At that time, I had just signed the resignation document from the army.
I was about to walk out and I met my teammate.
He looked at me and said, "Hey.. We have parachute practice today.
"Would you like to join us?" I replied to him, "We've already signed the resignation letter, mate."

My friend looked at me and said,
"Come on...this is the last time I'll skydive in my life."
When I came to, I was riding with a friend.
And then I jumped on the plane.



At that time, I prepared myself and checked the equipment according to the standards.
And the second I jumped out and pulled the parachute… this happened.
That was the first mistake the umbrella made.
And it was the only time in my entire career that it was really scary.

That accident was my main and backup parachute.
It spreads out at the same time! When it reaches that point, there is a very high chance that
The two umbrellas would get tangled and at that point I would run out of backup umbrellas.
And that would definitely be the end of my life...

But luckily I survived safely. I landed on the ground.
As long as the two umbrellas are not tangled, I keep thinking back.
I thought it would be funny, I've been a Delta Force all my life.
Never had a problem, but then a malfunction occurred.
The first time in my life in my last jump.. and at that time
I am no longer a civil servant.



Wow! That looks really scary.. Okay.. That was the scariest thing ever.
And what is the proudest thing you have ever done since becoming a civil servant?

Norm Hooten: The thing I'm most proud of is that feeling.
When I found out I was going to join the Delta Forces.

Can you imagine a time when we devote ourselves to one thing?
Until it works, it feels worth it, you feel a sense of responsibility.
And many things are coming into my life.

Until the second you sit in your chair while your commander
Look at you and say, "Welcome to Delta Forces."
That second was the best and most powerful moment in my life.

And what do you always learn and remember after a fight?

Norm Hooten: If there's a shooting, keep your head down.
Remember that everything is not as easy as it seems. It is unpredictable.
Or hope that everything will go exactly as we think or want.
The best thing to do at that time was to keep your head down and find a way to survive.

The most important thing is that you have to be mindful.. When you lose your mindfulness
At that point, it would be the worst thing that could happen to you in that event.
Always remember to be mindful at every second in an incident.
And you will survive that event.



Do you miss your time in government service?
And went to serve as Delta Forces?

Norm Hooten: I miss the people in there, I miss all my friends.
But I don't miss being stationed there. I miss the stories.
That we went through it together more then

I never thought about the bad tasting food I had to eat to survive.
I never thought about sleeping in a small shipping container.
I never thought about the sandbag walls in the base.
I miss nothing but people, except my friends.
And the good stories we've shared over the years

Now the only thing I can give them is some good whiskey and cigars.
Where we can sit and share good stories with each other, but I don't want to go back.
I don't want to go back to being in a box or in a military base anymore.

Source: Meet Hoot, the legendary Delta Force operator from 'Black Hawk Down'

Translator/Editor: Ronnakrit " Viking " Sripumma
On May 17, 2021