Why We Fight

By CAPT Jim Gillcrist, USN (Ret.)

Though I am no longer on active duty, I feel compelled to respond to the theme of this issue of Rotor Review, “Why We Fight?”

The following reasons fueled my motivation to serve and put it all on the line if necessary:

• Mom and Dad both served in the Navy. Mom graduated from Berkeley with a B.S. in Chemistry and became one of the Navy’s first Aviation Physiologists. Dad graduated from the Naval Academy, became a Naval Aviator, and flew 167 combat missions in Vietnam.

• Dad had four brothers from a large Irish Catholic Family – all five sons served in either the Navy or Marine Corps while Mom’s only brother served in the Navy.

• This family history of service became my motivation to serve – certainly, all the sea stories shared and passed along through my childhood and as a young adult sealed the deal.

My sense is that we serve and fight in Naval Aviation and as a Naval Rotary Force to make a difference for our shipmates, family, and country. This is why I remained on active duty for 27 years. The flying was awesome, but halfway through my first sea tour, on a second deployment as a Det MO, it became apparent that I loved leading and taking care of Sailors more. Deploying with HSL-37 Detachment Four afforded me the opportunity to make a difference in the professional and personal lives of the Sailors in my charge. These were “my Sailors.” We operated in a challenging environment, executed the mission, and brought the aircraft and everyone home. During deployment, AT1 Miller and AE2 Neuwirth were selected as Battlegroup Foxtrot Sailors of the Month. After deployment, AEAN Davis was command-advanced to AE3. These obscure recognitions still jazz me to this very day, more so than any end of tour award. Later in life, when an opening as NHA Executive Director presented itself, I accepted. It has been another opportunity to serve and give back to a unique professional organization comprised of pilots, aircrewmen, and maintainers – a family like no other. The relationships I made at the squadron and aboard the ship on deployment proved to be lifelong, enriching, and purposeful. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I hope you enjoy RADM Baze’s On Leadership Column and Commodore’s Corner by CAPT Thomas – you will NOT be disappointed.

Lastly: Save the date for the 2024 GCFFI / NHA Join-Up (28-31 October) at NAS Whiting Field. Go online to: https:// www.navalhelicopterassn.org/fleet-fly-in for more information and to register.

Please keep your membership profile up to date (mailing address and region affiliation). If you should need any assistance at all, give us a call at (619) 435-7139 and we will be happy to help – you will get Megan, Mike, Allyson, or myself.

Warm regards with high hopes, Jim Gillcrist

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