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Video by Spc. Aaron Loy

Chinook Pilot

AFN Pacific

June 18, 2014 | 1:33

Many people have dreamt of flying. One soldier makes that dream a reality. Specialist Aaron Loy explains. Soundbite includes CW3 Shawn Johnston – Chinook Pilot. Produced by SPC Aaron Loy.
Suggested Tag: Chief Warrant Officer Johnston enlisted in 1992 and has been a Chinook pilot for the past 12 years.

SB:
PROBABLY MY EARLIEST MEMORY WAS OF A HELICOPTER, AS A KID SO… DRIVING TRACTORS IN CIRCLES, TILLING THE DIRT, WATCHING A GUY FLYING HELICOPTERS, IT AMAZED ME.
REPORTER:
SMALL TOWN, INDIANA-RAISED CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, SHAWN JOHNSTON, TURNED THAT AMAZEMENT INTO REALITY. HE FINDS HIMSELF FLYING THE NEWEST FOXTROT MODEL OF CHINOOK AT CAMP HUMPHREYS, AND HE WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.
SB:
IT’S A SENSE OF FREEDOM THAT YOU’LL NEVER EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND. I USED TO SAY THAT I WANTED TO FLY HELICOPTERS BECAUSE COULD GET CLOSER TO GOD. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS THE MOST FREE FEELING THAT YOU’LL EVER FEEL… SO YOU’RE UP IN THE AIR, YOUR ABILITY TO SLIDE LEFT, SLIDE RIGHT, UP, DOWN, BACKWARDS, FORWARD, TILT YOURSELF… IT’S THE BEST CARNIVAL RIDE YOU’LL EVER RIDE.
REPORTER:
FUN AND GAMES ASIDE, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER JOHNSTON UNDERSTANDS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS JOB AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON OTHERS.
SB:
LIFE’S ABOUT BEING HUMBLE EVERY DAY, AND GETTING UP AND KNOWING WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS A BLESSING. KNOWING THAT WHAT YOU’RE GONNA DO THROUGHOUT THE DAY IS GONNA HELP SOMEONE. YOU MAY NOT SEE THAT RIPPLE EFFECT THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT IT WILL.
REPORTER:
SPECIALIST AARON LOY, CAMP HUMPHREYS, KOREA.