Mission of Honor

Most of us never get to test ourselves in combat. As a UH-1 Helicopter pilot flying in the jungle highlands of South Vietnam, Warrant Officer Jim Crigler and the men he flew with were tested daily. Coming of age in the late 1960s and early 1970s was challenging for most young men of that era. Throw in drugs, free love, draft notices, the Vietnam War and a country deeply divided, and you have one of the most important books of this genre. This true story is a raw, bold, introspective autobiography where the author openly wrestles with his personal moral dilemma to find meaning and purpose in his life. He calls it his “Mission of Honor.”

Jim Crigler grew up in the farm country of south eastern Missouri. Graduating high school in the turbulence of 1968, Jim’s goal was to be the first in his family to get a college education. A draft notice interrupted that dream. During his four years of service in the Army, Jim served as a warrant officer helicopter pilot flying in Vietnam with A Troop 7/17 Air Cavalry and the 129th Assault Helicopter Company. Jim flew with some of the finest helicopter pilots in the world in Vietnam and personally flew thousands of combat missions during his tour of duty. He received an honorable discharge in August of 1974 and with the help of the GI Bill graduated magna cum laude with a BS degree in Business Management from the University of Missouri. For the last 22 years Jim has been President and CEO of Winona Search Group Inc., a human resources consulting and search firm. He lives in the woods just outside of Winona, Minnesota with his wife and two youngest daughters.

“Crigler’s journey to becoming an Army combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam makes for a fascinating story. Well worth a read!”





“I would proudly serve as Jim’s ‘Right Seat’ and fly through the Gates of Hell!”