Military Operations in East Long Beach 

Story by Matthew Dawson

@mattdawson.photography

Published by Matthew Dawson June 8th, 2026

Photographs by Matthew Dawson Unless stated otherwise

Residents of East Long Beach were treated to a rare, cinematic, movie-like military precision on June 4-5th, 2026. The sky was buzzing with low flying, dark profile helicopters known as the U.S. Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), known as the legendary “Night Stalkers”, descended upon the now permanently closed and vacant Golden Sails Hotel.

This hotel(Golden Sails Hotel) has meaning for myself and my family as it's where my family members have stayed when they used to visit us here. Although being closed for a while its empty property served as the perfect arena for intense MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) exercises, giving aircrew and operators a complex environment to improve and hone their skills. This is something where they can learn and benefit from rather than their normal training areas. When they get put on the battlefield they will need to learn new spaces to go through etc and this environment provides that new value for them.

The Aircraft Behind The Operation

For an enthusiast like myself, the training was an incredible opportunity to capture some of the military's most specialized warfare in action. The operation relied on two distinct airframes known for speed, and action in tight urban spaces rather than the CH-47. They used the MH-6M “Little Bird”, and the MH-60M “Blackhawk”

Realistic Training Environments 

Urban training exercises especially ones of this scale in a high densely populated area are incredibly difficult to coordinate requiring everyone to be on board. Local law enforcement was present and blocking PCH at the right times but there was something I didn't notice out there. It was the news helicopters.

Since this was a federally run exercise, the military only allowed the city to post that the exercise was taking place after 6:30pm. Many didn't know where it would be and it raised so many questions. Even the news helicopters had no clue where to find this training evolution. I think that goes to show the importance of operational security and how SOAR is able to do what they can do without being bothered. 

Local media questioned the military presence in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and a spokesperson from them shed light on the necessity of this. Of course this was for the city of Pasadena the night before but this is still applicable to what was taking place within the East Long Beach military operation. 

“The training was coordinated with the City of Pasadena as well as applicable law enforcement agencies to provide the most realistic training environment for U.S. Army Special Operations Forces and Aviation,” the statement reads. “Our ability to operate in various challenging environments is essential to being capable in the most challenging of missions. All safety precautions were observed. We appreciate the support of the citizens and residents in the surrounding areas who were impacted by the training."

While this may be startling for local residents especially at a grueling hour for many who have to wake up early for work, the true reality is simulated cities or plywood houses can't replicate thermal drafts, city layouts, unpredictable terrain, powerlines, and an urban environment which makes this training valuable.

The Community

For the local community I think it goes to show how these exercises can be a reminder that our military is ready to go, train, and do the things to protect us. I think it can also be used as a reminder that they are people too and they don’t mean to purposefully disturb anyone. For myself I do this as a labor of love and respect especially for the families, community, and public.

Capturing the Night Stalkers for me isn't just about getting striking photos, it's about highlighting the dedication of the crews and giving families a glimpse into the incredible proficiency of their loved ones.

As they departed and the noise faded back into the PCH traffic, I could only think one thing about the famous Night Stalkers. NSDQ (Night Stalkers Don’t Quit)