If you saw the movie black hawk down, you may recall the name of the man that they would not leave behind. And, as readers will discover, durant proves himself to be nothing less than a hero. A rescue team moved him away from the aircraft and placed him next to a wall. The paperback of the in the company of heroes by michael j. Michael durant made the cover of time magazine not long after he was captured and held prisoner in somalia, when his and four other helicopters were shot down in 1993. His story and that of his fellow soldiers was the subject of the black hawk down movie and book. Besides being known as the black hawk down man of the movie of his story, and writing the book in the company of heroes, durant received three prestigious medals during his career the purple heart, the distinguished flying cross, and the distinguished. The truth behind the movie black hawk down, with the incredible true story by mike durant. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. His special operations aviation unit was deployed to somalia in august 1993 to assist u. Army veteran michael durant, a veteran of the gulf war, was shot down and taken prisoner during the battle of mogadishu in southern somalia. That is true, but history shows that president clinton and his administration responded much differently than president obamas in securing the release of chief warrant officer3 michael durant, whose 11day captivity in mogadishu was depicted in the bestselling book black hawk down and the film of the same name.
Michael durant was the pilot of super six four, the second mh60l black hawk helicopter to crash during operation gothic serpent on october 3, 1993. He spoke extensively with actor ron eldard, who portrayed him in the movie black hawk down, which chronicles the events of the raid. Their intervention in this wartorn country was the most dramatic us military action since vietnam. Durants experiences in somalia were later portrayed in the 2001 film black hawk down. The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu audiobook by steven hartov, michael durant. Watch as michael durant recounts how it felt being captured in somalia after crashing his black hawk, and surviving when his friends did not. Why the black hawk down prisoner release is different than bowe bergdahls. Its now been twenty years since that october day in somalia when mike durant saw what hell looked like.
The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and. He was a member of the 160th special operations aviation regiment night stalkers as a chief warrant officer 3. A story of modern war is a minutebyminute reconstruction of the climactic battle in the short, illfated american military campaign in mogadishu. Chief warrant officer mike durant was piloting a second black hawk when his chopper too took a hit from a grenade launcher. Today, durant is the new york times bestselling author of the books, in the company of heroes and the night stalkers, and the president and chief executive officer of pinnacle solutions. I always knew that i lived in the same town as michael durant, however until i was.
The story of black hawk down began when delta force arrested 20 somalis. A black hawk helicopter pilot, durant was shot down during the battle for mogadishu. What he has to say about the two men who saved him is amazing. Durant was portrayed by ron eldard in the film black hawk down, based on. In 2003, durant published a book, in the company of heroes, in which he chronicled his military career and his captivity. A true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu by michael j. Black hawk down pilot durant will tell his mogadishu story at best. In the battle of mogadishu, the mh60 black hawk helicopter codenamed super sixfour that durant. How mike durant transformed his battlefield experience. From military pilot to civilian entrepreneur chances are, you know of mike. Despite a valiant effort to defend the downed black hawk, the crash site is eventually overrun. Durant can consider black hawk down book author bowden a colleague because durant is a published.
Army pilot with the 160th special operations aviation regiment airborne when he was shot down, captured, and held prisoner for 11 days during the battle of mogadishu. The personal story behind black hawk down durant, michael j. In the company of heroes audiobook by michael durant, steven. When the second black hawk, call sign super 64, was shot down, three rangers volunteered to be inserted to the crash site to hold off the somalis until help could arrive. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful black hawk. The book was definitely an edge of the seat listen. Besides being known as the black hawk down man of the movie of his story, and writing the book in the company of heroes, durant received three prestigious medals during his career the purple heart, the distinguished flying cross, and the distinguished service medal. Michael durant is his name, and, while hes sidestepped the coffee house, hes every bit a tech entrepreneur. During operation gothic serpent, durant was the pilot of super six four, the second mh60l black hawk helicopter to crash during the battle of mogadishu on.
This gripping personal account at last tells the world about durants harrowing captivity and the heroic deeds of his doomed comrades. Made famous by the 2001 film black hawk down and his own book, in the company of heroes, durant piloted a black hawk helicopter that was shot down during the battle of mogadishu in 1993. In the autumn of 1993, american special forces were dispatched to the faminestricken land of somalia. The battle of the black sea, as it is known, was the most serious firefight involving american troops since the vietnam war. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful. Mike durant, the helicopter pilot made famous after being taken hostage in the 1993 battle of mogadishu, reflects on how his somalia. Michael durant posted on thursday, october 3, 2019 2. The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu by.
Black hawk pilot mike durant was shot down and taken prisoner during americas biggest firefight since the vietnam war. The pilot of the second one shot down, michael durant, was the only survivor of the crash. The battle of mogadishu and the true story of black hawk down. Buy a cheap copy of in the company of heroes book by michael j. Black hawk down pilot durant will tell his mogadishu. It is based on the 1999 nonfiction book of the same name by journalist mark bowden, about the u. After being released from captivity, durant recuperated at the landstuhl regional medical center in germany, but quickly returned to flight status and continued flying missions for the 160th aviation regiment. Army special operations blackhawk, durant was shot down and captured on october 3, 1993, in the battle depicted in mark bowdens bestselling book black hawk down. This is a clip of me asking a questions of cw4ret michael durant black hawk pilot captured in somalia and portrayed in the movie black hawk down while he addressed an audience including my. In the company of heroes book autographed by mike durant. Mike durant is probably not a household name around the world, he is an indelible symbol and memory for anyone who has seen ridley scotts classic war film, black hawk down, based on the book of the same name by mark bowden. I did read black hawk down before reading this book and would encourage. The events of that day were recounted in mark bowdens bestselling book, black hawk down, and ridley scotts academy awardwinning movie of the same name.
The book, black hawk down, was exceptionally good from start to finish. Durant can consider black hawk down book author bowden a. It wasnt until he was able to tell his story years. This a book written by the pilot who was shot down in black hawk down. Mike durant, the helicopter pilot made famous after being taken hostage in the 1993 battle of mogadishu, reflects on how his somalia experience has shaped him. Durant recounts the day he was captured and held hostage in 1993 and talks about how that experience has. Durant talks about the somalia raid and the experiences he had while in captivity.
In the company of heroes is a book by michael durant and steven hartov about durants experiences in the battle of mogadishu, korea, the persian gulf, thailand, panama, and iraq. Mike durant born july 23, 1961 is an american pilot and author. Helicopter super six ones pilot and copilot were killed instantly. During operation gothic serpent, durant was the pilot of super six four, the second mh60l black hawk helicopter to. In 2003, durant published a book, in the company of heroes, in which he. Michael durant fills in the blanks left in black hawk down and reveals some of the things he didnt feel he could tell mark bowen when mark was researching his book. He retired from the army as a chief warrant officer 4 blackhawk helicopter.
Durant became a prisoner of somali warlord mohammed aidid the man responsible for prolonging starvation in his country by hijacking united nations food shipments. Officer3 michael durant, whose 11day captivity in mogadishu was depicted in the bestselling book black. During the assault, a black hawk helicopter was shot down and the. San antonio the day retired army chief warrant officer 4 michael durant calls a profound turning point in his life had the look of another routine mission. In the company of heroes audiobook by michael durant. The man asking the question was chief warrant officer 4 michael j. The helicopter was hit by a rocketpropelled grenade on the tail, which led to its crash about a mile southwest of the operations target. Heroes of black hawk down moh recipients shughart and. Why the black hawk down prisoner release is different. Black hawk pilot michael durant on the day of his release.
In the interim, call sign supersix four, piloted by cw3 michael durant is also shot down by an rpg, crashing several blocks away. Eventbrite athens state university center for lifelong learning presents community breakfastmichael durant black hawk down veteran friday, november 8, 2019 at athens state universitycenter for lifelong learning, athens, al. Army special operations blackhawk over somalia, michael durant was shot down with a rocketpropelled grenade on october 3, 1993. A routine mission went horribly wrong when michael durants black hawk helicopter was shot down over mogadishu and he was quickly surrounded by somali troops and taken captive. Black hawk down pilot durant will tell his mogadishu story at best of blount awards.
This is a question i was able to ask cw4 mike durant black hawk pilot who was captured in somalia and portrayed in black hawk down while he addressed an audience in fayetteville, nc at the. Durant recounts the day he was captured and held hostage in 1993 and talks about how that experience has shaped who he is today. Hawk down man of the movie of his story, and writing the book in the. Black hawk down is a 2001 war film produced and directed by ridley scott, from a screenplay by ken nolan. In the company of heroes by durant, michael j ebook.
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