He estimated 500 somali deaths in his book black hawk down. Juni 1961 in berlin, new hampshire ist ein ehemaliger. A story of modern war, considered the definitive account of the battle of mogadishu. A small contingent of americas various elite special forces was sent to collect two henchmen of the violent somalian warlord mohamed farrah aidid and the warlord himself if they could manage.
Three veterans recall the battle of mogadishu youtube. In the battle of mogadishu, the mh60 black hawk helicopter codenamed super sixfour that durant was piloting was shot down over somalia by. Mike durant born july 23, 1961 is an american pilot and author who was held prisoner for eleven days in 1993 after a raid in mogadishu, somalia. American pilot shot down in somalia during black hawk. Now, when durant faces challenges or setbacks he deals with it by saying. The battle of mogadishu and the true story of black hawk down. The bulk of my paper is devoted to discussing what we know, and what we do. Now the 1993 battle for mogadishu, somaliathe incident that was the basis of the book and film black hawk downis remembered by the men who fought and survived it. Miller shares lessons of mogadishu, raises toast to fallen. In the company of heroes michael durant, steven hartov on. Rarely do real stories like this end positively as this does. 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 the course of his career the purple heart. Bio alabama is the leading advocate for alabamas bioeconomy. I always knew that i lived in the same town as michael durant, however until i was.
It is an adaptation of the 1999 book of the same name by mark bowden based on his series of articles in the philadelphia inquirer, which chronicled the events of the battle of mogadishu, a raid integral to the united states effort to capture somali warlord mohamed farrah aidid. Durant, you would find him a pleasant, ordinary, american family man. Battle of mogadishu 1993 wikipedia republished wiki 2. Timeline of the 1993 battle of mogadishu wikipedia. In the company of heroes is the true story about a real patriot and hero. This is the third book ive read dealing with the details of the battle of mogadishu, and by. He deployed to somalia as part of the special forces operations in somalia. The crew of super 64 a month before the battle of mogadishu. 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.
The 1993 battle in mogadishu between american soldiers and somali militiamen gets a. Winn mahuron, tommy field, bill cleveland, ray frank and mike durant. Also included are maps, photographs, video, and audio clips. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful. Durant is carried off by militia he was eventually released to the red cross, 11 days later. In the company of heroes military wiki fandom powered. This web site includes an analysis of what went wrong for task force ranger during the battle of mogadishu and a background of the mission. When 18 american soldiers were killed and images broadcast of bodies dragged through the streets of an enigmatic african city, it was a horrible blow to the national psyche. The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu audiobook written by michael durant, steven hartov. Black hawk down pilot rises above challenges article. Mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu by usarmywarcollege. The battle of mogadishu took place in the narrow streets of mogadishu, somalia october 34 1993 over 17 hours.
He retired from the army as a chief warrant officer 4 blackhawk helicopter master aviator in the 160th soar after participating in combat operations prime chance, just cause, and desert storm, and also. His story played a big part in the book and movie based on the battle of mogadishu, known as black hawk down. This is what happened to the real black hawk down pilot after his. Globalization research papers are custom written to your exact specifications. In the company of heroes and millions of other books are available for instant access.
Mike durant, a black hawk helicopter pilot, was held hostage for 11 days after his aircraft was one of two shot down in the city as the battle began. Mike durant is a prime example of an individual who took a terrible. Durant became a prisoner of somali warlord mohammed aidid the man responsible for prolonging starvation in his country by hijacking united nations food shipments. Mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu essay essayer voir livre francais huckleberry finn setting essay i essays. More information find this pin and more on memorable by dj sharpe. The initial joint special operations command force, task force ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces. Durant, you would find him a pleasant, ordinary, american, family man. Black hawk down is a 2001 american war film directed by ridley scott. Maalintii rangers, was part of operation gothic serpent and was fought on 3 and 4 october 1993, in mogadishu, somalia, between forces of the united states supported by unosom ii, and somali militiamen loyal to the selfproclaimed presidenttobe mohamed farrah aidid who had. Mike durant, the helicopter pilot made famous after being taken hostage.
In 2003, durant published a book, in the company of heroes, in which he chronicled his military career and his captivity. The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu michael durant, steven hartov. Despite the helicopters crash, durant survived and defended himself with an mp5 submachine gun with the help of sergeant first class randall shughart and master sergeant gary gordon. Battle of mogadishu black hawk down by steve balestrieri. 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. Retired chief warrant officer 4 mike durant, a black hawk helicopter pilot who was shot down and held captive in mogadishu, somalia in 1993. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. 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. Army war college video black hawk super six four pilot mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu, october 3 and 4, 1993, during which he was shot.
The battle of mogadishu, more commonly referred to as black hawk down or, locally, as the day of the rangers somali. Durant recounts the day he was captured and held hostage in 1993 and talks about how that experience has shaped who he is today. A small contingent of americas various elite special forces was sent to collect two henchmen of the violent somalian warlord mohamed farrah aidid. It was during this time at 1640 hrs when black hawk super 64 piloted by cw3 mike durant was hit by an rpg. Black hawk down the battle of mogadishu is a largely forgotten, yet extremely important event in u. Globalization research paper the new southern view. An obituary for an idea cato institute book forum, 2011 by. Major jeff struecker, the battle of mogadishu full interview duration.
The battle of mogadishu, or day of the rangers somali. 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. It was fought on 34 october 1993, in mogadishu, somalia, between forces of the united statessupported by unosom iiand somali militiamen loyal to the selfproclaimed presidenttobe mohamed farrah aidid, who had support from armed fighters. Wikimedia commons michael durants crew a month before the battle of mogadishu.
The film features a large ensemble cast, including josh hartnett, ewan mcgregor, eric bana, tom sizemore, william fichtner, sam shepard, and tom hardy in his. During operation gothic serpent in somalia, durant was the pilot of helicopter super six four. Already a classic of war reporting and now reissued as a grove press paperback, black hawk down is mark bowdens brilliant account of the longest sustained firefight involving american troops since the vietnam war. 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. The battle of mogadishu is more than an underdog story. Maalintii rangers, was part of operation gothic serpent. In the battle of mogadishu, the mh60 black hawk helicopter codenamed super sixfour that durant was piloting was.
It was fought on 34 october 1993, in mogadishu, somalia, between forces of the united statessupported by unosom iiand somali militiamen loyal to the selfproclaimed presidenttobe mohamed farrah aidid. I bought this book because i went to an event where the author was speaking. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful black hawk. It was the second mh60l of two black hawk helicopters to crash during the.
During the battle of mogadishu, durant piloted an mh60 blackhawk when it was shot down by a rocketpropelled grenade. The battle of mogadishu was part of operation gothic serpent. Durant talks about the somalia raid and the experiences he had while in captivity. Army veteran michael durant, a veteran of the gulf war, was shot down and taken prisoner during the battle of mogadishu in southern somalia. Published on feb 16, 2011 retired chief warrant officer 4 mike durant, a black hawk helicopter pilot who was shot down and held captive in mogadishu, somalia in 1993 spoke at the army war college. Six of the best in our military recall their brutal experiences and brave contributions in. Now the 1993 battle for mogadishu, somaliathe incident that was the basis of the book and filmblack hawk downis remembered by the men who fought and survived it.
Michael durant is a bestselling author, former black hawk pilot, and prisoner of. He spoke extensively with actor ron eldard, who portrayed him in the movie black hawk down, which chronicles the events of the raid. The initial joint special operations command force, task force ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces units from the united states army special operations command, the air force special operations. On this day, october 3, 1993, battle of mogadishu black. Black hawk down pilot discusses time as pow, value of. What a downed black hawk in somalia taught america its been 20 years since the battle of mogadishu, a mission gone wrong that cost 18 american. He was a member of the 160th special operations aviation regiment night stalkers as a chief warrant officer 3. 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. He enjoys playing ice hockey and is also dynamic enough. He could have given up when the special operations black hawk helicopter he was piloting in 1993 crashed in a. Mike durant born july 23, 1961 is an american pilot and author. He talks vividly about his experience as a soldier and as a hostage and what it.