Wikimedia commons michael durants crew a month before the battle of mogadishu. Black hawk down the battle of mogadishu is a largely forgotten, yet extremely important event in u. This is the third book ive read dealing with the details of the battle of mogadishu, and by. The bulk of my paper is devoted to discussing what we know, and what we do. He talks vividly about his experience as a soldier and as a hostage and what it. He deployed to somalia as part of the special forces operations in somalia.
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. Major jeff struecker, the battle of mogadishu full interview duration. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful black hawk. It was during this time at 1640 hrs when black hawk super 64 piloted by cw3 mike durant was hit by an rpg. He enjoys playing ice hockey and is also dynamic enough. 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. His story played a big part in the book and movie based on the battle of mogadishu, known as black hawk down.
Durant became a prisoner of somali warlord mohammed aidid the man responsible for prolonging starvation in his country by hijacking united nations food shipments. In the company of heroes michael durant, steven hartov on. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. This is what happened to the real black hawk down pilot after his. Michael durant is a bestselling author, former black hawk pilot, and prisoner of. A small contingent of americas various elite special forces was sent to collect two henchmen of the violent somalian warlord mohamed farrah aidid. Mike durant is a prime example of an individual who took a terrible. Now, when durant faces challenges or setbacks he deals with it by saying. He spoke extensively with actor ron eldard, who portrayed him in the movie black hawk down, which chronicles the events of the raid. Black hawk down is a 2001 american war film directed by ridley scott. An obituary for an idea cato institute book forum, 2011 by. Mike durant born july 23, 1961 is an american pilot and author. Bio alabama is the leading advocate for alabamas bioeconomy.
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. 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. Durant talks about the somalia raid and the experiences he had while in captivity. Battle of mogadishu black hawk down by steve balestrieri. 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. Army veteran michael durant, a veteran of the gulf war, was shot down and taken prisoner during the battle of mogadishu in southern somalia.
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 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. Also included are maps, photographs, video, and audio clips. The battle of mogadishu, or day of the rangers somali. The battle of mogadishu and the true story of black hawk down. Mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu by usarmywarcollege. 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. The battle of mogadishu was part of operation gothic serpent. 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. Durant is the president and chief executive officer of.
What a downed black hawk in somalia taught america. 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. Retired chief warrant officer 4 mike durant, a black hawk helicopter pilot who was shot down and held captive in mogadishu, somalia in 1993. On this day, october 3, 1993, battle of mogadishu black. The battle of mogadishu took place in the narrow streets of mogadishu, somalia october 34 1993 over 17 hours. 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. Winn mahuron, tommy field, bill cleveland, ray frank and mike durant.
Battle of mogadishu 1993 wikipedia republished wiki 2. More information find this pin and more on memorable by dj sharpe. In the battle of mogadishu, the mh60 black hawk helicopter codenamed super sixfour that durant was piloting was. Mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu essay essayer voir livre francais huckleberry finn setting essay i essays. The battle of mogadishu, more commonly referred to as black hawk down or, locally, as the day of the rangers somali.
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. 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. We represent the state on a national and international stage, promoting the intellectual and innovative capital that make our state a premier place to invest, start, and grow in bioscience. Globalization research papers are custom written to your exact specifications. In 2003, durant published a book, in the company of heroes, in which he chronicled his military career and his captivity. He could have given up when the special operations black hawk helicopter he was piloting in 1993 crashed in a. The true story of black hawk pilot michael durant and the men who fought and fell at mogadishu michael durant, steven hartov.
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. In the company of heroes and millions of other books are available for instant access. 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. A story of modern war, considered the definitive account of the battle of mogadishu. 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. In the company of heroes military wiki fandom powered. Durant recounts the day he was captured and held hostage in 1993 and talks about how that experience has shaped who he is today. 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. Battle of mogadishu, origins of the blackhawk name, 3rd ranger battalion. In the company of heroes is the true story about a real patriot and hero. He was a member of the 160th special operations aviation regiment night stalkers as a chief warrant officer 3.
Black hawk down is a 2001 war film produced and directed by ridley scott, from a screenplay by ken nolan. Durant is carried off by militia he was eventually released to the red cross, 11 days later. Maalintii rangers, was part of operation gothic serpent. Black hawk down pilot discusses time as pow, value of. 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. The initial joint special operations command force, task force ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces.
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. Six of the best in our military recall their brutal experiences and brave contributions in. Mike durant, the helicopter pilot made famous after being taken hostage. Miller shares lessons of mogadishu, raises toast to fallen. Rarely do real stories like this end positively as this does. Globalization research paper the new southern view. Juni 1961 in berlin, new hampshire ist ein ehemaliger. 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. It is based on the 1999 nonfiction book of the same name by journalist mark bowden, about the u. The battle of mogadishu is more than an underdog story. 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. I always knew that i lived in the same town as michael durant, however until i was. Timeline of the 1993 battle of mogadishu wikipedia.
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. Mike durant discusses the battle of mogadishu youtube. 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. Six of the best in our military recall their brutal experiences and brave contributions in these neverbeforepublished, firstperson accounts. Durant, you would find him a pleasant, ordinary, american, family man. In the battle of mogadishu, the mh60 black hawk helicopter codenamed super sixfour that durant was piloting was shot down over somalia by. He estimated 500 somali deaths in his book black hawk down. I bought this book because i went to an event where the author was speaking.
The crew of super 64 a month before the battle of mogadishu. 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. American pilot shot down in somalia during black hawk. 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. Bowden later edited his articles into a book by the same name. Mike durant, who was taken prisoner after the fateful. Durant, you would find him a pleasant, ordinary, american family man. 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. During operation gothic serpent in somalia, durant was the pilot of helicopter super six four. 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. 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. Black hawk down pilot rises above challenges article. 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.
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