Below is a excerpt of American Valor’s interview with Michael Durant whose life was saved by Medal of Honor recipients Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart. Mogadishu is a typical third world town, from a distance, it looked like at one point in time it might have been a beautiful place you might even go on vacation.
What happened to Durant in Black Hawk Down?
On Oct. 3, 1993, Durant and his crew were shot down and attacked by a mob in Mogadishu during Operation Gothic Serpent, a mission to capture top commanders of a Somali warlord. Eighteen Americans died, including Durant’s crew — Ray Frank, Bill Cleveland and Tommy Field — and 73 were injured. Master Sgt.
Who was taken prisoner in Black Hawk Down?
Mike Durant
(AP) — Mike Durant, best known as the helicopter pilot shot down and held prisoner in the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” incident, is joining the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. Durant, now the founder and president of an aerospace company in Huntsville, announced his campaign Tuesday.
How long was Michael Durant captured for?
Michael J. “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. He was a member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.
Who survived the Black Hawk Down?
During the Battle of Mogadishu, Durant piloted an MH-60 Blackhawk when it was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Despite the helicopter’s 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.
Who ran the Mogadishu Mile?
United States Army Rangers
The event name, “Mogadishu Mile”, refers to a route that was run by United States Army Rangers and Special Forces soldiers from a helicopter crash site to an appointed rally point held by the 10th Mountain Division on National Street during the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993.
How many soldiers did we lose in Black Hawk Down?
In the end, 19 American soldiers were killed, including six Delta Force operators, and 73 were wounded. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant, one of the Black Hawk pilots, was captured.
Who were the two Delta snipers in Black Hawk Down?
A new graphic novel from the Association of the United States Army recounts the selfless actions of Delta Force snipers Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart, who died protecting a wounded Black Hawk pilot during the Battle of Mogadishu.
Who was hooch in Black Hawk Down?
Norman Hooten, a supervisory pharmacist in Veteran Integrated Service Network 8. Hooten is a pharmacist today, but you may have heard about his heroic efforts depicted in the movie Black Hawk Down, when he was a Delta Force team leader in the Battle of Mogadishu, fought in October 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Who was the war lord in Black Hawk Down?
warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid
Almost right away, militias led by the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid began attacking and killing U.N. peacekeepers. On October 3 and 4, 1993, U.S. forces set out on a snatch-and-grab mission to arrest two of Aidid’s lieutenants.
How accurate is the movie Black Hawk Down?
The film depicts the Battle of Mogadishu as being fought largely by Army Rangers and Delta Force. While not inaccurate, the 10th Mountain Division played a significant role in the October 3 – 4 battle, as well as the larger UN intervention, one not as well-appreciated.
Why did Battle of Mogadishu fail?
The key critical failures were a combination of limited resources to accomplish the mission and a lack of command and control. From an NCO perspective, the Battle of Mogadishu presents how leaders must be proactive in planning and following mission command principles.
Was Black Hawk Down a success?
The film was a massive success, raking in more than $170 million. Standing in stark contrast to the anti-war films of the Vietnam era, Black Hawk Down saluted America’s warriors and their combat prowess — and at a time when their countrymen were depending on them to ensure another 9/11 didn’t happen again.
Who was the soldier dragged through Mogadishu?
peacekeeping force. Domestic opinion turned hostile as horrified TV viewers watched images of the bloodshed—-including this Pulitzer-prize winning footage of Somali warlord Mohammed Aideed’s supporters dragging the body of U.S. Staff Sgt. William David Cleveland through the streets of Mogadishu, cheering.
Is escape from Mogadishu a true story?
Escape from Mogadishu blends a blockbuster production with a diplomatic history lesson. Ryoo Seung-wan proves his action movie credentials once again with this true story of a group of North and South Korean diplomats who broke out of the war-torn Somalian capital in 1991.
Did Malaysia help in Black Hawk Down?
“In the Black Hawk Down movie, the US military only references asking for help from the ‘Malay Army’ once, just that. “But we understand that the movie was made for them,” he said in a news report today.
How many Somalis died Black Hawk Down?
Owing to the dense urban character of the battle, estimates of Somali casualties greatly vary – with most estimates set between 315 and 2,000 Somali casualties, including civilians.
How long was the actual Mogadishu Mile?
1 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Battalion personnel coordinated a four-plus-mile group run called the Mogadishu Mile to honor the Operation Gothic Serpent mission Oct. 3, 1993.
How long did Shughart and Gordon last?
The full-scale battle continued for about 15 hours, into the early morning of Oct. 4. In all, 18 U.S. troops were killed and many more wounded, according to DoD. Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a May 23, 1994, ceremony at the White House.
How many helicopters were shot down in Black Hawk Down?
Two Black Hawk helicopters
Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenades—an incident dramatized in the film Black Hawk Down (2001)—leaving surviving aircrew at risk at the helicopter crash sites.
What rank was Grimes in Black Hawk Down?
The U.S. forces include experienced men as well as new recruits, including 18-year-old Private First Class Todd Blackburn and Specialist John Grimes, a desk clerk. Staff Sergeant Matthew Eversmann receives his first command, of Ranger Chalk Four, after his lieutenant has a seizure.