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Summary: Thank you Mike Durant!
Review: Amazing, Bold and Emotional! CW4 Mike Durant is a testament to the American fiber that makes this country great. I am not a usual reader of war books but In the Company of Heroes came to my attention after doing some research about Somalia and seeing Mike Durant recently on the Fox Network's Hannity and Colmes. I expected the book to be exciting and informative after my interest was peaked by the movie, Black Hawk Down. This book far exceeded my expectations. I became obsessed; I could not put it down and I read it in one day. The feelings that this book stirred up in me was powerful, a proverbial "emotional rollercoaster". I beamed with pride about all the successful missions and the excellent job the military was doing as related by Durant. I was depressed when things did not look favorable for Mike during his captivity. I cried when he read the letter from Stephanie Shughart, the wife of a Delta Operative KIA Somalia. Mike took me along with him on this mission of Operation Gothic Serpent, I felt like I was right there with him in the cockpit of "Super Six-Four", fighting off the "skinnies". During his captivity, I felt like an observer in time. From the time we got the word that the mission was a go, "F----- Irene", to reaching for the power levers just prior to crash landing, to toasting the return of Mike Durnat, I was right there. Mike introduced me to some of the finest fighting men this world has ever known. I felt I knew these brave men, their memory lives on in all who read this book. Never before has a story of such heroic men and their families been told, at least not to my knowledge. I was heart broken when we learned that Cliff, Donavan, Randy, Gary and the others did not make it home alive. Mike Durant had to write this book, he had to tell this story, no question about it. More than a book, this work is a record of history. It gave us a glimpse of what it is like to defend this great country. I had the utmost respect for our service men and after reading this book all I can say is I have never been more proud to be an American. Mike Durant, "I'm Lucy!"
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Summary: Michael Durant is a true American Hero
Review: This book was hard to put down. Durant's writing style and sense of humor make it compelling, as if you're hearing a story from a good friend. The slices of his life besides his captivity in Somalia also give insight into this man and show how they forged his will and gave him the ability to survive his 10 days in captivity and keep his mind intact. I'd reccomend this book to anyone who has read Black Hawk Down; especially if you think Bowden came off as a Clinton apologist. Durant expresses the feelings of every red-blooded American Serviceman who has served durring the past 10 years! I found one small error in the book and even it was probably just an oversimplification and not crucial to the plot, itself. Other than that, it's earned a place of honor on my bookshelf. One that is increasingly becoming more "Army" than "Marines". I left the Corps 10 years ago and I'm going into the Army in the next 10 days! All we need now is for this story to be turned into a movie and done well. The small piece of it shown in Black Hawk Down does not do this man any justice. Thank you, Michael Durant. God Bless you and your family! Semper Fi! Hoo-Ah! NSDQ!
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Summary: Hard to put down
Review: Since I read the book, whenever I hear Hells Bells by AC/DC the hair on my neck stands up . . .
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Summary: Excellent, a must read
Review: The name Mike Durant should be a familiar one. As a member of the US Army's elite 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment), he was one of the world's finest helicopter pilots. During the battle in Mogadishu, Somalia made famous by Mark Bowden's book BLACK HAWK DOWN and the movie of the same name, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Durant piloted a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down. In this book, Durant does an excellent job of recounting that fateful day when his Black Hawk was shot down and the ensuing 11 days he spent held as a prisoner of war (POW) by the most powerful tribal faction in Somalia before his release. Along with recounting those harrowing days in captivity, Durant provides an autobiographical look of important times and missions of his military career. This book is a very fast read and an excellent one. It would certainly help the reader to know the events and situations taking place during Operation Gothic Serpent, so I would highly recommend reading Mark Bowden's BLACK HAWK DOWN prior to reading this book. However, knowing the circumstances of the battle nor reading Bowden's book are not really necessary to enjoying this incredible book. Durant's POW experience is certainly a unique one and the book does a good job of relating what Durant went through. Contrary to what you might think before reading the book, not all POWs are beaten and treated poorly; Durant makes it explicitly known that his captors treated him humanely. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader. One does not need a thorough knowledge of the military or its Special Operations forces to enjoy this book (though it may help). It is at times very moving, and there was one instance where I had to fight back tears.
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Summary: Exceptionally Written and Highly Inspirational
Review: There are certain phrases that the families of soldiers never want to hear: "wounded in action", "missing in action", "killed in action", and "prisoner of war." But every time the United States enters a conflict, it is almost inevitable that some wife or husband, some mother or father, or some child will hear those words. They are words that many of us will never really understand. Even with the advent of imbedded reporters and glamorized battle coverage on television, there are some aspects of war that the average American simply cannot comprehend. But in 1993, the family of CW4 Michael J. Durant would learn about the true horrors of war. For those who have read Mark Bowden's BLACK HAWK DOWN or seen the movie, Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Durant is a familiar character. He was one of the Black Hawk pilots shot down in the United Nations' peacekeeping effort in Somalia. Fortunately for Durant, he was not killed in the crash or the frenetic firefight that ensued. Rather, he was dragged through the streets with a fractured leg and broken back, loaded into a pickup truck, and held hostage by a Somalian militia. During his ten days of captivity, Durant was held in filthy "prisons", shot by angry militiamen, and given only aspirin for the pain caused by his wounds. But during his entire ordeal, Durant and his positive attitude survived. In fact, even his captors were eventually mesmerized by him in a somewhat reversed kind of "Stockholm Syndrome." They gave him a radio through which he kept up with the peacekeeping efforts and received dedications from other soldiers in his unit. They fed him more food than he could eat, bathed him, and allowed him to read his Bible. It was in that Bible that Durant first wrote IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES, scribbling codes in the margins so that he would remember all of the harrowing details. IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES is much more than Durant's story of being a prisoner of war. While that would have made an excellent book in and of itself, Durant goes further, giving the reader insights into the rest of his military career. IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES is exceptionally written and gives the reader profound insight into the ugliest parts of war. It is a story that everyone should read and learn from --- not only about war, but also about the human spirit and its willingness to survive in even the harshest of situations. --- Reviewed by Melissa Brown
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Summary: The Army's Greatest, Bravest Helicopter Pilot?
Review: I don't think so. I think Col. David Hackworth got it right.
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Summary: My questions have been answered.
Review: After seeing Blackhawk Down, I had always wondered about what happened to Michael Durant after he was captured. This book told every last detail of his captivity including many intermitant chapters about his background and career with the Night Stalkers - SOAR Special Ops Helicopter group. Including training/bootcamp, missions in Panama, the Gulf War and so on. Very compelling book. The descriptions of the atmospheres, emotions and pain of his ordeal in captivity are vivid and captivating. I read this book straight through in 2 sittings. Very compelling. A must read for any enthusiast of military, war, government and personal trials and tribulations fans. Get it.
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Summary: Mike Durant, You give me hope
Review: In October of 1993, I opened the newspaper one morning and was greeted by the haunted beaten face of a captured American soldier. His hair was standing on end and he had a curious cut along one cheek, and his eyes spoke volumes about the multitude of emotions he was probably going through. I took that front page and kept it, his face haunting me for days. And then, close to ten years later, I watch Black Hawk Down and things click. Michael Durant was the soldier on the front page of the newspaper I have kept to this very day. I read his book with the same emotions on my sleeve I reserved for Black Hawk Down, Flags of Our Fathers, and Flyboys.
Mike Durant; you kick ass, you give me hope in our people, and you make me REALLY want to join up and become a Nighstalker.
I cried when Randy Shugart and Gary Gordon gave their lives to save Durant. I cried when Durant discovers that "Bull" Briley and Cliff Wolcott didn't make it; I got goosebumps when the helicoptors circle overhead giving Durant hope "Mike Durant, we won't leave you behind"
And now, every time I hear "Hells Bells" by AC/DC or "Rooster" by Alice In Chains, and the late great Layne Staley, I give a shout out to one of the finest soliders in American history, and every other amazing soldier; dead and alive who helped to bring Mike Durant home. We saw one gut wrenching side of this battle in Black Hawk Down. We saw and smelled and heard the horrors of war. Mike Durant, you put a more personal face to another aspect of it. Long Live the Nightstalkers!!!!!!!
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Summary: AWESOME!!!!
Review: I loved this book, I had pre-ordered it and when it finally came I read it in 24hours...yes I stayed up all night and day!! This book was heart wrenching at times, I cried some, smiled some. What a great book. Everyone should read it. It was a very realistic(I felt I was there). I was in the military during this time period and I had no idea what was actually going on over there. Support the troops! Come home safe, we all appreciate your fighting to keep America safe and FREE!!!
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Summary: Extordinary!
Review: This book on Michael J. Durant is one of the best books I've ever read. It tells you what happened every day of his captivity in Somalia. Not only that, it has a review of his past during flight school to the Operation's in Panama!
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