Rating: 
Summary: A Tale of Heroes in a Time for Heroes
Review: IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES, by Mike Durant is an exceptional read ... heartbreaking and heroic and stunning in its honesty and humility. For those who don't remember (how could you not?), Durant was the Blackhawk pilot shot down over Mogadishu in 93 and held by Adid for 10 days. Although he contributed to Mark Bowden's BLACK HAWK DOWN (an exceptional piece of journalism, to be sure), this is the first time Durant has gone public with more than a perfunctory detailing of the events of his capture and his time as a POW in Mogadishu. It is an exceptional story of courage and the Human capacity to survive, as well as an extraordinary testament to the worth of intelligence, integrity, training and psychological/emotional strength under the most intense of circumstances.Mike Durant, as he has proven time and time again, is a 100% class act with absolutely no delusions of grandeur. Though never shy about acknowledging his own skills and talents, Durant doesn't indulge in a single self-serving statement throughout the narrative, which includes extensive material on other special ops missions, as well as the Somalia fiasco. Neither does he lavish praise unduly on folks who were doing what they are trained and paid to do. What he does do is call it exactly as it happened to him, avoiding undue political rhetoric and unfailingly giving credit to those who kept him alive and brought him home. Through his eyes, we see the men Donavan Briley and Cliff Wolcott and others lost in Somalia were -- not only as soldiers, but also as friends. By showing us the loss these men are to Durant personally, we begin to feel the loss such men always are to the country they serve at cost of life and limb. In recording this incident from an unprecedented POV and refusing to pander to the sensationalism that marked the media coverage or succumb to the self-aggrandizing agenda that usually mitigates such personal accounts of horrific events, Mike Durant offers insight into the unimaginable; and in doing so, creates a testament to both his own heroism and to the unsung heroism of others who willingly lay their lives on the line to protect our way of life. Mike Durant doesn't consider himself a hero: The real heroes never do.
Rating:
Summary: An American Masterpiece
Review: The story of Mike Durant is a statement of courage, dedication, humanity and patriotism. Mike Durant is a true American hero whose message of mission, honor and sacrifice is an inspiration to people around the world. Steve Hartov, the book's co-author and one of the finest espionage novelists around, has helped to compose a beautifully written story that should be on the book shelves of every American home, and anywhere that valor is respected and freedom cherished. Buy this book!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Good for the Nightstalkers themselves
Review: As a nightstalker wife. This book is a must have for all 160th soldiers. Especially is they have the movie. It's a key point of NSDQ history and it reminds us LNSDQ of the possibilites and the strength of our husbands and their soldiers. There aren't many books about nightstalkers, so it's about time one got written. This book was written from a man's point of view whose been there. Now, I'm gonna explain from a wife's point of view of being there. Still this book is definately a must have.
Rating:
Summary: Great read even if you've read Black Hawk Down!!!
Review: While Bowden's book "Black Hawk Down" was a great book about the heroes who risked it all on Oct 3, 1993 "In the Company of Heroes: A True Story" really helped to fill in some blanks and I preferred the story being told by someone who was actually there.
Michael Durant is a true patriot who tells it like it is in a way that will shock and actually humor you at times.
My hat is off to Mike Durant and all those brave men who fought so courageously in and above the streets of Mogadishu. Thank God for those special operations personnel (past, present and future) for answering their nations call and giving so much for so little.
Rating:
Summary: Great Job!
Review: After reading Black Hawk Down, it left me questions whose answers weren't in the book. My biggest question and wonder was,"What happened to Michael Durant?" In Company of Heroes tells you the whole story and what he went through. Of course you must have read Black Hawk Down before you read this (or at least have seen the movie). The flashbacks of other experiences Michael Durant was also very interesting. What is better then reading a book written by someone thats been through it all? I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
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Summary: Just when you think...
Review: Just when you think you know the story, here comes "In The Company Of Heroes". Five stars doesn't seem to be enough stars for this book. It was a hard book to put down. Sure, he bounces from place to place, but that gave me a bit of an idea of who he was and why he liked what he did so much. In it, you read about his side of the Battle in Bakara Market. I like that he prefaced that this was his story and how he remembered it. As I read the book, I began to understand why Durant is my hero: he may have been scared while a POW, but he never gives it away. He becomes convinent 'friends' with his captors and he finds strength within to keep wits about him long enough to write the day to day activites in the spine of his bible.
He holds tight to the NSDQ line while a POW. This is a moving story about a young man who loves his job and his friends. I like that he didn't just 'touch on' Cliff Wolcott or Donovan Briley, but was able to tell stories of them, in a way, bringing them back.
What I liked most was how honest he was about his thoughts about the President that led them to this ill fated battle and how he still managed to keep his mouth shut, which is more than I would have done.
This book will captivate you and you will find it hard to put down. You'll want to read it again and again. This book certainly deserves more than five stars. CW4 Durant wrote this book to help healing...and to give us all an idea of what he endured for 11 days. It is the best book written out there about one man's journey to Somalia and back.
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Summary: A harrowing story...
Review: In this book, Durant tells his story of captivity during the ill-fated US Somalia mission of the early 1990's. Additionally, Durant gives details of his entire career as an Army helicopter pilot. The story Durant tells about his captivity in Mogadishu is absolutely terrifying, especially the part about his actual capture. Durant is very lucky to be alive, especially considering the fate of quite a few of his brave comrades. If you are interested in learning more about the Somalia mission, or simply want to read about a true American hero, do yourself a favor and read this book. Highly recommended!
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Summary: Two thumbs up Michael Durrant....and co.
Review: This book is an amazing faith builder, and an eye opener into the minds of those on the "frontline".
Freedom is taken for granted these days and its true definition is squashed by Courtrooms and confused intellectuals abusing the boundaries set in place within the structure that is Creation, thus creating Laws instead of enforcing them.
I reccomend this book, to the Faithful under Fire no matter where or what ( <>< ) your call is! And to anyone who feels that they are held captive whether it be circumstance or habit.
Rating: 
Summary: Great background Information
Review: Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, had its own problems, Mark didn't interview several people, left stuff out, even military veterans agree who have an idea or were there in Somalia when this happened. He relied only on a handful of people who were there and discounted the others.
Now 'In the Company of Heroes' is like Part II of the "Somalia" series, it's hard to believe that only two real books have been written about Somalia. Grant it, Col. Hackworth mentioned numerous loss limbs in the battle (there was only one) in Hazardous Duty, there has to be more. You have numeruos accounts of Vietnam, WWII, Revolutionary War and even the first Gulf War.
There will more stories written of course about what happened in Somalia during that tragic event though the American public has mostly once again forgotten about it (last October was the 10th Anniversary but you heard nothing in the media about it).
The major problem I had with this book was how it switched around, was it totally about Somalia? Hm no. He's in Korea, Iraq/Kuwait, Panama, back home, Somalia, back home. There was no real fluid or time table in the book, it seems as though when he was telling the story to Steven Hartov, he didn't start off with any background information about himself but just leaped right into October 3rd, 93.
I love the stories about the guys he served with and the friendships that went beyond the work place and how Briley, dedicated a song to him, whether or not he actually did, is kinda up in the air. It was defitinely a favorite of Briley's but as he stated in the book: That must have meant that Briley survived.
He explains on how the SOAR operated, the Little Bird pilots who thought they were pilots out of the movie, Top Gun, and how everyone was almost trained for something else. Also the Officer's Club, where there was "entertainment" if you'd like to call it. Durant seems to think back to the better days of the politically incorrect military and how the OC's are basically empty now.
Durant also goes through a review of his post-Somalia days, which is like one chapter, which he explains about six years of his life and it includes a letter from Mrs. Shughart which I thought was the most heartfelt part of the book.
Maybe if he didn't skip around, he wouldn't have felt so rushed in the Aftermath chapter and might have been able to expand it a little bit. However Colonel Hackworth's attacks, not wise, the man has gone a tad bit off his normal views including about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I would have never let it got to me.
Mike Durant, may be a good pilot, but is he the best? There's probably some one out there who could put him to shame but his story should be told, however I wish he didn't rush it so.
Rating:
Summary: This book held me in captivity!
Review: Michael Durant deserves plenty of praise and respect as do all the other Task Force Rangers who are alive and those that have unfortunately sacrificed their lives. Simply put, I could not put this book down and found every chapter fascinating. Mr. Durant does an excellent job of relating the events in every detail and you truly feel as if you are there with him through it all. Regardless of what you may already know about these events, you will find yourself spellbound by the story. I kept imagining how I might have responded or reacted had I been in that situation and I am not sure I would have been as brave or cool-headed as Mr. Durant. Knowing his inner thoughts and strategies as well as other events of his military career was completely inciteful and I am really appreciative that he was able to share them with everyone. Thanks Mike!
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