SUBJECT: In the Company of Heroes by: Michael J. Durant
             1. Purpose. To understand specific historical aspects of the United States Army and also to read and learn first hand one mans story of overcoming adversity and staying true to his country.
             a. If you have seen the movie Black Hawk Down then there is no doubt that you know who Michael Durant is. Michael J. Durant was a chief warrant officer who flew black hawk helicopters and was shot down in the United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Somalia during 1993. It was during a snatch and grab mission, Operation Gothic Serpent, where Durant and his crew were to extract suspected members of the Habr Gidr Clan that his helicopter was shot down. He was not killed in the crash or the hellacious firefight that ensued; he did break his back and fractured both legs. He was then loaded into the back of a pick up truck and held prisoner of the warlord Mohammed Aidid, a man who used starvation of children as a political tool, for ten days being given only aspirin for his wounds. Durant refused to be a victim and the book tells about his unforgettable experience that he had while in captivity and what he had to do to overcome his adversity.
             b. The Army has identified 23 leadership dimensions to measure leadership potential, Durant definitely excelled in all of these dimensions through both his mission and capture. I will list a few characteristics that Michael Durant demonstrated during his time in Somalia.
             (1) "Loyalty" Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers. I think it's obvious that Michael Durant was a very loyal person to his friends, family, and also to himself. When he was captured he never once gave into the warlords and remained strong at all times. He could have possibly gave them valuable information in exchange for better trea
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