#259 Mike Durant - 160th SOAR Pilot Who Survived Black Hawk Down and 11 Days as a POW
Descripción del Episodio
Mike Durant is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 and Master Black Hawk pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers). Inspired by his father, a First Sergeant in the Army National Guard, and a family friend’s helicopter flight, Durant enlisted in 1979.
After studying Spanish at the Defense Language Institute and serving as a voice intercept operator in Panama, he graduated from flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, becoming a Warrant Officer in 1983. He flew over 150 medical evacuation missions in South Korea with the 377th Medical Evacuation Company and later served as an instructor pilot with the 101st Aviation Battalion.
Joining the elite 160th SOAR in 1988, Durant flew in Operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm, and Restore Hope. During the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (Operation Gothic Serpent), his MH-60 Black Hawk was shot down, leaving him severely injured and held captive by Somali militia for 11 days. Despite doctors’ doubts, he recovered, ran the 1995 Marine Corps Marathon, and returned to duty, retiring in 2001.
Mike's awards include: Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (second award), Bronze Star w/ Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ Valor device (third award), Army Commendation Medal (fourth award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead Device (second award), Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), United Nations Medal, United Nations Medal-Operations in Somalia, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait, Master Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
In 2008, Durant founded Pinnacle Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama, a defense contracting firm specializing in military training simulators and veteran employment. He co-authored In the Company of Heroes, focusing on survival and leadership. He also led veterans’ efforts for George W. Bush’s 2004 and John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaigns. He ran in the 2022 Republican primary for Alabama U.S. Senate. Married to Lisa, raising a blended family with six children, Durant enjoys mountain climbing, skiing, hockey, watersports, and running.
Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:
Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/srs
Go to this exclusive web address right now to try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE: https://ZipRecruiter.com/SRS
Go right now to https://hillsdale.edu/SRS to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.
Take a stand today. Go to https://patriotmobile.com/SRS or call 972-PATRIOT, and use promo code SRS for a FREE MONTH of service!
Go to https://ShawnLikesGold.com to get your free 2025 Gold & Silver Kit. You could even qualify for up to 10% in free bonus silver.
Mike Durant Links:
LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-durant-14a0157
Book - https://a.co/d/9OB6ujI
SOWF - https://specialops.org/sowf-home-mobile
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Episodios Recientes
Más podcasts de Sociedad y Cultura
Ver toda la categoría →
Elton John Impact Awards
By shows
<p>Elton John Impact Awards honors the cultural icons championing equality for everyone. Inspiration meets impact in an unforgettable celebration of voices changing the world. Hosts Billy Porter and Elvis Duran lead a series of intimate and candid conversations with Elton John, David Furnish, and six incredible honorees whose work has shaped culture, advanced equality, and driven positive change for the LGBTQ+ community - Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan. These awards are all about recognizing those who cleared the path for us, and the ones who are lighting the way for future generations.</p>
Five Miles From Home
By shows
When beloved high school junior Micaela Costanzo disappears on her way home from track practice, the race to find her leads to unlikely suspects, simmering rage, and unimaginable betrayal. Keith Morrison takes us to a small Nevada casino town to find out what really happened that night under the desert sky.
¿Qué Haría Jesús?
By shows
¿Qué Haría Jesús? es un podcast producido por New Fire (@benewfire) en el que 7 sacerdotes legionarios de Cristo, comparten la reflexión diaria del Evangelio. P. Gabriel Abascal, LC (@padreabascal) P. Luis Rodrigo Núñez, LC (@padreluisrodrigo) P. Jorge Obregón, LC (@jobregong) P. Pablo Solis, LC (@pablosolisic) P. Evanibaldo Díaz, LC (@padreevanibaldo) P. Juan Antonio Ruíz, LC (@pjuanruizjlc) P. Jesús Rodrigues, LC (@padrejesuslc)
Blunt Force Trauma
By shows
Blunt Force Trauma is a new serialised investigation into the unsolved murder of Faithe Ely, from EchoSpace and host Troy Taylor (from award winning podcast Among The Missing). On March 28, 2021, Faith Ely was found lifeless on the side of a dark Oklahoma highway, her death quickly being ruled a hit and run. But the evidence doesn’t line up. The injuries don’t tell a clear story. And the more you dig, the harder it becomes to make sense of the official narrative. What should be a straightforward accident begins to feel anything but…
Después de la pérdida
By shows
Bienvenidos a un espacio que invita a la resiliencia durante el duelo. Entender el proceso, no significa que no duela el corazón. Hablaremos sobre el dolor, pero sobre todo, del amor. Un gusto conectar con ustedes en formato de podcast para que me puedan escuchar en el coche, en la casa, en el trabajo o donde ustedes quieran. ¡Gracias!
Ad Propositum
By shows
Bienvenidas y bienvenidos al podcast de Adpropositum, mi espacio auditivo para acompañarte a conectarte con tu propósito ayudándote a eliminar los obstáculos para acceder a una vida autentica y con sentido. Aqui reflexionaremos y aprenderemos en torno a la vida, el amor, el sufrimiento, el proposito y lo valioso. Un lugar construido para que lo compartas con otros y para que ademas de acceder a mis podcast, tambien encuentres mis medicinas auditivas para el alma.
Modo Taoísmo
By shows
Obtén inspiración para poseer el poder de alcanzar la grandeza y desbloquear todo tu potencial. Solo necesitas motivación y orientación para superar obstáculos y llevar una vida con propósito.