Micheal Durrant-"In The Company Of Heroes"

[wolfhound227]

Just a heads up! This book will be released this Month (April).

BOL for book signings and lectures and interviews on the tube.

That's Durant with one "R".

[CPTAUSRET]

I will read it:

Terry

[Gigi]

Thanks for the heads up

[SN]

Will it be hardbound only?

[wolfhound227]

I don't know. I think he's earned at least $25 from me anyway.

[felix6]

Initially, it wil be hardback. I'll be getting him to autograph my copy this weekend at Bragg.

[Andy0331]

It just came in today. So far, very good reading!

[Sweetbriar]

He will be live on CSpan2 at 5 eastern. Check listings for repeats.

Edit: The show ran for an hour and a half, almost an hour of it Q&A. It repeats at 1:30 and 10 am Sunday morning. (Tune in early, the 1:30 repeat started at 0100 instead.)

[SGTROCK]

Saw the CSpan show today very good Q&A session.Now I definately have to get the book.

[wolfhound227]

I just finished this book. I'm going to read it again, it's just that good.

Durant comes across as a first class guy all the way. His book fills in many blank spots from "Black Hawk Down" and answers most of the "Why didn't they do..." questions. The story weaves between his shoot down and captivity to his Army career and his start flying Medivac in Korea and then the 101st.
He talks about assessment to make it into the 160th and you get some S.E.R.E. stories as well. He tells about his mission at Rio Hato as the FARP and he tells a bit about Desert Storm. The story about his NODs being stolen by Somalis and chasing them is a riot.

The best thing about this book and the thing that speaks to his character is that he talks about the other men of the 160th as much if not more than himself. Through this book you get to know Cliff Wolcott and Donovan Briley and what gifted and talented pilots they were. The same is true with his crew Tommy Field, Bill Cleveland and Ray Frank. I came away from this book with a better understanding of just how damn close the guys of the 160th are and this makes the events of 10/03/93 just that much more dramitic.
Finally, this book gives you the best discription (through narrative) of what kind of man it takes to makes it into Special Operations and thrive - a guy that's always looking do do it better and will push himself 1000% to do so.

Get this book.

[Highspeed160th]

Nice review Wolfhound.

[Tuukka]

I believe this is the same segment that was aired there on C Span. Filmed at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum.

It last around 1h 33min, its a Real Player file.

http://www.booktv.org/ram/feature/0503/btv051003_4.ram

[CIV]

It's a good book. Worth the time.

[MrPotatoHead]

Just ordered a copy. Looking foward to it.

[Jimbo]

I'll finish my copy within the week. Anyone wants it when I'm done, its up for grabs.

[Bigman 45252]

Originally posted by wolfhound227
I just finished this book. I'm going to read it again, it's just that good.

Durant comes across as a first class guy all the way. His book fills in many blank spots from "Black Hawk Down" and answers most of the "Why didn't they do..." questions. The story weaves between his shoot down and captivity to his Army career and his start flying Medivac in Korea and then the 101st.
He talks about assessment to make it into the 160th and you get some S.E.R.E. stories as well. He tells about his mission at Rio Hato as the FARP and he tells a bit about Desert Storm. The story about his NODs being stolen by Somalis and chasing them is a riot.

The best thing about this book and the thing that speaks to his character is that he talks about the other men of the 160th as much if not more than himself. Through this book you get to know Cliff Wolcott and Donovan Briley and what gifted and talented pilots they were. The same is true with his crew Tommy Field, Bill Cleveland and Ray Frank. I came away from this book with a better understanding of just how damn close the guys of the 160th are and this makes the events of 10/03/93 just that much more dramitic.
Finally, this book gives you the best discription (through narrative) of what kind of man it takes to makes it into Special Operations and thrive - a guy that's always looking do do it better and will push himself 1000% to do so.

Get this book.

I have to agree with your review. It's an excellent book. Mike Durant adds a bit of humour to the book and it's really fascinating to read about what it's like to be a POW. It says a lot about the human spririt and what it takes to surive.
It's an emotional read and reading about the battle at the Six Four crash site, it makes you realise that it was like a rollercoaster of emotions.
For me, this book is maybe better than Black Hawk Down cause it's from the point of view of one soldier during the battle.

[RIT_MEDIC]

Just picked up a copy. I am loking forward to having time to read.

James D

[Doogie320]

Great book. Lots of good info in there.

BTAR

[Huey One Four]

I saw it in paperback the other day; Ill have to get it next pay day.

As an aviation guy, I find it a nice change to see from the aviation side of spec ops, rather than the door kickers all the time.

[Sharky]

While in the car driving yesterday, "Rooster" by Alice in Chains came on the radio. Gave me chills. If you dont know what I mean, read the book.

[Doogie320]

Originally posted by Sharky
While in the car driving yesterday, "Rooster" by Alice in Chains came on the radio. Gave me chills. If you dont know what I mean, read the book.

Hells Bells won't be the same either.

[darnold]

Concerning the book "In The Company of Heroes". I think it’s a great book and am proud to have bought it. Was it considered to be a mistake in releasing information about the captivity actions concerning the coded events recorded in the U.S. Army Bible? It just seems like it would make things more complicated next time even though these events took place quite a while ago. Maybe it was already in the public domain but if not it didn’t seem as critical to the book to warrant words and a picture. Also saw it again on the History Channel last nite.

[VMI_Marine]

Gents, I can say that my respect for the 160th has made a huge jump. Stephanie Shughart's letter was absolutely incredible. If you haven't read this book and are considering a career in aviation or SOF, READ IT.

[Ace]

Originally posted by darnold
Was it considered to be a mistake in releasing information about the captivity actions concerning the coded events recorded in the U.S. Army Bible?

It wasn't a mistake, and it was cleared for release.


Originally posted by darnold
it didn’t seem as critical to the book to warrant words and a picture.

It wasn't critical to you because you don't undrstand the significance of "small victories". It was an example for all to see that they do indeed work.

[darnold]

Ace....

Thanks for the reply and answers...

That is very true. I can only imagine that in the “darkest moments” those "little victories" made all the difference.

[Sabre07]

No small coincidence that I finished this book on the same day I was part of a funeral detail for an 82nd Airborne D-Day vet. We are losing our WW2 national treasures at an alarming rate. If you know one, take some time and hang out with him. Don't ask him about the war, just freakin' spend some time with the guy. That goes for Korea and Viet Nam vets also. Those guys and gals stood up and did the business. We should honor them whenever possible. 'Nuff said.


Oh yeah, the book was excellent. Thanks TFR, you guys are on the same shelf as the above-mentioned cats.

[Anakin]

Excellent book. A great compliment to the book "Black Hawk Down". It was good to read about Mike Durant's career other than Somalia. Highly Recommended.

[Georgia]

Originally posted by Sharky
While in the car driving yesterday, "Rooster" by Alice in Chains came on the radio. Gave me chills. If you dont know what I mean, read the book.

Originally posted by Doogie320
Hells Bells won't be the same either.

Ditto. Or Seminole Wind.

I cheated a little here. I had a long drive this weekend and listened to In The Company Of Heroes (read by Michael Durant) on the road. It was amazing listening to him read the book, although not an altogether wise idea to listen to this book while diving 400 miles. Fortunately, I was pulling into Atlanta when the he described his release, learned the fate of his friends (Donovan particularly - Seminole Winds will never sound the same to me again) and read Stephanie Shughart's letter.

The book was (to use Durant's word) outstanding.

[darnold]

Originally posted by Georgia

I had a long drive this weekend and listened to In The Company Of Heroes (read by Michael Durant) on the road. It was amazing listening to him read the book, although not an altogether wise idea to listen to this book while diving 400 miles.

Thanks for the idea, Georgia. Now I'll have to get the audio of it. It's a perfect book and time to get it since I'm planning a trip to Southern Pines to see my kid.

[BadMuther]

Excellent book.

If you are the type of person (I am) who gets choked up over things that are patriotic in nature, the last chapter will be hard for you. I know it was for me.

Stephanie Shughart's letter and the part about the last person to check out the book on the Medal Of Honor was Gary Gordon really moved me.


Great book, great companion to BHD.

Jim

[darnold]

http://www.harryfamily.com/family/albums/album45/Shughart.jpg

[Infernus]

I love it, a remarkable man Durant. Simply a great read for a man who wants to be military. I wish I could read more on Gary and Randys last stand though.

[Amato]

I finally got around to reading it after Isabel knocked out my power for the past 3 days. Fantastic book, defenantly enjoyed reading it, and had trouble putting it down.

[Copenhagen]

Sounds like a great book. I'll definately have to check it out.

[SOTB]

I was in London a couple of months ago and while the wife was shopping, I ducked into a bookstore on Oxford Street. Lo and behold, there was a copy of this book, AND autographed as well. In England. Go figure.

I bought it and read it back home on the plane.

I'm sincerely glad that the Army had the good sense to form this unit up. I only had the chance to work with them once in my career. To see a Blackhawk on a small street, down below rooftop, pitchblack, and fastroping their cargo on target was impressive. But after reading of their training standards, I guess what I thought was amazing was standard fare....