Black Hawk Down Vet Coming to AirVenture

July 14, 2016 - Michael Durant, a veteran of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), who was captured and held prisoner in 1993 after a raid in Somalia, thus inspiring the movie Black Hawk Down, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Veterans Breakfast.

Durant will be speaking on Friday, July 29 at the Veterans Breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Partner Resource Center. He will also conduct a book signing at the EAA Wearhouse from 11 a.m.-noon. At 1 p.m., he will speak at Warbirds in Review, and will be signing his book In the Company of Heroes following his presentation.

He retired as a chief warrant officer 4, Blackhawk helicopter master aviator after taking part in combat operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm, and Gothic Serpent.

Among Durant’s many awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Valor Device, Meritorious Service Medal, and three Air Medals.