Character Analysis
*Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant*, is a 32 year-old, he was born in Berlin, N.H., and one of the pilots of Super 64, one of the Black hawks used to transport Rangers to the target house. Durant's unit, the ''Nightstalkers,'' were considered the finest helicopter aviation unit in the Army. Durant's helicopter was shot down during the battle. He was the pilot that got along with pretty much everyone and everyone thought he was a great person. After his black hawk was shot down he ended up being captured by the Somali's. He ended up being released in the end but he went through so many different emotions and told the press that the Somali's didn't torture him anything and took care of his wounds and injuries, and told him troops that if anything happened to him that the same would happen to them. So, he was well taken care of but said the shock of not knowing where you were and what was going to happen was scary enough. Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant now flies an AH-6 Little Bird for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he also supervises use of the unit's sophisticated flight training simulators. He and his wife, Lorrie, now have two children. He received the Bronze Star with Valor Device and a Distinguished Flying Cross, and is happy with everything that is happening and that has happened in his life.
Captain Mike Steele was 31 year-old, commander of the Rangers assigned to the task force. He was born in Statham, Georgia; he played on the offensive line for the 1980 national champion University of Georgia. His nickname is coach with his troops. Steele roped into the battle on Chalk One, and was the commander of the Chalk teams that roped in near the target house. Everyone in his troops call him coach because he acts like a coach for one and for two he tells the men what to do a lot and acts like he is in charge of everyone, but they all love him and say he is like a dad to them. He was the one that Pilla and his comedic group always made fun of and would do their acts on him. Captain Mike Steele, who received the Bronze Star with Valor Device for his actions as commander of the Rangers during the fight, is now a major with the 82d Airborne Division. He is a loved man and contributes a lot to his troop and was a huge person to keep around, not just for his size but his support.
First Lt. Larry Perino, 24 year-old, Globe, Arizona. He was leader of Chalk One and was second-in-command to the Ranger commander, Captain Mike Steele. He and Steele had a really good connection to each other, in a way that had to be. The two of them together were a big thing to everyone and a lot of the Rangers looked to them for advice and for influence. First Lt. Larry Perino, who received the Bronze Star with Valor Device for leading Rangers to the first crash site, is now a captain with the Ranger regiment at Fort Benning. As well as a lot of the other men who were in this battle, he still is doing something that has to do with the army and is still around the things he loves and is familiar with.
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