A Delicious Day for Durant; Even Army Food Looks Good

Joking that he would “never say anything bad about Army food again” after spending 11 days as a captive in Somalia, Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Durant was in good spirits Sunday after his first night back on U.S. soil.

The 32-year-old Army helicopter pilot is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning on his broken right leg, said Dr. Tom Hardy, acting commander of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.

Durant spoke to journalists from his hospital bed Sunday, saying: “I would just like to thank all the American people for all their fantastic support. It’s made the difference. I’m glad to be home, and I’m proud to be an American.”

Hardy said Durant was “in very good spirits” despite his injuries, which also include a facial fracture and a compression fracture of the back. He also has a low-grade fever.

Hardy said one of the most important parts of Durant’s recovery is to have the broken femur in his right thigh realigned so that surgery can be performed. Durant is in traction with a 20-pound weight on that leg.

In the operation scheduled for this morning, Dr. Rolf Drinhaus will insert a pin to hold the broken bone together.

The injury to Durant’s back will require no surgery, Hardy said. It will be treated with a brace for six to eight weeks.

Durant should be able to walk normally in three months, assume simple duty in six months, and return to flying in the next year, Hardy said.

Durant’s Black Hawk helicopter was shot down Oct. 3 by fighters loyal to Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid in a battle that killed 18 Americans. Aidid released Durant Thursday.

Durant’s first meal back home was spaghetti and meatballs sent over to the hospital from a nearby restaurant. He described it as delicious and told Hardy that he would “never say anything bad about Army food again after eating with the Somalis.”