The Army helicopter pilot shot down and held captive in Somalia returned to his boyhood home Saturday and was greeted by 750 cheering, flag-waving people.
"It's an incredible welcome home. To see so many faces out there that I haven't seen in a long time, it's something I can't describe," said Michael Durant. He was accompanied by his wife, Lorrie, and 1-year-old son.Durant walked with a slight limp, a reminder of the injuries he sustained in October. He said getting back to New Hampshire's northernmost city, which he left 14 years ago, should help the healing process.
Durant received several gifts, including memberships to the local Red Cross, Disabled American Veterans and Rotary Club chapters. He also received coupons for pizza at a restaurant in this city of 12,000 people and was serenaded by Girl Scouts and grade-schoolers.
"You've done just an incredible job," Durant said. "Everybody around the country looks to communities like this because of how supportive everybody's been and how everybody came together and I'm real proud to be from here."
Durant, 32, injured his spine and broke his right thigh when Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid's forces shot down his combat helicopter on Oct. 3. Eighteen Americans died in the battle.