Norm "Hoot" Hooten

Norm "Hoot" Hooten is a former Delta operator who served in Somalia in 1993. In the 2001 film "Black Hawk Down", he was portrayed by Eric Bana as Norm "Hoot" Gibson. He was a member of the Delta squadron that was deployed to Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger in August 1993.

Career

Battle of Mogadishu

During the Battle of Mogadishu, Delta operators were divided into several smaller teams, most of which were carried on benches attached to SOAR MH-6 Little Bird helicopters, and landed either on top of or next to the target building. In order to clear the structure of all personnel whom they encountered, and to do so quickly and with overwhelming force, these teams were delivered in more than one area and entering the building at nearly the same time. One of these teams that captured Mohamed Farrah Aidid's lieutenants was led by SFC Norm Hooten which landed next to the target building . From there, his team worked its way inside and linked up with the other teams like the one led by SFC Paul Howe (which landed on the top of the target building). In addition, his and other teams played a key role in defending the crash site of Super 61 (the SOAR MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter piloted by Cliff “Elvis” Wolcott).

After Somalia

Hooten remained with Delta and promoted to Master Sergeant according to Ridley Scott's commentary on "Black Hawk Down"; he later served in Afghanistan in 2001. Hooten has also been reported as working as a hand-to-hand combat instructor for SAIC after 2001.Fact|date=November 2007

Awards and decorations

During his service he received a Bronze Star with Valor Device.

ee also

*Paul Howe
*Delta Force
*Black Hawk Down
*Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

References

*cite book|last=Bowden |first=Mark |title=Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War |publisher=Penguin (reprint) (2000) |isbn=978-0140288506