Michael J. Durant retired from the Army as a CW4 Blackhawk helicopter master aviator in the 160th SOAR (A), the Night Stalkers. He participated in combat operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm and Gothic Serpent. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Valor Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, POW/MIA ribbon and numerous others. He and his wife Lisa have five children.Steven Hartov is an Airborne veteran and author of the international thrillers The Heat of Ramadan, The Nylon Hand of God and The Devil's Shepherd. His non-fiction has appeared in Special Operations Quarterly, Counterstrike and The Journal of International Security. He has two sons.