Norm Hooten

Norman "Hoot" Hooten is a former U.S. Army Delta operator who served in Somalia in 1993. In the 2001 film Black Hawk Down, he was portrayed by Eric Bana. He was a member of the Delta squadron that was deployed to Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger in August 1993.
Career
Hooten attended the Special Forces Qualifications Course (SFQC) in June 1981. He was assigned to the U.S Army 5th Special Forces Group (Green Berets) from 1982 to 1987. In April 1987 he was one of 6 personnel selected for assignment to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force). He attended Ranger School with fellow Battle of Mogadishu veteran John Belman as his 'Ranger buddy'. He graduated in November 1992.
Battle of Mogadishu
During the Battle of Mogadishu, Delta operators were divided into several smaller teams, most of which were carried on benches attached from 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 Six One (the SOAR MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter piloted by CW3 Clifton "Elvis" Wolcott).
After Somalia
Hooten remained with Delta and was promoted to Master Sergeant according to commentary on Black Hawk Down; he later served in Afghanistan in 2001. He served as the National Supervisory training Coordinator for the Federal Air Marshal Service Global Response Team from 2003 to 2009. Hooten is currently employed by ViaGlobal Group and serves as the Deputy General Director for the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman Jordan.
Awards and decorations
During his service he received a Bronze Star with Valor Device.

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