Anyhoo, is there actually a character for your friend? A lot of the characters in BHD are composites based on the real soldiers, simply b/c there's far too many individuals to portray in a single film.
Eric Bana's character supposedly is a composite of some 5 or more individuals that were featured in the book.
http://inquirer.philly.com/blackhawk/video_gdwait.asp
Mike Goodale. Yes the movie is a combination of characters, but there is a dude wearing his name in the movie. I dont think he has speaking roles, just sort of an extra. At least this is what some other guy that knows Mike said, so it could be wrong.
Mike has been on the History channel telling his story. He is extremely modest. I never even knew he was in Somalia until I was reading the book. The character Mike Goodale in the book never stuck out at me, since its not that uncommon of a name. I just assumed it was someone else since he never said anything about it to me. Then when I was flipping pages in the book and there were some pics...there he was.
I asked him if that was him and he was like "Yeah I was there, got shot in my ass!" He was awarded a Bronze Star for gallantry. The guy is one tough SOB.
*edit*
Wikipedia has this pic:
With this caption:
"SGT. Mike Goodale (Carmine Giovinazzo) fires his M16A2 while making his way to the first Blackhawk crash site."
Not sure what all the helmet says, but something "Good"