The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts from the Men of

The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts from the Men of Task Force Ranger

â€œNo matter how skilled the writer of nonfiction, you are always getting the story secondhand. Hereâ€™s a chance to go right to the source. . . . These men were there.â€
â€“MARK BOWDEN (from the Foreword)

It started as a mission to capture a Somali warlord. It turned into a disastrous urban firefight and death-defying rescue operation that shocked the world and rattled a great nation. Now the 1993 battle for Mogadishu, Somaliaâ€“the incident that was the basis of the book and film Black Hawk Downâ€“is remembered by the men who fought and survived it. Six of the best in our military recall their brutal experiences and brave contributions in these never-before-published, firstperson accounts.

â€œOperation Gothic Serpent,â€ by Matt Eversmann: As a â€œchalkâ€ leader, Eversmann was part of the first group of Rangers to â€œfast ropeâ€ from the Black Hawk helicopters. It was his chalk that suffered the first casualty of the battle.

â€œSua Sponte: Of Their Own Accord,â€ by Raleigh Cash: Responsible for controlling and directing fire support for the platoon, Cash entered the raging battle in the ground convoy sent to rescue his besieged brothers in arms.

â€œThrough My Eyes,â€ by Mike Kurth: One of only two African Americans in the battle, Kurth confronted his buddiesâ€™ deaths, realizing that â€œthe only people whom I had let get anywhere near me since I was a child were gone.â€

â€œWhat Was Left Behind,â€ by John Belman: He roped into the biggest firefight of the battle and considers some of the mistakes that were made, such as using Black Hawk helicopters to provide sniper cover.

â€œBe Careful What You Wish For,â€ by Tim Wilkinson: He was one of the Air Force pararescuemen or PJsâ€“the highly trained specialists for whom â€œThat Others May Liveâ€ is no catchphrase but a credoâ€“and sums up his incomprehensible courage as â€œjust holding up my end of the deal on a bad day.â€

â€œOn Friendship and Firefights,â€ by Dan Schilling: As a combat controller, he was one of the original planners for the deployment of SOF forces to Mogadishu in the spring of 1993. During the battle, he survived the initial assault and carnage of the vehicle convoys only to return to the city to rescue his two closest friends, becoming, literally, â€œLast Out.â€

With Americaâ€™s withdrawal from Somalia an oft-cited incitement to Osama bin Laden, it is imperative to revisit this seminal military mission and learn its lessons from the men who were there and, amazingly, are still here.
Country USA
Brand BALLANTINE GROUP
Manufacturer Presidio Press
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber 9780345459664
Color White
ReleaseDate 2005-07-26
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780345459664

Country	USA
Brand	BALLANTINE GROUP
Manufacturer	Presidio Press
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	9780345459664
Color	White
ReleaseDate	2005-07-26
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780345459664

The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts from the Men of Task Force Ranger

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