Today is the 19th Anniversary of the Oct 3rd Raid during which elements of TF Ranger, deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia conducted an operation on that city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia.
Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid a battle ensued that claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the militia. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th.
For those of you unfamiliar, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.
Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.
Also highly recommended are “In the Company of Heroes” by Michael Durant and Steven Hartov and “The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts from the Men of Task Force Ranger” by Matt Eversmann and Dan Schilling.
I recently found out that a retired SF friend was there. Had no idea until it came up in reference to something else. Quiet professional.
Feels like just yesterday when I heard the amazing story from Durant when he spoke at VMI. Never forget!
My Dad ran the Snipers in Mogadishu for the Marines. He had only been he a short time when this happened, and he collected every Philadelphia Enquirer article into a binder he still has. He also still carries his ROE card from Restore Hope in his wallet. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Ranger Keni Thomas in 2009, when he played a Christmas concert for the USO in Baghdad, and he is one of the humblest people I have ever met.
Never forgotten…..