As time marches on, younger Americans step into the breach. It’s our duty to teach them about their heritage. Today marks the anniversary of a major event in US military history.
Additionally, the 75th Ranger Regiment was created on this day in 1984, with the stand up of its 3rd Battalion. Over 30 years later, the Ranger Regiment boasts boasts five battalions of some of the most elite warriors on the face of our planet.
But more importantly, this date also marks the 25th Anniversary of 1993’s Battle of Mogadishu during which, elements of TF Ranger which had 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 which claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the Aideed militia. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th. Of the men killed that day, two would be awarded the Medal of Honor, Delta Operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, for their selfless efforts to protect Durant after his aircraft, callsign Super 64, was shot down.
If you are unfamiliar with the events, 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.
RIP Gentlemen and God Bless Task Force Ranger
RLTW!
yeah was a biggie. relates more to where we are now at than perhaps any other event in the timeline of the post vietnam era.
BHD will give you the tale. for a better understanding of it try Out of the Mountains by D Kilcullen.
For those that have gone before us….
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
Read this. Choked up. Perfectly summarized my view of their sacrifice.
Live every day striving to be worthy of their sacrifice and of every blessing in your life.
Thanks Ed.
It’s also the 9th anniversary of the Battle of Kamdesh.
I remember reading BHD before BCT at Benning in early ’01.
There was a painting on the wall behind the fireguard desk commemorating the defense of Durant.
Regardless of circumstance, it was an honorable sacrifice.
We drink to the dead tonight. Knowledge paid for in blood that helped shape an entire generation of warrior.
Thanks Eric for deleting that post from that Troll!
Agreed. Thanks, Eric.
My unit left Mogadishu on Sep 11th 1993. What a shit hole. I was there when the AC130’s were still in theater, dropping 105’s. Les Aspen was a total prick for pulling those when TFR hit the ground in August.
How many lives could those have saved. Don’t get me wrong the Night Stalkers were awesome, but they didn’t have the firepower of the AC130.
God bless you guys that fought through the night, and those that fought to extract them in unarmored vehicles.
Wow! JD, I didn’t even know that at the time (I just grad HS). That is shitty, I always heard AC-130’s were restricted to night-Ops since the day time shoot down in Iraq, but if there is no SAM threat, why not? (collateral damage-get it but NP)
RIP brothers.