The Battle of Mogadishu: First Hand Accounts From the Men of Task Force Ranger

By Matthew Eversmann

Book Overview

"No matter how skilled the writer of nonfiction, you are always getting the story secondhand. Here's a chance to go right to the source. . . . These men were there."
-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, Somalia-the incident that was the basis of the book and film Black Hawk Down-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.

"Operation Gothic Serpent," by Matt Eversmann: As a "chalk" leader, Eversmann was part of the first group of Rangers to "fast rope" from the Black Hawk helicopters. It was his chalk that suffered the first casualty of the battle.

"Sua Sponte: Of Their Own Accord," 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.

"Through My Eyes," by Mike Kurth: One of only two African Americans in the battle, Kurth confronted his buddies' deaths, realizing that "the only people whom I had let get anywhere near me since I was a child were gone."

"What Was Left Behind," 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.

"Be Careful What You Wish For," by Tim Wilkinson: He was one of the Air Force pararescuemen or PJs-the highly trained specialists for whom "That Others May Live" is no catchphrase but a credo-and sums up his incomprehensible courage as "just holding up my end of the deal on a bad day."

"On Friendship and Firefights," 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, "Last Out."

With America'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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345459660
• ISBN13: 9780345459664
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Presidio Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

The Battle

This book is made of many firsthand accounts of soldiers who were there. It is good supplementry reading to Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down.

Terrific!

Wow, a terrific read! Short, to the point and by the soldiers who were there. A great compliment to Mark Bowden's book. With 35 years of military experience, I often get bored with stories written by the higher ranking officers, who often weren't in the front lines of the battle they write of, and seem to want to praise themselves. You won't see that in this book. Straight from the enlisted and self-critical of their own actions. Hats off to Matt and Dan and all the rest!

GREAT BOOK

This is a great book if you would like to get details of what its like to be in a battle. Yes some of the stories seem rushed or "not complete" but one must remember how much goes on during an actual fire, and how much information a person has to process. It is impossible for one man to remember every little detail that these guys want. The book did do a good job as to offer some different views and perspectives of the battle so that you can get a feeling for the battle as a whole. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about the conflict in Somalia, or even just what its like to be a ranger when you put your training to use.

Absolutely exceptional first hand accounts

This book is probably more important than Blackhawk Down in understanding the actions during the Battle for Mogadishu. Eversmann and Schilling brought together the first-hand accounts that before now had gone around the military in fourth- and fifth-hand drinking tales, stories told with awe and respect, as well as a certain degree of humor - Wilkinson's explanation for the reason he wasn't shot crossing the street is a perfect example. An absolutely vital read for anyone interested in the battle or in the true battlefield demands of special ops heroes.

EXCELLENT COLLECTION - WELL DONE

This is a very good collection of the stories of some of the men who fought in the battle of Mogadishu. This book is an excellent companion to "Black Hawk Down." Here we have the personal recollections of individuals soldiers who were on the ground during the intense battle and we see their "little part" through their eyes. We share their impressions and understanding of just what was going on. While a full overview of the battle is certainly a worthwhile study and read, I find this "one on one" account quite informative. The style is easy. For those unfamiliar with many of the terms used, the authors have provided a reasonable glossary. Hopefully we will get more of the same down the line. Recommend this one highly.