Battle of Mogadishu

I would like to pay honor and respect to the fallen warriors from the Battle of Mogadishu, which took place roughly 29 years ago.

On October 3, 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia, US troops conducted a raid to capture two lieutenants of Mohammed Farah Aidid (head of the Somali National Alliance). This raid ended up becoming an overnight standoff and rescue operation lasting into the next day. In particular, using RPGs, Somali militia members shot down three US Black Hawk helicopters, two of which crashed deep in hostile territory. US troops then defended, overnight, the two downed helicopters and its survivors.

Overall, this battle resulted in 19 US deaths and 73 wounded—at the time, the deadliest battle involving US troops since the Vietnam War.

The 19 fallen US military servicemen were:

• Six operators of 1st SFOD-D (Delta)
• Gary I. Gordon (33, Medal of Honor recipient)
• Randy Shughart (35, Medal of Honor recipient)
• Daniel D. Busch (25)
• Earl R. Fillmore, Jr. (28)
• Timothy L. Martin (38)
• Matthew L. Rierson (33)
• Six soldiers of the 75th Ranger Regiment (3rd Ranger Battalion)
• James E. Smith (21)
• James M. Cavaco (26)
• James C. Joyce (24)
• Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr. (20)
• Dominick M. Pilla (21)
• Lorenzo M. Ruiz (27)
• Five members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)
• William D. Cleveland, Jr. (34)
• Thomas J. Field (25)
• Raymond A. Frank (45)
• Clifton P. Wolcott (36)
• Donovan L. Briley (33)
• Two soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division
• Cornell L. Houston, Sr. (31)
• James H. Martin, Jr. (23)

Warriors, I honor and salute you.

REST IN PEACE.

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For more information about the Battle of Mogadishu:

Wikipedia article

Tom Satterly’s ‘All Secure’ (firsthand account by a Delta operator)

Mark Bowden's ‘Black Hawk Down’

Ridley Scott’s film ‘Black Hawk Down’

If you would like to support members of the 1st SFOD-D (Delta) community through charity, please donate to the Unit Foundation.

Memorial Day: Extortion 17

On this Memorial Day, I would like to pay honor and respect to the fallen warriors from Extortion 17.

In Afghanistan on August 6, 2011, a Chinook helicopter (call sign Extortion 17) was shot down, killing 30 US military servicemen, one US military dog, seven Afghan National Army commandos, and one Afghan civilian interpreter.

Overall, this event was the greatest single loss of life to US Naval Special Warfare in the Afghan War.

The 30 fallen US military servicemen included (among others):

• 17 Navy SEALs, including 15 DEVGRU (Naval Special Warfare Development Group) operators

• Four Naval Special Warfare support personnel: two EOD technicians, one cryptologic technician, and one information systems technician

• One military working dog handler

These Naval Special Warfare members were:

• Lieutenant Commander (SEAL) – Jonas B. Kelsall

• Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Louis J. Langlais

• Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Thomas A. Ratzlaff

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Brian R. Bill

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – John W. Faas

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Kevin A. Houston

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Matthew D. Mason

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Stephen M. Mills

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Robert J. Reeves

• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) – Heath M. Robinson

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Darrik C. Benson

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Christopher G. Campbell

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Jon T. Tumilson

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Aaron C. Vaughn

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Jason R. Workman

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) – Jesse D. Pittman

• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) – Nicholas P. Spehar

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer – Kraig M. Vickers

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer – Nicholas H. Null

• Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class – Michael J. Strange

• Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class – Jared W. Day

• Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class – John Douangdara

Warriors, I honor and salute you.

REST IN PEACE.

Note: If you would like to support members of the Naval Special Warfare community through charity, please donate to the Navy SEAL Foundation.