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Operation Gothic Serpent: 25 years ago today
On October 3, 1993, we watched in horror as dead US Servicemen were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, pushing a place most Americans knew nothing about into the forefront of our military, our media, our policies, and our conversations. Today, both publicly and privately, survivors and service members will remember this event. One way many acknowledge this day is running a “Mogadishu Mile.” A run commemorating the fact that a handful of soldiers had to run out of the city being left behind by the rescue vehicles after fighting an entire city all night. Others will gather and talk of the battle and those we lost. Myself, I will raise a glass tonight to those who fought and stayed true to never leaving a man behind — I walk among giants.
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Published in Military
As was said of Marines on Iwo Jima it rings true of the those in the Army in Mogadishu, Somalia; “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Somalia Medal of Honor Recipients
I remain glad for all time that you, and others, are members of Ricochet and can remind us of such. Thank you. In every way.
I read an account of Mogadishu awhile back that etched that terrible day into my memory. I can barely comprehend the bravery of those soldiers at Mogadishu. They certainly exhibited what Hemingway called “grace under presssure.”
I always look inside when I read accounts of bravery, and I wonder if I could be that brave.
Of course, one never knows who’s going to be the hero, does one? Audie Murphie was a little, nondescript guy from Texas, but when one of those defining moments arrived in his life, he performed heroic deeds that stagger the imagination.
When I think of the bravery of the common man, I think of the young men huddled in the landing crafts, waiting for that gate to open so that they could spill out onto Omaha Beach in the face of machine gun fire. No one stayed behind. Perhaps we can all be heroes if the circumstances are right.
Dajoho, thanks for the post.
As I recall after seeing that dead soldier dragged through the streets, I read that the commander had asked for backup and Clinton’s Defense Secretary Les Aspin refused. Who but a Democrat would appoint a professor-looking guy with elbow patches on his jacket as Secretary of Defense.
Thanks Doug. I either read or heard through my community that when one their wives heard that this was happening she replied that “There’s nobody else I would want my husband with in this situation…” – speaking to the character of these men.
Thanks She – I feel it’s important that we remember and this is a tough week for me as I will have another post tomorrow for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
You are most welcome and thanks for the comments. I think most are braver and stronger than they think or have had the “opportunity” to prove; most have no idea what they are capable of.
As I recall RA they requested and AC-130 gunship – think of a battleship in the sky. Their motto is “you can run but you will only die tired.” It was denied and could have absolutely been a game changer.
Aspin should have resigned or been fired. Apparently he denied the commander’s previous request for armor which would have saved lives in the aftermath of “Black Hawk down” and the AC-130 (calvary) request was denied while our guys were still ‘in the fight.’ What would we do without the Ruling Class to watch over and protect us from ourselves?
At least we learned our lesson before Benga…..oh wait. Hell Simon, the dems would now probably run Aspin for president
Thanks dajoho, for the reminder to recall, pray, and insist that we Never Forget! Thanks and Hoc Defendam/Semper Fi! </3
In contrast, Secretary of Defense James Mattis appointed by POTUS Donald Trump:
Thanks for the reminder, @dajoho.
Thanks Mim. Mattis nailed on that one, we could all use a little more of that.
Amen.
That phrase caught my eye immediately, too. My first thought when I saw it was, “Wow. Such good advice, and not just for military matters, but for all of life.”
Even so.
That was my dad. He made it back and raised seven kids with my mom. The warp and woof of a life, man.
Amen. When I think of my dad at age 18 being a tail gunner in the 8th Air Force ( and he enlisted eagerly, wasn’t drafted) and I try to picture some of these vegan millennials in man-buns doing what he did, I fail.