Vignettes from Mogadishu – Perspectives of Those Who Where There

Vignette 3: U.S. Army Ranger Lieutenant

We, as a Task Force, had conducted a number of missions with extreme success. The mission on 3 October 1993 was no different. We launched on a target. We had good intelligence and a good template plan.

My platoon was task organized into two chalks, numbered two and four. Chalk two was subdivided into three elements. Every mission conducted by the awesome helicopter crew was perfect. The pilots always got the bird in the right spot and the crew chiefs kept us in line in the back and were the key communications link as when to throw the ropes.

The pilots would always take the time to make sure I knew the plan as they were briefed – and they knew the plan as I was briefed – before we ever took off. The crew chief would always make sure we had enough space in the back and ensure that the aircraft was rigged properly to prevent hang-ups as we exited the bird. The pilots never failed to give me a good one-minute warning so that I could get my helmet and gloves on in enough time. I also knew that the crew chief would yell out about or point to any changes on the ground that occurred. We had a good system and a great team because it worked and it was tested under fire and we grew close like brothers. We are different types of soldiers – aviators and grunts – but until now, I never realized how much we are alike. After each mission, each of the aviators would take the time to come and talk to see if we were okay and to listen to us. As their bird pulled away from the objective, I would always pray for them. It seemed like they were easy targets circling the objective, but I was glad to seem them. It was like they were up there watching out for us on the ground, I truly felt that they were ready to pounce on the enemy if there were any signs of trouble.

The mission on 3 October 1993 initially seemed like any other. Our chopper got us in right on top of our battle position like normal. We were receiving sporadic fire as soon as we hit the ground and my radio telephone operator (RTO) told me that chalk four had taken a casualty immediately. I looked around to make sure that my teams were in the correct spots. It seemed that we were taking fire from all directions. My RTO told me that the assault force had called the code word for "prisoners secured," and I knew it would not be long until extraction. It was then that the machine gunner saw a gunman throwing grenades across over an adjacent parking lot wall. I yelled for a buddy team from another Ranger team and my RTO and I stacked on the wall to the lot. I decided to use a fragmentation grenade prior to entering the lot. WE had already received fire from the lot and the machine gunner said he saw at least two or three men throw grenades from that location. I know that the RTO and myself probably were the wrong people to take this action – but it happened very quickly and the other teams were in contact, addressing a road to the east. Two other Rangers came over to me when I called and we cleared the lot and captured four prisoners of war (POWs). It was at this time that one of the Rangers saw a chopper get hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and crash.

Taking the initiative, he called his higher net and told them of the crash and then came and got me. I did not want to abandon my position so I left a 203 gunner there with an M60 team and started movement. When I got to the site, I saw a rescue helicopter had landed – its personnel attempting to load the casualties. There was a lot of fire and RPGs were sailing overhead. Small arms fire was impacting all over the intersection. I could see the Blackhawk crash site on the other side of the rescue bird. I told a Staff Sergeant (SSG) to take his team to the opposite side – the northeast side. I then called for another SSG's element to link up with us – which he did within minutes. I assigned him the west side of the craft. The medic knew there were casualties still over there and he ran immediately to the wreck. At the same time, it seemed like everything happened at once. Another rescue team roped in off a helicopter and by this time the original rescue craft lifted off. That pilot showed Ranger intestinal fortitude by landing his bird at the cash site under fire to evacuate his fallen comrades. The second rescue chopper team started assessing wounded and tried to move them out of the fire – away from the downed Blackhawk. It seemed like the enemy kept getting more accurate with the small arms and RPG fire. The Army Captain did great – he took charge of the situation and made every effort to try to link up with the other forces in and around the crash site. This is where I saw a lot of bravery and physical as well as mental toughness. These men were trying to move the casualties away from the crash and every time someone tried to move a litter – he was shot. We took three casualties in our attempt to move the litter borne wounded. All we could do was return fire and keep the crowds and gunmen away from the crash site. We did not have enough men to maneuver against the enemy and secure the crash site. One of the dead pilots of the downed Blackhawk was trapped inside the bird – we did not want to move too far away from the helicopter for fear of losing the body to the gunmen or the crowd. This man was one of us and we were not leaving without him.

About this time, my RTO told me that another chopper had gone down a distance off and they were trying to get men in there to secure the crash site. The Army Captain and I tried to get reinforcements from each of our elements to help in the evacuation of the wounded – but due to the intensity of enemy of and their own casualty count – they could not get to us. I listened on the radio as third platoon tried to make it to our location on three occasions – each under heavy fire – they took heavy losses trying to get to us and never stopped trying. I knew they would keep coming until they made it or all of them were dead.

The RTOs never took off their radios. Each of them helped carry wounded and never neglected their communications duties – displaying exceptional physical toughness. I know that the other RTO was continuously calling fire missions to suppress enemy fire from positions that were "danger close" - yet with lethal accuracy. The aircraft that were providing close air support saved us – if it weren't for them suppressing enemy fire an keeping the crowds off us, we would have been in trouble. My RTO probably saved my life - and the unit more than once – by keeping the commander informed and never losing his cool. This RTO was shot in the head – grazing his helmet and snapping his head viciously – yet he continued to perform his duty.

Throughout the night the Army Captain made several trips into the open back of the Blackhawk helicopter to get as many supplies as he could – extra ammunition for the SAWs, IVs, and NVGs. He also called for an emergency resupply for ammunition, IVs, and water – this was executed and probably saved some of our casualties from dying from their wounds.

The rescue chopper crew he had with him was incredible – an Army Sergeant Major was wounded trying to move wounded out of the line of fire and he refused treatment until the other casualties were taken care of – incredible mental toughness.

A Sergeant First Class who directed his people to maintain security complemented the Rangers from my chalk. We combined our units to secure the sire and the wounded. All casualties from the north crash site were evacuated to include the killed in action – all equipment was either destroyed in place or taken out. Nothing was left for the enemy.

The mission all these men set out to do was accomplished. The second mission was assumed when the aircraft went down. They all pulled together and recovered their fallen comrades – truly living the Ranger Creed.

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