Who was the soldier dragged through Mogadishu?

Domestic opinion turned hostile as horrified TV viewers watched images of the bloodshed—-including this Pulitzer-prize winning footage of Somali warlord Mohammed Aideed's supporters dragging the body of U.S. Staff Sgt. William David Cleveland through the streets of Mogadishu, cheering.

Who were the soldiers dragged through Mogadishu?

There were between 315 and 2,000 Somali casualties. The battle shifted American foreign policy and led to an eventual pullout of the U.N. mission in 1995. In the aftermath of the battle, dead American soldiers were dragged through the streets by Somalis, which was shown on American television—to public outcry.

Who was the soldier that fell out of the helicopter in Black Hawk Down?

Blackburn is severely injured when he falls from one of the Black Hawk helicopters, so three Humvees led by Staff Sergeant Jeff Struecker are detached from the convoy to return Blackburn to the UN-held Mogadishu Airport.

Did Todd Blackburn survive?

Blackburn survived that fateful day 25 years ago to continue to serve. Following his recovery, he returned to his home in Pensacola, Florida and went into law enforcement.

How much of Black Hawk Down is true?

In spite of these deficiencies, however, Black Hawk Down is a very realistic, historically accurate portrayal of modern war and tells a relevant and powerful story in an almost flawless example of an American war movie. Bolger, Daniel P. Savage Peace: Americans at War in the 1990s .

US Marines in Somalia 1993 The Infamous Somalia Incident

Who was Kyle Lamb in Black Hawk Down?

But when retired Sgt. Maj. Kyle Lamb remembers the Battle of Mogadishu and the events that have been immortalized in the book and film Black Hawk Down, he doesn't focus on what he did to earn recognition.

Who saved Michael Durant?

Below is a excerpt of American Valor's interview with Michael Durant whose life was saved by Medal of Honor recipients Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart. Mogadishu is a typical third world town, from a distance, it looked like at one point in time it might have been a beautiful place you might even go on vacation.

How far did the Rangers run in Mogadishu?

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (WWTI) — Early this morning, soldiers at Fort Drum honored the 28th-anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu.

Was Black Hawk Down based on a true story?

The film and book (of the same title) are based on an actual event which happened Oct. 3, 1993 called the Battle of Mogadishu. U.S. Army Best Ranger, Jeff Struecker, was one of the inspirations for the story being shared on screens across the globe.

How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down?

In the end, 19 American soldiers were killed, including six Delta Force operators, and 73 were wounded. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant, one of the Black Hawk pilots, was captured.

Did anyone survive Black Hawk Down?

During the Battle of Mogadishu, Durant piloted an MH-60 Blackhawk when it was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Despite the helicopter's crash, Durant survived and defended himself with an MP5 submachine gun with the help of Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart and Master Sergeant Gary Gordon.

Who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu?

The battle was fought between a United States Special Forces team and Somali rebels loyal to the self-proclaimed Somalian president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid. When two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, the initially successful operation degenerated into a desperate overnight rescue mission.

Were there Navy SEALs in Black Hawk Down?

Five Navy SEALs were also present during the raid, each earning a Silver Star. Several of the SEALs were part of the initial assault force, according to award citations at the time, and helped fight in and out of the crash sites. Wasdin, the SEAL who helped capture Atto, was wounded three times during the battle.

How many Rangers were killed in Black Hawk Down?

The Battle of Mogadishu, in which 18 American soldiers were killed, was later made famous by the best-selling book “Black Hawk Down” and the Hollywood movie of the same name. For Struecker, the honor was “bittersweet” and unexpected.

How Far did they run in the end of Black Hawk Down?

The actual distance traveled during the retreat from the intersection was somewhere between 4 and 4.5 kilometers, or 2.5 to 2.8 miles. For those who had started at the first crash site, the distance covered topped three miles.

How did Michael Durant get released?

Held in captivity for 11 days, Durant was shot in the arm by a Somali militant and interrogated on film which was famously released worldwide. He was released to The International Committee of the Red Cross and flown to Landstuhl, Germany, where he began his long recovery.

How long was Michael Durant a POW?

Michael J. "Mike" Durant (born July 23, 1961) is an American pilot and author who was held prisoner for eleven days in 1993 after a raid in Mogadishu, Somalia. He was a member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.

What happened to the Blackhawks in Mogadishu?

In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. But US forces met fierce resistance from Aideed's militia. Two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down.

Where did Kyle Lamb grow up?

Kyle Lamb has lived a life most couldn't even dream of. He grew up in a small town in South Dakota, but by the age of 24 he had been selected into the most elite special operations unit in the military.

What unit was Kyle Lamb in?

Sergeant Major (retired) Kyle Lamb spent over 21 years in the United States Army, with over 15 of that in 1st SFOD-D Delta Force. He has participated in many conflicts, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, as well as in the battle made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Was the Battle of Mogadishu a failure?

While certainly there were many failures and casualties throughout the mission, based on a military definition, it was a clear cut success; Task Force Ranger (TFR) accomplished the objective of the mission, despite significant losses, by retrieving the two targets assigned them.

Is Hoot a real person?

Norman Hooten is now Dr. Norman Hooten. Hooten is a full-time health care provider at the Orlando VA Medical Center. And he has first-hand experience with the effects of war, including a platoon sergeant he had known early in his career who died by suicide after struggling with PTSD and substance abuse.