Delta operator Norm Hooten summed up the thoughts of many:
I look back and I’ve had a very full and rewarding life with my family and I’ve [gone on] to do other things and I think of guys like Matt Rierson whose children were the same age as my kids, guys who never got to live their life, and I still feel a little guilty you know?
I’ve had a great life and it would’ve been wonderful for those guys to have that as well, so I regret that they didn’t get to experience the full life that I have lived. I think of them a lot. Their loss also makes me much more thankful for the things I’ve been given in life because I know they would’ve loved to have had even one more day of it.
Illustrations
A reproduction of a hand-drawn map created by Ranger Lieutenant Tom DiTomasso in the aftermath of the battle and with some additional information added on subsequently.
Bird’s eye view showing the routes taken by Task Force Ranger from headquarters and the QRF from New Port.
US Army map of the vicinity of the October 3 battle, noting key locations such as the K-4 Traffic Circle and Hawlwadig Road. (Courtesy US Army)
1st Flight Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR posing in front of Super 62. Three of the aviators in this picture were tragically killed in action on October 3, 1993. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
Super 65 conducting a practice mission prior to October 3 flown by Captain Richard Williams and Chief Warrant Officer 3 (P) Gerry Izzo. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
Super 64 (photo taken from Super 65) en route to a target prior to October 3. Note the Rangers sitting in the doors. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
Super 65 flown by Gerry Izzo and Richard Williams on a “signature flight” above Mogadishu. Members of Tom DiTomasso’s Chalk 2 are visible in the cargo area, legs dangling over the side. (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)
The Super 65 flight crew: Staff Sergeant Pat Powers, Chief Warrant Officer 3 (P) Gerry Izzo, Captain Richard “Trey” Williams, Staff Sergeant Foy Fields. Note the MP5A3 submachine gun carried by Fields. Crews were issued both the MP5A3 and the MP5K, whilst crew chiefs often carried M16A2s stored in the cargo area. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
A number of unidentified Task Force Ranger personnel with a 160th MH-60 at Mogadishu International Airport on August 28, 1993. Unfortunately the image is too poor in resolution to make out the aircraft number of the Black Hawk. (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo taken from Super 64 looking aft at Black Hawks Super 65, 66, and 67 during a prior mission over the outskirts of Mogadishu. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
A group shot of C-Squadron and supporting elements at the hangar. A range of small arms are on display including 7.62mm M14 battle rifles, 12 gauge Remington 870 shotguns, CAR15s mounted with Master Key shotguns, M249 SAWs with collapsible stocks, and CAR15s mounting M203 grenade launchers. (Courtesy Paul Leonard)
3 Troop from C-Squadron in the hangar at the airfield. 3 Troop comprised the squadron’s snipers and reconnaissance specialists and was typically manned by the most experienced operators. Visible amongst the operators are Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart (back row second and third from the left) and Dan Busch (kneeling to the left). Jim Smith can be seen to Busch’s right. (Courtesy Paul Leonard)
C-Team after the successful capture of Osman Atto on September 21, 1993, with Star 42 in the background. Paul Leonard is carrying the M249 second from the left. Note the pilot to his left carrying the compact MP5K submachine gun. (Courtesy Paul Leonard)
B-Team in front of their assigned Little Bird, Star 41, piloted by Karl Maier and Keith Jones. Michael Moser, the team’s breacher, is second from the right. Note the operators wear AWS chest rigs over their Faust body armor. (Courtesy Michael Moser)
C-Team from 1 Troop and a wild hog from one of Delta’s informal “aerial safaris.” Gary Keeney can be seen at the left, next to him is Paul Leonard, and next to Paul is Matt Rierson, C-Team’s Team Leader. (Courtesy Paul Leonard)
F-Team pictured with their assigned Little Bird, Star 44. Norm Hooten is to the far right of the image. (Courtesy Paul Leonard)
Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion Rangers posing for a group shot just prior to October 3. Note the mix of desert- and woodland-finish Humvees and the black Progressive Technologies vests worn by the Rangers in the background (including John Belman’s CSAR element in the center). Most of the Rangers in the foreground wear the brand new Ranger Body Armour (RBA) vests with woodland pattern covers. (Courtesy 75th Ranger Regiment)
Elements of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion of the Rangers at the hangar. The building behind them housed the JOC and J-2 team. Note the collapsed rotors on the Little Birds. (Courtesy 75th Ranger Regiment)
The Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) element pose in front of Super 68, “Razor’s Edge.” The difference between the Delta Faust vests and the Progressive Technologies vests is obvious. Note the operators using ProTec helmets with goggles. (Courtesy John Belman)
John Belman of the CSAR SST (SAR Security Team) in front of Super 68. Note the RBA vest. (Courtesy John Belman)
Delta operators returning to the hangar after a previous mission. The two MH-6 Little Birds feature “people pods” (officially the External Personnel System) and Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES) mounts are visible. (Courtesy Private Collection)
A Cargo Humvee (or “Cutvee” as the SEALs christened them) at the New Port in Mogadishu. This particular vehicle belongs to the 5th Special Forces Group but is very similar to those employed as part of the Ground Reaction Force by Task Force Ranger. (HOCINE ZAOURAR/AFP/Getty Images)
US troops in Mogadishu aboard an M923A2 five-ton cargo truck. The same type, with the same field expedient sandbag protection, was used by Task Force Ranger to transport the prisoners from the objective. (HOCINE ZAOURAR/AFP/Getty Images)
The Star MH-6 (unarmed Little Bird with external passenger pods carrying Delta operators) flight launching from the airfield on October 3. (Courtesy US Army)
The Barber AH-6 (armed AH-6 Little Bird) flight launching from the airfield on October 3. Each helicopter carried a pair of 2.75-inch unguided rocket pods and a pair of 7.62mm miniguns. (Courtesy US Army)
A modern image of the MH-6 Little Bird showing the “people pods” and the Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System to good effect. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
General Mohamed Farah Aideed pictured just before the June 15 raid on the Abdi House. Note that prior to the arrival of Task Force Ranger, Aideed often appeared in public to bolster his supporters. (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)
The remains of Super 61 after it was destroyed by demolition charges placed by the C-Squadron EOD technician. Note the tumbled-down wall to the left rear, part of the damage caused when the helicopter crash-landed into the alleyway. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Another view of the Super 61 crash site looking west toward the intersection with Marehan Road. Karl Maier and Keith Jones landed their Little Bird just to the left of the intersection. Just visible is the building strongpointed by Captain Miller and his operators. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
The only known image from the ground during the battle, taken from Chalk 1’s position at the southeast blocking position looking back along the wall that surrounded the objective building. Tim Watson’s Chalk 3 can be seen in the background at the intersection with Hawlwadig Road. The courtyard gate that Delta breached through can also be seen (the blue-colored wall section). A section of the target building is just visible above it. (Courtesy US Army)
Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, who gave his life defending the Super 64 crash site and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor: “Master Sergeant Gordon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.” (Courtesy US Army)
Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, who gave his life defending the Super 64 crash site and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The citation notes that Shugh
art and his fellow sniper Gary Gordon “unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site.” (Courtesy US Army)
An aerial view of the Super 64 crash site taken on October 20, 1993. The tree under which Durant was placed is visible along with the tin wall. The image underlines the close ranges faced by Shughart and Gordon with ample cover and concealment for attackers to approach within meters of the downed Black Hawk. (Courtesy US Special Operations Command)
An image taken on October 14, 1993 of children playing on a rotor blade amongst the remains of Super 64 after it had been destroyed by thermite grenades placed by Delta operators on the morning of October 4. Note the shanty town surroundings. (Scott Peterson/Liaison)
Another image of the final resting place of Super 64 and the site of the last stand of Shughart and Gordon. Note the tree in the background – this was likely the spot Durant was placed with the tin wall immediately to his right, through which he fired his MP5. (Scott Peterson/Liaison)
Super 64 pilot Mike Durant pictured beginning his journey back to the United States from the 46th Combat Support Hospital on October 15, 1993. Note the Ranger security element trailing the gurney. (HOCINE ZAOURAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Mike Durant gives the thumbs-up as his litter is carried to a waiting aircraft by fellow aircrew from the 160th SOAR. Each soldier present was given a thimble of watered-down whiskey from a bottle kept stashed by Durant for his return to the United States. (Courtesy US Special Operations Command)
An AK47-armed militiaman next to a burnt-out Malaysian Condor armored personnel carrier, likely one of the two that became separated from the main effort as the UN rescue convoy arrived on Hawlwadig on the night of October 3/4. (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)
The wreckage of a Task Force Ranger Cargo Humvee after it was abandoned near the K-4 Traffic Circle and set alight with thermite grenades by Delta operators. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Malaysian Condor armored personnel carriers painted in United Nations white seen in Mogadishu on October 13, 1993. Note that both feature the twin 20mm cannon mount rather than the more usual twin FN MAG machine guns. (Scott Peterson/Liaison)
A grainy view of the Pakistani-controlled soccer stadium where Task Force Ranger and Task Force David eventually exfiltrated after the battle. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
General Garrison leading the remembrance service for the fallen following the October 3 battle. (Courtesy 75th Ranger Regiment)
A close-up view of the traditional upturned rifles and helmets in remembrance of the six Rangers and five Delta operators (a sixth, Matt Rierson, would be killed within days of the ceremony) lost in the battle. The five Little Birds (one is out of shot) each represent one of the fallen members of the 160th. (Courtesy US Army)
President Bill Clinton awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to the wives of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon. (Courtesy United States Department of Defense)
Jim Yacone standing next to the damage inflicted upon Super 62. The RPG struck just behind his seat, knocking him and pilot Mike Goffena briefly unconscious. Thankfully Goffena awoke and managed to land the crippled Black Hawk at the New Port facility. The third Delta sniper on board, Brad H, lost a leg to the RPG in the incident. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
Pilot of Super 65 Gerry Izzo pictured with his Black Hawk in October 1993 and 23 years later in the same helicopter, which was purchased by a private company who intended to return the Black Hawk to its original fit-out from 1993. (Courtesy Gerry Izzo)
Super 68, the CSAR helicopter, on display at the Army Aviation Museum in Alabama. Super 68 continued to serve with the 160th and flew in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Direct Action Penetrator (DAP), the armed MH-60 variant. It is shown here with a full DAP weapons load. (Courtesy US Army Aviation Museum)
INSET Restoration work on Super 68 at the US Army Aviation Museum included recreating the famous “Razor’s Edge” paintwork. (Courtesy US Army Aviation Museum)
Tom DiTomasso, Anton Berendsen, Danny McKnight, John Waddell, and medic Richard Strous pictured at Fort Benning in 1994. (William F. Campbell/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Veterans of Task Force Ranger visit the grave of Corporal Jamie Smith in February 1994. (William F. Campbell/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Reproduction of a US Army Ranger. Note the Nomex flight gloves, “chocolate chip” pattern helmet cover (not enough of the new three-color DCU pattern covers had been delivered) and the blood type written on the boots. The figure carries a standard 5.56mm M16A2 assault rifle. (Courtesy US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, North Carolina)
Artifacts from Tom DiTomasso. These include his ALICE “fanny pack” at the top, Somali currency, his “chocolate chip” boonie hat featuring first lieutenant rank, his boots (marked with his blood type, A + POS), his map (behind the boots), and a Bible given to him by the chaplain of the 160th SOAR. (Courtesy US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, North Carolina)
Reproduction of US Army Rangers showing an M249 SAW gunner lying next to a rifleman. Both figures wear the RBA vest, but the kneeling soldier has the later version which featured a back trauma plate. The gunner’s fast-rope gloves are to his side and a length of fast rope is visible to the right. (Courtesy US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, North Carolina)
APPENDIX 1
BLACK HAWK DOWN, THE MOVIE
“It’s a movie, not a documentary, and as such it was very good – it’s weird hearing your friends’ names and callsigns used and some of the tactics we used shown.”
Gerry Izzo, Super 65
Whenever a film is produced of a historic battle, there will be the inevitable mistakes, omissions, and “dramatic license” of the film makers to muddy the waters. Participants will understandably view any such endeavor with a keen critical eye – for veterans, “getting it right” is more than historical accuracy, it is ensuring their friends and colleagues are accurately represented on the big screen. Black Hawk Down was no exception.
Although based on Mark Bowden’s excellent book, the film makers chose to include a number of incidents either wholly manufactured or by a process of amalgamating several incidents into one. The aim of this appendix is not to detail every single diversion from the historical record during the transformation of Bowden’s work to celluloid, but to give the reader a glimpse into what veterans of October 3 think about the film. Nor is it to denigrate the film, which in the end is one of the better Hollywood depictions of combat.
Ranger Lieutenant Tom DiTomasso pointed out perhaps the key difficulty veterans have with the movie: “The uniforms in the movie were good and accurate. The helicopters were accurate. Pieces of the storyline were accurate, but he had the characters rolled up into one – to make the movie more sensational they rolled several guys into one character. For the people that were there, that rubs them a little bit.”
This was a common refrain amongst veterans interviewed by the author for this book. The act of creating composite characters is a standard Hollywood device to present a complex story through the eyes of just one character, making it easier for the audience to follow the story. Inadvertently, it also leads to confusion for those who are well versed in the source material or indeed for those who rely on the film for their understanding of a particular event. Many viewers will consider the film version to be a true retelling of events as they have no wider frame of reference.
In Black Hawk Down, the key characters of Matt Eversmann and Norm “Hoot” Gibson were composites of several real-life individuals. In Eversmann’s case, the character played by Josh Hartnett was shown conducting actions that were in real life carried out by a number of Rangers, principally Tom DiTomasso but also Larry Perino and James Lechner. One of the most glaring examples of this is when Josh Hartnett’s Eversmann leads a foot movement of his Ranger chalk to the Super 61 crash site. Not only did the rea
l Eversmann and Chalk 4 join McKnight’s vehicle convoy rather than join the foot movement, but it was DiTomasso and half of Chalk 2 that secured the crash site moments before the CSAR aircraft arrived.
The real Matt Eversmann explained:
It was such a surreal, absurd experience for me and for anyone else whose name was used, but … the elephant in the room [was] that they made this kid, Josh Hartnett, the star of this show and he happens to be Sergeant Eversmann! Understanding their film formula, you can only have five or six characters, so everyone’s going to be a composite of other people.
Day of the Rangers: The Battle of Mogadishu 25 Years On Page 33