Customer Reviews

Mogadishu!: Heroism and Tragedy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book has many glaring mistakes and does little to explain why the QRF took a 25 mile long detour to the airfield, deployed out of the same site as the Ranger Convoy, or why the QRF ended up going the wrong way and got into an extraneous fire fight near the Digfer Hospital/Old Russian Embassy. I will address just one glaring inaccuracy. It credits 1SG Dooty of Company C, 2-14th Infantry with rescuing SGT Carroll who was injured in the Quick Reaction Forces initial attempt at rescuing TF Ranger. 1SG Dooty was not there and SGT Carroll was a Specialist that afternoon. 1SG Dooty was about 150 meters up the road with his Company Commander CPT Whetstone. Those who did go out and bring SPC Carroll back were SFC Eddie Ricord (a Special Forces Medic attached to the 2-14th as part of a Civil Affairs Team), 1LT Flaugherty (sp?) (the Battalion Physician's Assistant) and PFC Jackson (a Medic from 2-14th). They applied initial treatment to SPC Carroll and moved him back to the Civil Affairs HUMVEE for transportation. When I read this book I passed tthe copy along to SFC Ricord who of course was incensed that someone else was taking credit for other's work (particulary since 1LT Flaugherty was quoted on the previous page). The authors did little to double check claims of action and took at face value that one interview. This type of investigation tends to lead to unsubstantiated claims and inaccuracies.

What is most disappointing is that Kent had accurate and detailed information from those of us involved in the operation. The errors are so significant, this book is worthless as a factual reference.

To truly be able to review a book about an actual event being there is the best way to know if the events described are fact or fiction. The description of what happened with the QRF is not entirely true. If it would have been possible for us to reach the downed choppers any quicker then we would have. The events described do not denote that fact at all, but to say the book is entirely fictional is untrue.

It has been said the QRF was not on time because we were not trained for the mission. This could have all been alleviated by placing the QRF at the airport when the mission went out. To answer the waiting question of why these young men died and gave their lives on that day is simple: because of the pride of those who thought we need no help. We are the elite. A simple back up plan could have saved some; maybe not all, but to guys like CPL. Smith it would have made all the difference in the world.

I agree with LTC Biller's assessment: this is a poorly written, often contradicting, hastily thrown together work that was obviously published to beat Mr. Bowden's book to the stores. Additionally, it seems that none of the participants that were consulted for Black Hawk Down are interviewed in this publication, and many aren't even mentioned.

Also, the facts about Shughart and Gordon's last stand are entirely inaccurate. Even has who was killed first wrong--it was really Shughart who was the last man standing to defend Crash Site 2.

Do yourself, the facts, and those that perished that day a favor, and purchase Mr. Bowden's excellent work instead and get the whole story, including the events leading up to and following this horrific day.

I am speaking about this book from a rather unique perspective. My name is SGT Ken Surratt and as a PFC I was part of the Quick Reaction Force stationed in Mogadishu. HHC, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division.

There are countless individual stories from that night. This book does an astounding job in summing up the events of those two days. Of course I'll never forget PFC Martin, from A. Co. 2-14. We went through basic together and he hung out with my room mate SPC Terrell...

A great book...

Very easy to read and actually quite amazing. Most people don't know what happened with these guys and this book did a great job telling the story in a very readable way. Both, my son and I enjoyed this book very much and are awed by the sacrifice of these brave soldiers.

This book did a good job of getting perspectives from all units involved in the Battle. As a soldier from the 10th Mountain Division it's good to not be just a footnote in the history of that night. Mark Bowden did a good job with Black Hawk Down, but his perspective of things came only from the Speacial Forces Units involved that night. All units involved that night had one hell of a fight.

Very easy to read and actually quite amazing. Most people don't know what happened with these guys and this book did a great job telling the story in a very readable way. Both, my son and I enjoyed this book very much and are awed by the sacrifice of these brave soldiers.

This book has too many contradictions, about the people involved. The author (a weekend warrior and an officer no doubt)misleads the reader by giving various titles and positions to people that took part in the events. For example; if CWO Durant was stripped naked of his BDU's, how was it that he was videotaped wearing his BDU Trousers and Brown Undershirt? C'mon. I was in the Army and Infantry, I don't deny the heroics that day but we should'nt have been in Somalia in the first place. If the US does return to Somalia in some trumped up excuse for finding terroists we're in for another (***) whoopin unless we go in loaded for bear.