10/04/2022
Remembering The Battle of the Black Sea in Mogadishu 🇺🇸
Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation with .repost
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The Battle of the Black Sea in Mogadishu, also known as “Black Hawk Down”, was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. It was fought on 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between US Special Operations Forces known as “Task Force Ranger” against Somali militia fighters in Mogadishu. Two of the Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation Executive Board Members were a part of this operation.
The primary mission/objective of Task Force Ranger was to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Somalia clan leader who was wanted by the Unified Task Force in response to his attacks against United Nations troops during the ongoing humanitarian mission trying to feed the starving Somali civilians.
What many people don’t know is the connection between this operation and the War on Terror. Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden had a hand in training and equipping the Somali militiamen that TF Ranger fought. Emboldened after US political actions, then deadly al Qaeda attacks in the Horn of Africa against U.S. targets in 1996, 1998 and 2000 followed, leading up to 9/11. (Don’t forget the Feb 1993 Al Qaeda first attack on the World Trade Center)
Please join us in remembering all those that fought and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield during this fight.
18 killed and 73 wounded during the 03-04 October battle and 1 KIA and more wounded on 06 October in a mortar attack.
Killed In Action
MSG Gary Ivan Gordon
SFC Randall "Randy" D. Shughart
SSG Daniel D. Busch
SFC Earl Robert Fillmore, Jr.
SFC Matthew Loren Rierson (KIA on 06 Oct)
MSG Timothy "Griz" Lynn Martin
SGT Dominick M. Pilla
SPC James M. Cavaco
SGT James Casey Joyce
CPL James "Jamie" E. Smith
SGT Lorenzo M. Ruiz
CPL Richard W. Kowalewski, Jr.
CWO Clifton "Elvis" P. Wolcott
CWO Donovan "Bull" Briley
CWO Raymond "Ironman" A. Frank
SSG Thomas "Tommie" J. Field
SSG William "Wild Bill" David Cleveland, Jr.
PFC James Henry Martin, Jr.
SGT Cornell Lemont Houston, Sr
