Book dossier

Mogadishu!

by Kent DeLong

Among America's clearest memories of ongoing conflict in Somalia will certainly be the swollen, bloodied face of helicopter pilot Michael Durant, displayed on international television news reports after his capture in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. While the failed mission leading to Durant's imprisonment captured the rage and anguish of the world, few Americans truly understood how many U.S. Army Ranger compatriots shared Durant's fortitude and courage there. Indeed, Durant was only one member of the elite Task Force Ranger Regiment deployed to apprehend Mohammed Farrah Aidid - Somalia's most powerful warlord - on that fateful October day. Here is the little-known story of the 15 fierce, deadly hours of fighting that followed the Americans' tightly calibrated attempt to target Aidid. Moment by moment, Mogadishu! recounts how this mission, intended to deflate the heart of Somali resistance, became instead a tragic showcase for the heroism and breathtaking self-sacrifice of American servicemen - and the catalyst for U.S. withdrawal of peacekeeping troops.