Episode 76 of the 18th Airborne Corps podcast is the second of two parts on the Battle of

Mogadishu. Normally we release new episodes every Tuesday, however, we’re releasing

these two on Sunday, October 3rd and Monday, October 4th - timed for the 28th

anniversary of the battle (October 3rd and 4th, 1993).

 

In this episode, we speak with John Collett, one of Rangers who fast roped into the Mogadishu arms market. John, then an Army Specialist, was an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon gunner. During the fighting he was wounded twice.

 

John was among 18 veterans of the battle awarded a Silver Star in a special ceremony on Fort Benning just a few days ago on Friday, October 1st of this year. John initially received a Bronze Star Medal with a “V” for Valor for his performance in the fight. The award was upgraded earlier this year.In this episode John tells the full story, the real story of Black Hawk Down. He describes the fear, the anger, the adrenaline, the fighting, the camaraderie – all of it. He also talks about the subsequent post-traumatic stress and the emotional toll of the brutal combat.

 

This is a story that every American should hear. It’s a story that should remembered.

 

On this dark anniversary, we should also remember all 19 American Soldiers killed in that battle. Here are their names:

 

 

 

Delta Force Operators

 

Master Sergeant Gary Ivan Gordon

Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart

Staff Sergeant Daniel Darrell Busch

Sergeant First Class Earl Robert Fillmore, Junior

Master Sergeant Timothy Lynn Martin

Sergeant First Class Matthew Loren Rierson

 

 

 

3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

 

Corporal James “Jamie” E. Smith

Specialist James M. Cavaco

Sergeant James Casey Joyce

Corporal Richard “Alphabet” Kowalewski, Senior

Sergeant Dominick Pilla

Sergeant Lorenzo M. Ruiz

 

Pilots and Crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiments

 

Staff Sergeant William “Wild Bill” David Cleveland, Senior

Staff Sergeant Thomas “Tommie” J. Field

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Raymond “Ironman” Alex Frank

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Clifton “Elvis” P. Wolcott

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donovan “Bull” Lee Briley

 

10th Mountain Division Soldiers

Sergeant Cornell Lemont Houston, Senior

Private First Class Henry Martin, Jr.

 

The 18th Airborne Corps podcast is the official podcast of the US military. Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts