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What was the reaction of US troops to the events of Black Hawk Down?

US troops reflect on bittersweet legacy of Black Hawk Down

I think the word that best describes my reaction to October 3rd 1993 everyone calls Blackhawk down is bittersweet. I remember as a young Ranger with my first experience in combat I had nothing to relate it to and I thought wow this dish was incredible. I mean the reality of combat is that good men well-trained well-led well-disciplined are going to die on the battlefield was a hard lesson to learn and yet we made it through that day that 18 hours we accomplished that mission and that is amazing as I look back on it. On the other hand it's it's so sad and frustrating not only that we lost soldiers on the battlefield but that our foreign policy changed overnight literally our foreign policy the United States lacked a resolve to continue with that mission to capture or kill Mohammed Adid and that's unconscionable to me you mean that makes it difficult that you've got to come home and explain to a 23 year old widow why her husband died who performed and fought so valiantly on that battlefield and to look her in the eye and tell her for what and to this day I can't explain it in fact I look at the news right now and you think you know Somalia may be worse off now than it was before we started

The word that best describes my reaction to October 3rd, 1993, also known as Black Hawk Down is bittersweet. I remember it from the point of view of a young Ranger and I am amazed that we accomplished the mission, but sad and frustrated that we lost soldiers on the battlefield and our foreign policy changed overnight. It is difficult to explain why her husband died, valiantly on the battlefield, and to this day, I cannot explain it.

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The reaction of US troops to the events of Black Hawk Down can be described as bittersweet. As a young Ranger experiencing combat for the first time, it was an incredible and intense experience. However, the reality of losing well-trained and well-led soldiers on the battlefield was a difficult lesson to learn.

Looking back, it is amazing that we were able to accomplish the mission during those 18 hours. However, it is also deeply saddening and frustrating that not only did we lose soldiers, but our foreign policy changed overnight. The United States lacked the resolve to continue pursuing the capture or elimination of Mohammed Adid, which is something I find unconscionable.

Returning home and having to explain to a young widow why her husband died, despite his valiant efforts on the battlefield, is a heart-wrenching experience. It is difficult to justify the loss when the purpose behind it remains unclear. Even today, I struggle to find an explanation.

In fact, when I look at the news and see the current state of Somalia, it makes me question if the situation is worse now than it was before we intervened.

What was the most difficult challenge you faced during the "Battle of Mogadishu"?

Unimaginable Devastation: Facing Mortally Wounded Soldiers in Battle

We all face a lot of challenges in the Battle of Mogadishu, myself included. And I think for me personally, listen, there are problems to solve when you're inserted in the wrong spot or your camo goes down or you see, you know, a litter urchin casualty on the ground like we had, or more importantly, get into a huge firefight that sustains itself, you know, the entire time you're on the ground. I mean, those are certainly challenges, but I would have to say hands down, the hardest thing for me as a young leader to learn on the battlefield and digest and work with was seeing soldiers gravely, mortally wounded. There's nothing I could have done to prepare myself certainly for that experience and to see somebody that you know was going to die and still have to, you know, as a teammate and a leader continue on, that was the biggest challenge I could say anyone, but specifically me faced.

The greatest challenge I faced in the Battle of Mogadishu was seeing soldiers gravely wounded and having to continue on as a leader and teammate in spite of it.

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During the Battle of Mogadishu, we encountered numerous challenges, and personally, I faced my fair share. While there were difficulties to overcome, such as being in the wrong position, equipment malfunctions, or encountering casualties, the most difficult challenge for me was witnessing soldiers who were gravely wounded.

Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional toll of seeing someone who was not going to survive their injuries. It was a heartbreaking experience, and as a teammate and leader, I had to find the strength to continue on despite the pain and grief. This was undoubtedly the most challenging aspect that I, and likely many others, faced during the Battle of Mogadishu.

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First Sergeant Matt Eversmann is an American hero who embodies the importance of duty, courage, and selfless service in extraordinary circumstances. In 1993, Matt led a raid against an enemy militia in Mogadishu, Somalia. His inspiring story of survival was depicted in the film Black Hawk Down. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, Matt drew from his military experience to teach the next generation of warriors. He worked at the Army War College, taught at Johns Hopkins University, and deployed to Iraq during The Surge. Matt has since used his experiences to show organizations how to build resilient teams. He has consulted in healthcare, non-profit, and data management. Matt recently returned from Afghanistan where he filmed a documentary for PBS. He has co-authored The Battle of Mogadishu and two New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson. Matt and his wife, Tori, run a consulting company and co-host a weekly podcast, The Veterans Nation.