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 On 22 August 1993 Secretary of Defense Les Aspin directed the deployment of a Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) to support US efforts in Somalia. The deployment of SOF was in response to increased enemy attacks in the United Nations Operations Somalia forces and installations by factions supporting General Mohammed Farad Aideed. The JSOTF, named Task Force (TF) RANGER, had the mission to capture Aideed and his key lieutenants, and to turn over captives to UNOSOM II forces. This was a challenging mission -- Aideed had gone underground in June, after several AC-130 air raids and UNOSOM II ground assaults had swept through his strongholds.
The command and control structure of TF RANGER remains of interest. Per the Goldwater-Nicols Defense Reorganization Act, the unified commander was entitled to organize his forces as he saw fit. General Hoar had the TF RANGER commander, Major General William Garrison, report to him directly. Thus, TF RANGER did not fall under the UNOSOM II commander, and at all times TF RANGER remained under US operational command and control. Major General Garrison did, however, coordinate TF RANGER operations with Major General Thomas M. Montgomery, the commander of US Forces Somalia.
By 28 August the task force had arrived in country, was conducting training exercises, and was setting up the necessary liaison and communication networks, TF RANGER was made up of special operations ground forces, special operations helicopters, Air Force Special tactics personnel, and Seals. During August and September 1993, the task force conducted six missions into Mogadishu, all of which were tactical successes. They ran these missions both by day and night, and used both helicopters and vehicles to reach their targets. Although Aideed remained free, the cumulative effect of these missions limited his movements.
On 3 October TF RANGER launched its seventh mission, this time into Aideed's stronghold to capture two of his key lieutenants. Helicopters carrying assault and blocking forces launched at 1532 hours from the TF RANGER compound at Mogadishu airport, with a ground convoy moving out three minutes later. By 1542 hours, the ground forces were at the target location, with the blocking force setting up perimeter positions and the assault force searching the compound for Aideed's supporters.
These forces came under increasingly heavy enemy fire, more intense than during previous raids. The assault team had captured 24 Somalis and was about to load them onto the convoy trucks when an MH-60 Blackhawk was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and crashed about three blocks from the target location. Almost immediately, one six man element of the blocking force, as well as an MH-6 assault helicopter and an MH-60 carrying a 15 man combat search and rescue (CSAR) team began rushing to the scene. The MH-6 crew got there first and, amid a firefight, evacuated two-wounded soldier to a military field hospital. Next, the six-man blocking element arrived, followed by the CSAR helicopter. As the last two members of the CSAR were sliding down the fast ropes, their helicopter was also hit by an RPG, but somehow the pilot kept the helicopter steady while the two reached the ground safely and then nursed the helicopter back to the airport.
While this was going on, the situation only worsened; ground fire struck two more MH-60's with one crashing less than a mile to the south of the first downed helicopter. A Somali mob overran this second site and, despite a heroic defense, killed everyone expect the pilot, who they took prisoner. Two defenders of the crash site, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First class Randall Shughart, were later awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. The other MH-60 was hit broadside by an RPG, but the crew somehow coaxed it to the new port area where they did a controlled crash landing.
Meanwhile, after loading the detained on the ground convoy trucks, the assault and blocking forces moved on foot to the first crash area-passing through heavy fire that wounded a number of soldiers- and had occupied buildings on the south and southwest of the downed helicopter. The established defense positions, laid down suppressive fire to hold the Somalis at bay, treated there wounded, and worked to free the pilot's body from the wreckage. The fighting around this crash site was fierce.
With the detainees loaded on trucks, the ground convoy force attempted to reach the first crash site from the north. Unable to find it amongst the narrow, winding alleyways, the convoy came under withering small arms and RPG fire. The convoy had to return to base after suffering numerous casualties, losing two 5-ton trucks, and sustaining substantial damage to the other vehicles. On the way back to base, this convoy encountered a second convoy that had left the airport in hopes of reaching the second crash site.
Roadblocks and heavy gunfire had forced the second convoy to the west, where it met the first convoy. The second group loaded causalities onto its vehicles and escorted the first convoy back to base, About this time, the missions quick reaction force -- a company of the 10th Mountain Division in support of UNOSOM II -- also tried to reach the second crash site. This force too was pinned by Somali fire and required the fire support of two AH-6 helicopters before it could break contact and make it s way back to the base.
The TF RANGER soldiers at the first crash site were re-supplied from a helicopter that evening. Reinforcements -- consisting of a reconstituted quick reaction force consisting of Rangers, 10th Mountain Division soldiers, Seals, and Malaysian armored personnel carries -- finally arrived at 0155 on 4 October. The combined force worked until dawn to free the pilot's body, receiving RPG and small arms fire throughout the night.
All the casualties were loaded onto the armored personnel carries, and the remainder of the force moved out on foot. With the armored personnel carries providing rolling cover. The run and gun movement, known as the "Mogadishu mile," began at 0542. Somalis fired sporadic RPG and small arms fire at the convoy, but only minor wounds were sustained. AH-6 gunships raked the cross streets with fire to support the movement. The main force of the convoy arrived at the Pakistani Stadium at 0630. Medical personnel gave emergency treatment to the wounded, and all personnel were prepared for movement to the hospital or the airfield.
Thus ended one of the bloodied and fiercest firefight since the Vietnam War. A total of 16 members of TF RANGER were killed on 3-4 October and 83 wounded (the 10th Mountain Division suffered numerous wounded and one killed). Various estimates placed Somali casualties above 1,000. All told during their time in Somalia, TF RANGER experienced a total of 17 killed in action and 106 wounded. Task force members had to operate in an extremely difficult environment, which required constant innovation, flexibility, and sound judgement. The task force had more than held its own against a vastly superior enemy that was battled-hardened in years of civil war and urban fighting.
The Rangers have led the way in battle from the era of the flintlock to the age of the night vision device and the M-16A2. Stealth, speed, bravery, and a commitment to duty have been the attributes of the men who have borne the title "Ranger." A look into the Ranger past is no dead history exercise, but a glimpse at what Rangers have always been and remain as to this day.
For More Information
If you want immediate information, Please contact Ranger Gregg Gould.
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