Battle of Mogadishu: 22 Years Later

The Battle of Mogadishu 22 years later

The last few days have shown just how strong the veteran and patriot community are. With the heroic events and huge support for our brother Chris Mintz, we continue with a look back at a battle that most know and will continue to share the story of. The battle of Mogadishu in 1993 saw 18 deaths, 73 wounded, and 1 captured, as well as 2 Congressional Medals of Honor. These men have shaped the lives of countless Service Members. From WBIR:A mission by U.S. troops to grab a suspected strongman in the city of Mogadishu in the African nation of Somalia, spiraled into a street battle stretching over two days that left half of the soldiers involved dead or wounded.“Black Hawk Down” the book and later a movie by the same title relived the mission and pitfalls of October 3, 1993.“I mean the old adage is true, war is hell and sometimes we do things in those environments that you can’t believe you are doing,” recalled Special Agent Scott Johnson. The Army veteran watches that movie on every year on the anniversary of the battle. Now with the FBI, 22 years ago he was piloting an Army medical rescue helicopter called in to action when the shooting erupted.“I think it was just a powder keg for the Somalis. I think everybody in the city picked up an AK-47 and just started firing in the air,” said SA Johnson.

Not only were dozens of troops on the ground being cut down by bullets and airborne bombs but a rocket propelled grenade brought down a UH 60 Black Hawk helicopter. The first of two shot down that day seem to throw gasoline on that “powder keg” and fuel a fight that drew more crowds toward American soldiers and Special Forces troops already pinned down by gun fire.You’ve got kids (young American soldiers) bleeding out in front of you and you do everything you can to get them to that next level,” said Johnson about his efforts over two of the most difficult days he ever logged in the cockpit. In all, the then 25 year old pilot, would pull thirty-three patients off that urban battlefield during more than six and-a-half hours of flight time.One of his most memorable moments centers on a patient he couldn’t save. A soldier with a live bomb embedded in his side. A young man, common sense told SA Johnson he couldn’t allow aboard his helicopter.“I’ve got a crew of four, I’ve got three patients, if that RPG (rocket propelled grenade) detonates while we’re in the air instead of one guy possibly dead we’ve got multiple,” said Johnson, pausing before saying, “by the time we took one more load to the hospital and came back…he had already died because it was such a huge wound,” said Johnson, his voice trailing off.In addition to his recollection of the events in early October 1993 during our on camera interview, SA Johnson also took time to answer the following 10 questions about the influence of his military experience on the rest of his lifeSee the full story at WBIR.com.Return to Mogadishu: Remembering Black Hawk Down. 20 years later.https://youtu.be/bTfMpqOXANEUntil Valhalla[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]