SOMALIA

[7thson]

What I see as irony concerning Somalia

[kiryandil]

Interesting post.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Former Minniesodans, the world’s new Somali Sammies are marching to have Sammie subhumans scrap the crap out of their toilets and bring their chips and salsa for them. Minnie Sammies have a new state motto. “IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING!”

[Liz]

“Black Hawk Down” refers to the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia on October 3-4, 1993, a fierce 15-hour urban battle where U.S. forces, trying to capture Somali warlord leaders, had two Black Hawk helicopters shot down, leading to intense close-quarters combat, significant American and Somali casualties, and a chaotic rescue effort that became famous through Mark Bowden’s book and the subsequent film.

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Key Aspects

The Mission:

U.S. special forces (Rangers, Delta Force) launched Operation Gothic Serpent to seize key figures in warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s faction.

The Incident: The operation quickly turned into a prolonged firefight when two MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by Somali militia using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).

The Battle: U.S. soldiers found themselves surrounded, fighting for survival in the streets of Mogadishu against overwhelming numbers, with the city turning into a chaotic battlefield.

Casualties: The battle resulted in 18 American deaths, 73 wounded, and one captured (Pilot Michael Durant), while hundreds of Somalis were killed or injured.

Legacy: The event highlighted the brutal realities of modern warfare and asymmetrical conflict, immortalized in Mark Bowden’s book and the 2001 Ridley Scott film.

It was a pivotal, bloody event that showcased extreme bravery but also the complexities and dangers of humanitarian and military interventions in failed states.

[7thson]

I went RM "A" School from June to August 1977. I enlisted with "A" School guaranteed 12-15 months after boot. Early in my Navy career, I met a few RMs that went to Bainbridge. I believe they shut it down in late 1975.

Thank you for your surface.

[7thson]

It was the former. Nice drinks, B girls/hookers, little cafes to sit and drink beer, and I believe they even had flush toilets in the clubs..

I did not need a shot of penicillin while there but later - after visiting Mogadishu and Mombasa, Kenya - I came down with my first case of vertigo. Only one instance on the ship. The next several incidents came in 1988 while stationed at Wallops Island, Virginia. And then recently, about a year ago, I had several incidents of vertigo.