Madness in Mogadishu: Commanding the 10th Mountain Division's Quick Reaction Company during Black Hawk Down

by Michael Whetstone, J Guillot

Overview

On the afternoon of October 3, 1993, two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down over the Somali capital of Mogadishu, leaving a handful of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force operators at the mercy of several thousand approaching militants. Ordered to "go find the glow"--the burning wreckage--hard-charging Capt. Mike Whetstone, commander of a Quick Reaction Company in the 10th Mountain Division, led part of the convoy sent to rescue the survivors. This powerfully vivid story of modern war is the intense firsthand account of the mission to find the crash site and retrieve the downed soldiers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811761833
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	05/15/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Michael Whetstone remained in the U.S. Army after Somalia and retired as a lieutenant colonel after service in Afghanistan. For his actions in Mogadishu, he received the Silver Star. He currently heads scenario development for a defense contractor, providing live and virtual combat-training support to the U.S. Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk. He lives in Hampton, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xv

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 Home 1

Chapter 2 Preparing for War 17

Chapter 3 Real-World Mission: the Big Show 23

Chapter 4 Escalation 47

Chapter 5 Out in Africa 65

Chapter 6 The Rangers Are Coming, the Rangers Are Coming 71

Chapter 7 Baptism by Firefight 81

Chapter 8 Black Eye over Mogadishu 93

Chapter 9 Calm before the Storm 115

Chapter 10 Living History 121

Chapter 11 Running the Gauntlet 131

Chapter 12 Back through the Valley of Death 139

Chapter 13 "Take a Deep Breath" 145

Chapter 14 Extraordinary Coalition 151

Chapter 15 The Road to Hell 159

Chapter 16 Southern Objective 165

Chapter 17 The Rescue 173

Chapter 18 The Soccer Stadium 185

Chapter 19 Surreal Aftermath 195

Chapter 20 20/20 Hindsight 201

Afterword Preparing a Company for Combat 207

Conclusion 239

Bibliography 241

Editorial Reviews

"Mike Whetstone's superbly written book is much more than just an important account of heroic service in chaotic and deadly Somalia in 1993-94--it's also an authentic description of the danger faced daily in Mogadishu and the equally lethal but lesser-known battles faced by U.S./U.N. troops trying to save the Somalis from themselves. The example and lessons offered by a heroic, well-prepared young combat commander and the bravery of the U.S. and Malaysian soldiers in his company team offer a timeless primer for every aspiring young leader. This book is a significant contribution to today's profession of arms!"

U.S. Army (Ret.), Commander U.S. Forces, Somalia 1993-94 - Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Montgomery

"Madness in Mogadishu is both a powerful narrative of the U.S. Army's early clash with asymmetrical enemies and an honest, absorbing study in command. No outside historian could capture the immediacy, fear, courage, menace, and adrenaline rush of such fighting half so vividly and convincingly as Michael Whetstone, the commander who took the fight to a savage enemy. Outstanding!"

Fox News Strategic Analyst and author of Cain at Gettysburg - Ralph Peters

"Mike Whetstone's book is a tough, hard-hitting memoir of infantry company command and modern warfare. In powerful prose, he provides a superb account of what it is like to lead a group of our best young men into battle against ruthless enemies. In the future, it will find pride of place alongside other American classics of close combat such as MacDonald's Company Commander and Ambrose's Band of Brothers. A must read for all military professionals."

Director of the Defense Strategy Course, U.S. Army War College - Lt. Col. James V. Di Crocco III