The Assault Summary and Analysis

Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War is a true story based on the Battle of Mogadishu that took place October 3, 1993.

More than a hundred Rangers, Delta operators, and SEALs sat on the tarmac in the hot afternoon sun on October 3, 1993 waiting for the signal to take off and begin their mission. Many times in the past the soldiers had waited like this only to have their mission scrubbed at the last minute, rehearsals that were meant to keep them prepared for the unexpected. This time, however, the mission was not scrubbed. This time, four chalks under the command of Captain Steele would go into Mogadishu to provide cover for the Delta operators to capture two of warlord Aidid's men at a private residence where they were rumored to be attending a clan meeting.

Like many of the...