2/75 Ranger Nicholas Moore on the real story of rescuing Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell

Here is another Team House podcast on Moore and what his experiences and thoughts are on Marcus Luttrell and the tall tale of Operation Red Wings…

2/75 Ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq

As some of you know I co-wrote a book, Run to the Sound of the Guns, with Nicholas Moore about his 13 combat deployments and some of the incredible missions he was involved in like the rescue of Private Lynch, shooting dead a suicide bomber protecting the local AQ emir, recoveries of the men and dogs who died on Extortion 17, the Marucs Luttrell rescue and more. The Team House did a podcast with him a little while ago. The link is below.

Last Charge at Mogadishu - 10th Mountain Division and Task Force Ranger

This article, my first professional writing effort, was written in 2001 for Osprey Publishing. It was not published because the particular journal ceased publication before my submission. I left it in its original unedited version making only a couple of comments in brackets. Pictures were kindly provided by 3/75 Mogadishu veteran Ranger Anton Berendsen and Mogadishu Veteran Mark Jackson of the 10th MD.

THE LAST CHARGE AT MOGADISHU

To someone who has never experienced danger, the idea is attractive rather than alarming.  You charge the enemy, ignoring bullets and casualties, in a surge of excitement.  Blindly you hurl yourself toward icy death, not knowing whether you or anyone else will escape him.  Before you lies that golden prize, victory, the fruit that quenches the thirst of ambition.  Can that be so difficult?  

Carl von Clausewitz

With the war drums banging and the trumpets calling the civilised nations to arms against terrorism it would be prudent to review a small and seemingly insignificant action involving United States and United Nations troops that took place in Mogadishu, Somalia from October 3-4, 1993; the Battle of the Black Sea.  As the democratic states are vying for alliances to rid the world of “evil-doers”, one must remember that at the end of the day, no matter the cause, it is the common soldiers who must stand their ground and do or die.  In the years to come, these often unheralded and much maligned foot soldiers will have to be able to work effectively with their foreign counterparts as joint task forces will undoubtedly bear the brunt of this new war on terrorism as they did in the dusty streets of war-torn Mogadishu.

The purpose of this article is three-fold.  First of all, it is to familiarise the reader with the complexities and difficulties of waging a battle with multi-national forces against an indigenous hostile people.  Secondly, it is intended to explain the poor view special operations forces have of regular troops and lastly, albeit to a very small degree, show the far-reaching arm of world-renown guerrilla, Osama bin Laden.  However, it is by no means a complete analysis of this rather complex battle. 

SOMALIA

It is like a porcupine, bristling with quite exceptional difficulties.

J.F.C. Fuller, 1935 

Somalia has been a war-ravaged country for centuries, and fighting is a way of life there whether striking fear into the hearts of British squares, Italian colonial troops or waging war against each other, Somalia was, is and will continue to be an armed and hostile land.  Somalis battled their neighbours, changed strategic alliances with super powers and struggled to survive a civil war.  Inevitably, this left the country exhausted, impoverished and fragmented in the latter part of the 20th century.

In the early 1990’s images of poverty, starvation and violence flooded across billions of television sets worldwide as humanitarian relief missions struggled to deal with a vast army of doped up, gun-toting youths, looking for the enormous wealth associated with these humanitarian organisations.  The strongest or most vicious thrived at the expense of the weaker.  Relief workers were threatened or killed and aid shipments were taken by force.  Subsequently, the United Nations, led by the United States, committed troops to oversee the safety of workers and proper distribution of aid in December of 1992.

A change in the original UN mission, from humanitarian relief to nation building, culminated with an arrest warrant to capture those held responsible for the deaths of numerous peacekeeping troops.  The main enemy declared was the Habr Gadir clan chief, Mohammed Farah Aideed, the head of the Somali National Alliance and a very powerful Somali indeed.  Following the death of more American soldiers, the US dispatched a special operations force, Task Force Ranger, on August 26th, 1993.  Its sole purpose was to hunt down Mohammed Aideed and his top lieutenants.

Yet, in the late afternoon of October 3rd, 1993, members of this supreme force found themselves isolated deep in Aideed’s stronghold, with heavy casualties and two downed aircraft, fighting for their lives, surrounded by thousands of well armed and, for ever so brief a moment, united Somalis bent on dealing death.  Thousands of women, children and elderly added to the crucible of war as spectators or willing participants.  Burning tires and roadblocks spread throughout the city.

In the end, and after a tremendous fight, a much-maligned polyglot of mechanised infantry comprised of Malaysians, Pakistanis and regular American troops relieved the trapped special operations force.  

Detailed map of Mogadishu. The intricate and confusing patterns of the city’s grid are visible.

Aerial shot of Mogadishu.  In the foreground is the Task Force Ranger compound located at the airport.  Credit: Ranger Anton Berendsen

THE MALIGNED REGULAR INFANTRYMAN

In order to appreciate the maligned regular infantryman and his unacknowledged accomplishment during the Battle of the Black Sea, we must first delve into the psyche of the American military elite and its symbol of excellence; the beret.  The beret, until the summer of 2001, was authorised to be worn only by very few units, all of which are airborne in nature.  The historically celebrated 82nd All American Airborne Division wears maroon, Special Forces are known throughout the world as the Green Berets and Army Rangers wore black berets until 2001 when they switched to tan, similar to the British Special Air Service.

            Most of these special soldiers complete arduous selection courses and subsequently view themselves better than the rest of the military, the so-called legs.  A leg then is a derogatory term used to describe any “high-drag, low-speed” non-airborne-qualified individual who somehow rather or another failed to measure up to the higher standards of the airborne soldier.  Never mind whether they attempted them or not, after all every soldier wants to be in special units.  Or so some elitists say.  An Army Ranger, for example, would not give the time of day to a “dirty, nasty, stinking leg” and often these disparate attitudes translate into animosity that either creates greater unit cohesion for some or further alienates an already divisive American military.  

Elite units also receive a larger budget for better training and superior equipment, contributing even further to the demise of the regular soldier’s reputation.  These lesser-trained legs then constitute the bulk of the modern United States Army.  And these very same men constituted the 10th Mountain Division that inexorably fought their way through Somali roadblocks and ambushes, died and killed, so that they could rescue their hard-pressed comrades from near certain disaster.

This article then is a paean to those under-appreciated legs that comprised elements of 10th Mountain Division’s Quick Reaction Force and their fight to glory alongside their Muslim brethren, the Pakistanis and Malaysians.

OPPOSING FORCES

Somali Forces

            Somalia does not have a regular army.  Clans and their fighters rule their respective areas.

In late 1993 the UN no longer patrolled at night and the Somalis completely controlled all areas outside of the UN compounds at night.  The Bakara Market, Aideed’s stronghold, contained at least 2,500 experienced fighters within a supportive populace.  Standard weaponry included NATO and Soviet Block assault rifles, machineguns, rocket propelled grenades, mines, demolition, armed jeeps and even anti-aircraft systems.  Several hundred of these well-armed Somalis had recently returned to Mogadishu fresh from their training at Bin Laden sponsored guerrilla camps. Undoubtedly, instructions included the massing of RPG fire to shoot down helicopters as the Afghani Mujahideen had learnt fighting the Russians over the previous decade.  Any student of warfare would have looked to Vietnam for examples of downing American helicopters with small arms fire.  

Previous engagements against US and UN troops had shown the Somalis to be able to mass fighters relatively quickly, using high and low technology methods of communication such as hand-held radios, cell phones, tracer rounds, banging pipes or burning tires.  The low technology forms of communication rendered US electronic jamming useless during the battle.  Somalis were able to construct obstacles and barricades and place mines throughout main arteries of travel.  They were not impeded by vehicular movement at all and knew their turf very well.  Foreigners found the labyrinthine alleys and streets of Mogadishu confusing. 

Somali fighters were experienced, tough, well co-ordinated and on khat, a mild amphetamine.

United States Forces

Task Force Ranger (TFR):

TFR was composed of three main units.

Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (SFOD-D), Squadron C.  

Delta was founded in 1977 to conduct counter-terrorist special operations.  It is predominantly comprised of older soldiers from other special operations units such as Special Forces and Army Rangers.

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).  

This aerial unit was founded to support the needs of Army special operations in 1981.  Their ability to strike at night earned them the revered nickname “Night Stalkers.”  

75th Ranger Regiment – B Company, 3rd Battalion.  

Considered by many to be the best light infantry regiment in the world.  Most Rangers are in their late teens or early twenties.   

Task Force Ranger was the best-equipped and most well trained force in America’s arsenal.  Eight MH-60K Black Hawks, four MH-5 “Little Birds”, four AH-6J “Little Birds” (attack versions) plus support elements completed this 450 strong special operations force package.  These units participated in numerous post-Vietnam War operations and since arriving in Mogadishu, TFR had conducted six raids.

10TH Mountain Division

10th Mountain Division is currently headquartered in the unforgiving snow-covered terrain of northern New York State at Fort Drum.  The unit was founded as an elite ski troop during World War II and fought in southern Europe.  Their motto “climb to glory” would come to the forefront again during various operations throughout the world.  But nowhere was it more pressing or urgent to stay true to this motto and to climb over the obstacles than on October 3rd and 4th 1993. 

The soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William David, had arrived in country on July 29, 1993 as part of the UN’s commitment to Somalia.  They, and several support units, had participated in five major operations before October 3rd , including several intense fire-fights.  On September 12, during a combat patrol to attack and seize two compounds thought to be weapons storage facilities, they were ambushed and in a fight for their lives.  Only with the help of Pakistani tanks and Cobra gunships from 10th Division’s aviation arm (TF 2-25) were they able to extricate.  Over one hundred Somalis were killed in that engagement.  On September 25, a TF 2-25 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG’s) resulting in one of the fiercest firefights for 2-14.

Allied Forces

Pakistan

The Pakistani contingent had been engaged in several firefights during their stay in Somalia and had suffered the largest UN casualties.  Units represented; 15 Frontier Force and 19 Lancers.  One tank platoon consisting of T-55’s was provided to the Americans.

Malaysia

Two mechanised companies of German Condors (armoured personnel carriers) totalling 28 vehicles from the Royal Malaysian Ranger Regiment participated in the relief effort.

TRAINING

It is important to note that training in Somalia was excellent for all American units, specifically 2-14 and the Rangers.  A document from the 75th Ranger Regiment indicates that Bravo Company conducted their best live fire training in Mogadishu and this from a unit that prides itself on realistic training methods.  Rangers and some elements of 2-14 had also trained together in Mogadishu in recent weeks.  10th Mountain Division personnel stated that they were well motivated, well trained and very efficient in urban mounted combat patrols since arriving in Somalia.  Certainly by the 3rd of October, 10th Mountain had seen its fair share of action and was competent in its missions.  On the job training, ranging from live fire exercises to real world combat patrolling had turned 2-14 into a solid light infantry battalion. 

Two Rangers from B/Co, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment pose in front of Little Birds.  Credit: Anton Berendsen

OCTOBER 3RD, 1993 – THE UNTHINKABLE

            It was another warm afternoon in Mogadishu and the soldiers from 2-14 had been briefed that another raid, the seventh by TFR was in progress and they would as usual provide one company as a Quick Reaction Force (ORF) in the unlikely event that things did not work out.  The following blow-by-blow time line shows the myriad face of a well-executed raid that turned into a brutal brawl, all within a few short minutes.

1542    TFR assault teams conduct fast-rope raid near the Olympic Hotel.

1553    Ranger ground reaction force (GRF 1) under Ranger Commander Lieutenant-Colonel McKnight composed of nine Humvees (military jeep) and three five-ton trucks waits in a holding area to retrieve the assault element upon completion of the raid.

1558    The GRF 1 is attacked, losing one five-ton truck and getting one man injured.

1604    The raid is a success netting 24 detainees.  One Ranger is injured inserting near the hotel.

1613    GRF 1 arrives at consolidated objective

1620    Black Hawk shot down – Pilot Wolcott – Northern site.  GRF 1 loads detainees and injured Ranger on one five-ton truck to return to TFR compound with Humvee escort which it does under fire.  GRF 1 enroute to crash site.

1624    A Little Bird lands near crash site and rescues 2 wounded crewmen.

1628    Search and Rescue (SAR) team, fast ropes near crash site as TFR assault elements arrive at site simultaneously.

1628    10th Mountain Division’s QRF, one company (C/Co), directed to TFR compound.

1641    Second Black Hawk shot down – Pilot Durant – Southern site with eventual Delta sniper insertion from another helicopter.

1700    All TFR elements report heavy casualties including GRF 1.

1703    A Ranger force, GRF 2, with 27 soldiers including Ranger cooks departs TFR compound on 7 armoured Humvee and 2 five-ton trucks to secure Durant crash site.

1710-1724       QRF arrives at TFR compound.

1703-1740       GRF 2 fails on all three separate routes.  At the last route, north of K-4 circle, GRF 2 runs into shot up GRF 1 under Lt. Col. McKnight.  Joins forces, cross-loads wounded and destroys two disabled vehicles.  Returns to TFR compound.

160 SOAR Black Hawk and crew.Credit: Anton Berendsen

Simple map illustrating the crash sites and main routes of travel.

Immediately following the crash of the first TFR Black Hawk, C/Co, the Quick Reaction Company (QRC), was called in at 1629 Hours.  One 2-14 officer recalled seeing the Ranger Liaison Officer attached to 10th Mountain’s Tactical Operations Center (TOC) at the University Compound monitoring the action on headphones “with a concerned look.”  Like other QRF missions, very little information was transmitted from Task Force Ranger to the unappreciated 10thMountain’s TOC.  

A rare photo taken of TF 2-25’ crashed Black Hawk.  The subsequent rescue led to one of the fiercest firefights until the rescue missions on October 3rd. Credit: Mark Jackson

Colonel Lawrence Casper, the overall commander of 2-14 Infantry and their aviation brigade, Task Force 2-25, comprised of Cobras and Black Hawks, informed Lieutenant-Colonel David, that he and his company would fall under the operational control of Major General William Garrison, TFR’s commander.  Colonel Casper also ordered the convoy to travel on the longer but safer southern route to the TFR compound at the Mogadishu airport.

The QRC received a briefing, including the locations of the two crash sites, three miles away.  Their mission was to secure the second (southern) site.  Lt.Col. David devised a simple plan.  Travel northeast to the well-known K-4 traffic circle, then north on Via Lenin, east on National Street and finally, south on Hawlwadig Road.  At 1740 the convoy departed the TFR compound.  The QRC included several individuals from TFR, C Co, 2-14, one AT (anti-tank) Platoon, one squad from the 41st Engineers, one CA (Civil Affairs) team, one PSYOP (Psychological Operations) team plus Humvees and five-ton trucks,

Just north of K-4 and with two miles to go, the convoy ran into a roadblock at Via Lenin and was ambushed.  The Somalis unleashed a storm of steel, including 300 plus rounds of RPGs.  At about the same time, TFR’s shot up ground convoy from the raid under Colonel McKnight zipped by, still hounded by Somali gunfire.  Unable to punch through the lines, with communications problems and air assets taking fire at the UN controlled New Port, the 10th Mountain Division convoy was finally ordered to return at 1821.  But the confines of the narrow streets and the continuous firing required 20 minutes for the vehicles to make U-turns and successfully egress.  Soldiers had dismounted to cover the withdrawal. During the rearguard engagement First Sergeant Gary Doody and Private First Class Eugene Pamer, of 2-14, received Silver Stars for their actions.

The QRC’s withdrawal was nearly overcome by panic where it not for some individual acts of courage and professionalism.  Some vehicles tried to out run slower ones and the convoy scattered.  Once away from the fight and a few hundred yards south of K-4, near squatters’ tents made up of mostly garbage, the convoy reformed and accounted for personnel.  A single shot or two from the shanty town led to a short-lived massive volley from the convoy tearing the tents and some of its residents into confetti. 

Units from 10th Mountain Division patrolling a heavy populated street in Mogadishu.  Credit: Mark Jackson

The defeated, scared and angry convoy pulled into the Mogadishu airport a short while later.

By 2030 Hours, Alpha Company, 2-14, plus support arrived at the TFR airport, still not knowing the details of the current situation.  Finally briefed, all personnel were aware of the precarious situation of the heavily engaged special forces at the crash sites and the danger of them being overrun.

Major General Thomas Montgomery, the overall commander of all US forces in Somalia and the deputy commander of all UN troops, requested armour and received positive responses from the Italian, Pakistani and Malaysian contingents.  The Italians, however, were too far away and distrusted by the US special operations forces (SOF) who claimed that Italians paid off Somali clans and gave away intelligence.  The Pakistanis in their antiquated T-55 tanks and the Malaysians’ Condors provided the necessary shields and punching power.  

Brigadier General Greg Gile of 10th Mountain was appointed to take charge of the operation.  At this point there seemingly were more senior officers than actual combatants.  They included Colonel Casper of the QRF, Major General Garrison of TFR, Gile of 10th Mountain, and Major General Montgomery overall Commander.

THE LAST CHARGE

The Americans moved to the new staging areas at New Port and linked up with the Pakistani and Malaysian units.  Plans were made and changed again, ammunition and other vital materiel loaded to the best of everyone’s capabilities and limitations.  Lieutenant Colonel Bill David would lead his polyglot army into the heart of Mogadishu.  English, Pashto, Punjabi, Malay, Chinese and hand and arms signals, coupled with varying abilities and desires had to become a single purpose machine of war and salvation for others.  Basic ammunition loads were doubled for the infantry.  There would be no turning back.

A 10th M.D. roadblock.  This photo gives a good eye level view of the Mogadishu street maze. Credit: Mark Jackson

Until then, several separate attempts had been successfully thwarted by the battle hardened Somalis using nothing more than roadblocks, massed small arms fire, RPGs, mortars and the occasional anti aircraft gun.  Elements of Task Force Ranger had failed on three separate routes taken and finally, so had Lt.Col. David’s C/ Company.  

Hours had gone by and the situations at the crash sites were desperate.  Only the absolute professionalism of the Night Stalkers and their combined acts of unbelievable heroism had prevented complete annihilation of the small task force in Aideed’s stronghold near the Bakara Market.  For example, one Little Bird landed in a tight alley.  The pilot fired his personnel weapon while controlling the aircraft as his co-pilot rescued several crew members of a downed Black Hawk.  

Frustrations were vented.  Questions were asked and accusations abounded about the lack of a timely rescue. Certainly they complained, the incompetent 10th Mountain Division was to blame.  But what of the three failed attempts?

A typical sandbag reinforced five-ton truck.  The truck offered no protection from small arms fire and RPG rounds. Credit: Mark Jackson

 Based upon the Pakistanis’ experience and US aerial reconnaissance, the attack was to be made from a north-eastern direction via Jen Daanud to National Street, then south-west on National to Hawlwadig to the Olympic Hotel where A/Co and C/Co would separate into two units.  Each company would break through to their crash site and link-up with elements of TFR, then rejoin the main column and finally punch their way through to the Mogadishu airfield.  Lt. Col. David’s TOC, the reconstituted Ranger ground reaction force and other support units would form a holding area for casualty collection and secure the exfiltration route through National Street.  Aerial attacks were co-ordinated between the seasoned AH-1F Cobras of the QRF’s Task Force 2-25 and 160 SOAR. 

By 2210 it seemed things were ready to roll.  The convoy would move out by 2300.  It had been well over five hours since 10th Mountain Division first responded with Charlie Company.  Although some criticism may have been deserved, it should be noted that 10th Mountain did not have armour.  They, much like the 75th Ranger Regiment were a light infantry unit and unfamiliar with mechanised units.  The Malaysian soldiers had to physically demonstrate the simplest of tasks to the American light infantrymen. Nonetheless, few people appreciated the communications difficulties to not only co-ordinate a plan, but to implement and actually execute it with so many foreign counterparts.  Yes, some of the Pakistanis and Malaysians spoke English and yes, the US had liaison officers, but relaying information up and down the several chains of command and receiving at least one change to the original plan from TFR’s TOC only added to the confusion.  And, while all plans were forged, there was still the problem of supporting the trapped SOF unit and trying to find out about the unaccounted for personnel at the second (Durant) crash site.

October 3rd.  A squad of the QRF moves to a staging area for assembly. Credit: Mark Jackson

There were also cultural problems.  US troops are more inclined to fight at night given their technological superiority and their western way of war (I no longer believe in culture-type warfare argued by Keegan back in the day). Their UN counterparts were not as well equipped and not as culturally inclined to close with the enemy (I no longer believe in culture-type warfare argued by Keegan back in the day).  The Pakistanis had taken some serious casualties over the past few months.  The Malaysians were not too keen to expose their thin-skinned APC’s to accurate and devastating RPG fire.  And UN troops had to deal with their own chains of command as well.  We can easily see why it took longer to launch the relief than originally anticipated.  No matter one’s opinion on the timeliness of the matter, one military truism was, is and will be certain: proper planning prevents piss poor performance.  And the Americans certainly had not planned their initial relief efforts well.  

As events progressed, the Pakistani higher command demanded a change in the order of movement and the plan.  After several sharp exchanges between the Americans and the Pakistani tank commanders, a platoon from A/Co. 2-14, in Condors would lead the charge and the tanks could only advance half way.  Credit should be given here to the Pakistani tank commanders as they supported the effort to a greater degree than approved by their higher command.

Bravo Company, 2-14th Infantry remained at the docks at New Port as a possible helicopter reserve. 

Finally, at 2323 Hours, about seven hours after the downing of the first Black Hawk the 2-mile long convoy departed.  The final task organisation under Lieutenant Colonel Bill David’s command was as follows:

A/Co, 2-14, one Malaysian APC Company, 3rd Platoon from C/Co, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry and one squad from the 41st Engineers,10th Mountain Division [Crash site 1, North, Wolcott].

C/Co, 2-14, one Malaysian APC Company, one AT Platoon, and one squad from 41st Engineers [Crash site 2, South, Durant].

Additionally, one Pakistani Tank Platoon (four T-55’s), Scout Platoon, 2-14, and a TFR element comprised of Delta, Rangers, Navy SEALs and others [secure holding area and egress route].

This is the shantytown days before it was completely devastated by C/Co, 2-14 after the first failed rescue attempt on October 3rd. Credit: Mark Jackson

The column came under some immediate light attacks but continued its movement.  It stretched and collapsed like an accordion.  Communication between the various 10th Mountain squads was bad due to several factors.  First, the radios could not function properly as the walls of the Condors prevented solid transmission.  Secondly, there was no radio communication with the Malaysian drivers, and the subsequent deafening gun battles would require physical contact with the vehicle commanders in order to affect any kind of control.  Leaders during the battle would have to bang on the vehicles and direct them on many occasions.  Often these efforts proved futile.

At 2350 the Pakistanis stopped as the convoy reached National Street.  Ten minutes later and 3/4 of a mile away from their target, the convoy entered Aideed’s area of control and was immediately ambushed but staggered on.  Alpha Company’s commander Captain Drew Meyerowich had to cope with two stray Condors.  However, the column pressed on, no matter what like an unstoppable juggernaut. 

The two isolated vehicles were attacked near the southern crash site.  Both Condors were destroyed, resulting in the death and injury of Malaysian soldiers.  The squad and an engineer team under Lieutenant Mark Hollis dismounted and blew a hole through a wall to enter the relative safety of a courtyard.  This group would eventually be rescued by Charlie Company.

After a Pakistani tank was rocked by seven or eight rocket propelled grenades, the main column was forced to stop yet again and it took some time for an American officer to get the tank to continue its movement.  Eventually, the holding area on National Street was secured and the companies separated as planned.

Whetstone’s Charlie Company located the southern site but found nothing there.  Thermite grenades were used to destroy the Black Hawk.  House-to-house fighting for the next 2 hours, aided by Cobras from 2-25, eventually enabled them to link up with Hollis’ lost patrol and return to UN controlled areas.

Meanwhile, Alpha Company, minus the lost squad of 2ndPlatoon, now in the lead, moved to the first crash site where TFR had also been engaged in severe and chaotic firefights.  The white painted Condors were an easy target and hit repeatedly.  Some drivers failed to respond when given directions, requiring more time and spreading the units out even further.  The massed fire from the Somalis made it difficult to advance in an orderly fashion and the fog of war was thick.  Often a Humvee would have to bypass a reluctant Condor and engage targets.  The Malaysians were concerned about their lost comrades and not too anxious to get destroyed by RPG fire.

Link-up was conducted at 0155 Hours, October 4th when one of the 10th Mountain troopers spotted TFR’s strobe lights through his AN/PVS 7B night vision.  An officer recalls the link-up with clarity:

The situation on the objective was well under control.  The TFR soldiers were consolidated in two or three buildings with security.  The Special Operations soldiers were understandably tired and short of water and ammunition.  They seemed happy to see us, and we were happy to see them as well.

The Pakistani Soccer Stadium in the early morning of October 4th. In the background are the Malaysian Condors so crucial to the final charge. Credit: Mark Jackson

Of course it sounds easier than it was.  The firefights, darkness and confusing alleys, the lack of direct communications with anyone at the crash site, required a communication chain from the lead platoon, to their Company Commander to their Battalion TOC, Lt.Col. David, who in turn contacted the isolated special forces through his own TFR liaison officer.  Not really the best way to conduct a rather complex link-up between friendly forces at night, while under fire, with units spread over many blocks.  

Another factor that bears consideration; the entire time this relief effort was underway, a constant stream of communications bounced back and forth between all parties involved.  For example, around 0225 Colonel Gasper ordered the relief column to a Pakistani held stadium instead of withdrawing to the airport.  This information needed to be ultimately disseminated to the lowest level.

A close up of the Condor armored personnel carrier. Credit: Mark Jackson

A Medevac flight out of the stadium.  The triage area is off to the right. Credit: Mark Jackson

It took many more hours to free the trapped body of one of the pilots at the northern site, all while under sporadic attacks, including Somali mortars.  One 10th Mountain officer recalled a helicopter firing at enemy forces and buildings as close as 35 meters from his position, showering them with brass.  His honesty is rather remarkable: “I told the officer controlling the air strike to warn us next time.  I had never been so close to an air strike, and we were plenty scared.  For the next several hours, aircraft continued to fire all around our position 35 to 50 meters from us.”

At 0530 Hours the convoy pulled out, back the way they came, to the BN TOC and casualty collection area on National Street, all the while receiving air support.  The convoy snaked throughout the war torn and shredded streets of Mogadishu, forcing some soldiers, including many wounded from TFR, to run alongside the convoy or attempt to catch up. 

Exhausted soldiers from 10th Mountain crash on their Humvees. Credit: Mark Jackson

The Somalis knew this was their last chance, and the fighting stiffened once again.  Condors and Humvees fired on 2nd and 3rd story buildings, while the grunts were spraying and targeting all alleyways, windows, doors and anything that moved.  Many vehicles sped up, isolating more soldiers.   In the end, all were accounted for and loaded in or on top of various vehicles.  They headed straight for the Pakistani controlled soccer stadium without much order.  Cobras destroyed any and all abandoned APC’s.  

The mission was a success for the Quick Reaction Force.  10th Mountain Division co-ordinated with UN troops and special operations forces to rescue a trapped American unit in the heartland of a “bad guy.”  

The Mountain Division had two soldiers killed in action:  Private First Class James Martin and Sergeant Cornell Houston.  The Malaysians reported one death.  Task Force Ranger suffered 16 fatalities.  The Somalis suffered disproportionately; estimates range between 3-400 killed (some estimates went as high as 1000 deaths) with approximately 1000 wounded. 

SPC Fullgraff (Right) and SPC Wontkowski (Left) display the uniform and ammo clip of SPC Fullgraff worn during the firefight. According to Fullgraff, a round struck his magazine sending shrapnel into his lower arm, then entered and exited through his upper arm. The 10th MD patch is clearly visible. Credit: Mark Jackson

But the ratio of deaths is completely irrelevant and should never be a measuring stick of success.  The initial raid by TFR was successful and the final charge of the 10th Mountain Division saved the day.  Moreover, was it really a charge?  The omniscient Prussian military warrior-scholar Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) was right when he wrote on the friction of war: “everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult.”  The last charge at Mogadishu then was more or less a slow and inexorable climb to glory.  The 10th Mountain Division had stayed true to their motto.

In the war against terrorism, we may find ourselves in similar circumstances.  A special operation’s raid against well-trained and highly motivated individuals can easily require the additional manpower of regular troops.  The Battle of the Black Sea serves as a reminder to future special operations that they may very well have to depend on those legs to sustain a prolonged encounter.  It behoves all to remember that at the end of the day, no matter the status of the units fighting, it is the soldier that must stand his ground and do or die. 

1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 41st Engineers, 10th MD

This photo was taken the day before departure from Somalia (16 Dec 1993).

Top to bottom, Left to Right.

1st Row ( 3rd Squad ) SGT Ledesma, PV2 Asbury, PV2 Nunez, PV2 Neil, PV2 Little, SPC Jackson (me), SGT Durrante, SGT McMahon

2nd Row ( 2nd Squad ) SSG Linzan, PV2 Henderson, PV2 Tapscott, PV2 Wilkerson, PFC Dishman, SPC Scarzella, SGT Thiele

3rd Row ( 1st Squad ) SGT McCue, Pv2 Wind, SPC Fullgraff, SPC Wontkowski, PV2 Lea, SGT Hegy, PV2 Franco

4th Row 1LT Nelson, SFC Blaylock

Not Pictured

PV2 Ly - Wounded in action 10/04/94

SSG Maxwell - Wounded in action 10/04/94

SGT Houston - Wounded in action 10/04/94, Died of injuries 10/06/94

SPC Lepre

SPC Rodriguez.

Credit: Mark Jackson

Additional reading:

Bolger, Daniel P., Death Ground: Today’s American Infantry in Battle, Presidio Press, Novato, 1990.

Bowden, Mark, Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, Atlantic Monthly Press, New York, 1999.

Hackworth, David H., Hazardous Duty, William Morrow, New York, 1996.

Clausewitz, Carl von, On War, translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret, Princeton University Press, New jersey, 1984.

DeLong, Kent and Steven Tuckey, Mogadishu!  Heroism and Tragedy,  Praeger Publishers, Conneticut, 1994.

Stanton, Martin, Somalia on $5.00 a Day, Presidio Press, Novato, 2001.

Copyright: Mir Bahmanyar/Osprey Publishing

On CSM Pat Tadina Ranger God RIP May 29, 2020

Command Sergeant Major Patrick “Tad” Gavin Tadina, 77, died on Friday, May 29, 2020. 

Bummer. I have known Pat for a long time, late 1990s, and we met occasionally in LA. I always thought his life would make a great film. We met with actor Mark Dacascos (Iron Chef, John Wick 3), similar ethnic background, but were never able to get anyone interested. That’s Hollywood. But the dude is a legend. You look at the films that have been made since GWOT, like Lone Survivor and American Sniper, and he puts those guys in their place by a gazillion miles. Pat was a genuine goddamned war hero. You’ll see why.

Pat was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, and from what I remember him telling me, he was of Filipino-Chinese-German-Irish-Hawaiian decent or some exotic cocktail mix like that. He said he was a young drug runner of sorts always bordering on jail time. Supposedly he was offered prison or the military. Thirty years later Tad retired as a Command Sergeant Major.

Pat was about five foot five and probably weighed less than one of my Akitas – figure maybe 125 or so. The man was tiny but Jesus Christ did he scare the crap out of me when we first met at Benning or Bragg – I cannot recall. I am still laughing about that. Pat had those hard-core killer eyes people get once they have been in the shit. Rambo he wasn’t, nope, he was the real deal – someone - American war lore ought to hold in its highest esteem. The man was a bona fide warrior-hero.

He forged his reputation on the battlefields of Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP), 74th Infantry Detachment Long Range Patrol (LRP) and November Company, 75th Rangers for over 5 years straight, as a team leader. You know, small four to six-man teams operating behind enemy lines with hundreds of patrols under his belt. He personally killed around 130 men – he did not like the killing but… - and probably was responsible for the deaths of maybe high hundreds if not thousands more by calling in arty and air strikes on enemy forces they had bumped into. Legendary stuff. Think about it – small teams deep in enemy territory depending on a few true Rangers. 

BUT WHAT SET HIM APART was that he served five consecutive years in combat and never had one of his Rangers get killed! Think about that. Sixty months of continuous service. He was wounded three times. Not one comrade killed. He is loved by those who served with him. I mean loved.

His brother died in Nam in a mech unit I think. He returned home for the funeral and was arrested as he tried to get back to the war because he was the sole male survivor of the family, and mom wanted him to stay at home. He escaped to rejoin his men facing combat. Hahaha.

“His small stature and dark complexion helped him pass for a Viet Cong soldier on patrols deep into the Central Highlands, during which he preferred to be in the point position. His citations describe him walking to within feet of enemies he knew to be lying in wait for him and leading a pursuing enemy patrol into an ambush set by his team.”

Copyright: Catherine Poeschl

Another story I was told by his comrade and good friend Roy Boatman (also deceased, also Ranger/SF in Nam) was that Tad infiltrated an enemy hospital to free a POW. He killed a guard with a silenced .22 but found the hospital deserted. Talk about balls and trade craft. 

He is rightly a legend within the Ranger community.

Tadina joined the Army in 1962 and served in the Dominican Republic before going to Southeast Asia. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in 1983, and with the 1stInfantry Division during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He retired in 1992 as a CSM and worked as a private contractor and trainer for Air Marshalls, and had deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.

Two Nam vets and former comrades doing their thing…

1995 Pat Tadina was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. 

Tad holds the distinction of being the longest continuously serving Ranger during the Vietnam War. His 22 awards (probably the most decorated soldier in Nam) include two Silver Stars, 10 Bronze Stars with seven Valor devices, three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, four Army Commendation Medals including two for valor, and three Purple Hearts. 

A true Ranger, a true warrior. A friend.

 For Vietnam-era Ranger history: https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/vietnam-war#unit-histories

For unit history from https://www.75thrra.org/history/n75_hx.html

LONG RANGE RECONNAISSANCE PATROL DETACHMENT
173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE)

The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) deployed to the Republic of Vietnam on 5 May 1965 on Temporary Duty (TDY) status, the first army "combat" maneuver element to arrive in Vietnam. On 5 August 1965 the TDY status was changed to Permanent Change of Station (PCS). It quickly became apparent to Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson that a reconnaissance element was needed to supplement Troop E, 17th Cavalry who were mounted troops and had the mission of providing road security and were ill equipped or trained to perform dismounted reconnaissance missions.

General Williamson tasked the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 503rd Infantry to ask for "Volunteers" to form the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) detachment. The volunteers would not be permanently assigned to the LRRP detachment as there was no Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E). The LRRP (Provisional) was formed from volunteers from the Infantry Battalions and placed on Special Duty status. Team makeup consisted of one lieutenant (team leader), one staff sergeant (asst. team leader), and two enlisted personnel (scouts). Training was given to the LRRP's by the 1st Royal Australian Regiment who were familiar with jungle operations and were veterans of combat operations in Malaysia. The LRRP detachment could not be maintained at full strength (4 teams / 16 personnel) due to combat losses of the infantry battalions who requested that their (SD) personnel be returned.

The first Long Range Patrol operation was in support of operation NEW LIFE in the La Nga River valley north of Vo Dat on 21 November 1965. The teams had to twice swim rivers to get into their Area of Operations (AO). Many of the operational techniques learned during actual combat patrols became Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the personnel who became replacements for the troops who returned to stateside assignments after their one year tour of duty. Lieutenants were no longer assigned as team members and the patrol leaders were the experienced Noncommissioned Officers of the LRRP detachment. The LRRP detachment became a permanent part of Troop E, 17th Cavalry in June 1966.

Many of the original members of the LRRP platoon were trained at the 101st Airborne Division RECONDO school at Ft. Campbell, KY. Additional training of the volunteers was On the Job Training (OJT) and at the RECONDO school at Nha Trang. Many of these volunteers never had the chance to attend any formal training as the 173rd Airborne Brigade was constantly on operations throughout the III Corps and II Corps areas of the Republic of Vietnam, however, infiltration and extraction techniques were refined and were SOP for the duration of the LRRP's operations in Vietnam. One misnomer that was in the mission statement for LRRP's was the word "Reconnaissance". Many of the missions given to the LRRP's were of a combat nature. The major unit commander had a highly trained and motivated force on the ground which had located an enemy force of various sizes and had the opportunity to inflict casualties upon an elusive enemy. The commander frequently utilized this option. Teams were typically briefed that when their mission of surveillance was completed they would ambush or capture a prisoner on the last day of their mission. Occasionally the LRRP's would receive an ambush or snatch mission as their primary mission.

74TH INFANTRY DETACHMENT (AIRBORNE, LONG RANGE PATROL), 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE)

The Department of the Army officially authorized the formation of the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) on 20 December 1967 and all personnel of the LRRP platoon were absorbed in to the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP). The 173rd Airborne Brigade had moved to Dak To in the II Corps area of Vietnam. The 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Dak To battles in November 1967, however this was in error as the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) did not exist at the time. The award should have been presented to the 173rd Airborne Brigade (LRRP) (Provisional).

The 74th Infantry (LRP) continued to perform missions as directed by the 173rd commander through out the II Corp region of Vietnam and eventually established a base camp at An Khe. Team leaders and potential team leaders were now able to attend the Recondo school conducted by the Special Forces at Nha Trang on a rotating basis while continuing to be the :"Eyes and Ears of the Commander". Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel, 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 12 November 1968. He was the only LRP member to be awarded the medal during the Vietnam war. Much credit needs to be given to the personnel of the LRRP platoon and the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) for establishing the doctrine that would become SOP for Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry which absorbed the personnel of the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) on 1 February 1969.

N COMPANY (RANGER), 75TH INFANTRY (AIRBORNE), 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE)

Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry established a base camp at Landing Zone (LZ) English, Bong Son, RVN from which to launch their deep penetration missions behind or within enemy controlled areas. The173rd Abn Brigade had assumed the mission of "pacification" of the Bong Son plains Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry would become a Ranger screen while the Brigade was on pacification. The TO&E specified that the November Rangers would consist of 3 officers and 72 enlisted personnel. The assigned officers served as the Commander, Executive Officer and Operations Officer. Twelve operational teams of six men each composed entirely of enlisted personnel. The remaining enlisted personnel had the duties of platoon sergeant, Tactical Operations Center (TOC), supply and administration.

Missions for the Ranger company were typically 3 -5 days with a 2 day break in between for debriefing, rest and preparation for the next mission. The Rangers were operating in the mountainous terrain of the An Lao , An Do, Suoi Ca, Crows Foot valleys; the Highland Fishhook; and Nui Ba and Tiger Mountains of northern Binh Dinh province which bordered the I Corps area. This area of responsibility was to remain the domain of N company for the remainder of the war. The brigade Tet-69 campaign lasted from 9 February to 26 March 1969 and marked the first independent employment of a Ranger company in screening operations of the Vietnam war. During this period which was typical of Ranger operations, N Company conducted over 100 Long Range Patrols that resulted in 134 sightings of enemy personnel and 63 enemy killed by direct action, 5 prisoners and a much larger number of enemy killed by Ranger-sponsored indirect fire and reaction elements. The Rangers casualties for this period was 1 KIA, 20 WIA and none captured or missing.

In November 1969 the brigade permanently increased the size of the company to full company strength of 128 Rangers. Acceptance into the Rangers was based upon factors of a GT score of 100 or higher, no physical or mental impairments and voluntary request for the Ranger company. All prospective personnel were interviewed prior to acceptance and full acceptance was not granted until the volunteer had completed a period of individual training conducted by the company and had participated in a few patrols to prove his abilities. Training was a combat mission for volunteers and a high speed approach to training. Company N, (Ranger), 75th Infantry received numerous experimental systems to maximize performance. Nine (9) millimeter pistols with silencers were sent to the company from civilian firms in the United States, they were used to take out the NVA/VC sentries that guarded base camps and weigh stations. An experimental system for firing electronically detonated claymores that were daisy chained (Widow Makers) became a staple of Ranger ambushes.

November company personnel were called upon to conduct special contingency missions such as the BRIGHT LIGHT mission of prisoner rescue and the destruction of the VC infrastructure throughout Binh Dinh province. During April 1971 the Brigade Commander finally put the unofficial black beret on a Ranger's head during a ceremony that honored the men of the Ranger company for an earlier action. The beret had been denied the Rangers primarily because of senior officer opposition to further distinctions between unit paratroopers. On 25 August 1971, Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry was solemnly deactivated. The Rangers of Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry performed with exceptional courage and valor throughout their existence and service in Vietnam, two years and 6 months. Today, the modern Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment continue the traditions of being the premier fighting element of the active army. The traditions and dedication to their fellow RANGERS continues!!

On Terry B. "Rock" Roderick P/75th 1969-1970, RIP Dec 12, 2020

My good buddy Terry died Dec 12 , 2020 at 72. Too fucking soon. I have known Terry since the late 90s when I ws a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association and served on the board as a unit director for 2/75. We spoke on and off over the years but over the last two months he helped me with a Ranger Hall of Fame nomination package for a WW2 Ranger even though he was not feeling well. Terry was a great fucking guy. I miss him. I want to thank my two other ‘Nam era buddies for notifying me and for talking about him and other vets who have died too soon including one of the great soldiers of the Vietnam War Pat Tadina (more on him soon). There will be more on Terry once his family has gotten things settled and I will hopefully provide some kind of biography on the man.

Below is his unit’s history taken from the 75thRRA website https://www.75thrra.org/history/p75_hx.html

For a LRRP/LRP/Ranger history during the Vietnam War see: https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/vietnam-war

Terry Roderick - a great Nam vet and lover of all things Ranger and Harleys Copyright: 75thRRA

Terry gave me this awesome coin a long time ago.

P/75 RGR & 79TH LRP HISTORY, 79TH INFANTRY DETACHMENT (AIRBORNE, LRP), 1ST BRIGADE, 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION

The 1st Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division (MECH) arrived in northern South Vietnam in the I Corps area in July of 1968 as part of the final Army deployment into the combat theater. The 5th Infantry Division, supported by Armored Personnel Carriers, tanks, and other assorted motorized equipment was based at Camp Red Devil in the Quang Tri Province i the northernmost area of I Corps. They were assigned a large sector of responsibility along the Demilitarized Zone, from the Gulf of Tonkin on the east, to the Laotian border on the west The "RED DEVIL BRIGADE" conducted cordon and search missions sound villages, performed search and clear expeditions on the Khe Sahn Plains, and secured roadways throughout its assigned area of operation. Other tasks included, but were not limited to guarding the rice harvests and denying the enemy access to the agriculture rich coastline.

Extended foot reconnaissance was needed for many of these tasks, and the 79th Infantry Detachment (LRP) was activated on 15 December 1968. The detachment never reached operational status. Still in training, the detachment was supplemented by personnel transferred up north from F Co. (LRP) 51st Infantry of the II Field Force. The "HURRICANE PATROLLERS' had been replaced by Co. D (RANGER), 151st Infantry, an Indiana National Guard unit activated during the Vietnam conflict and its assets were used to form Companies 0 and P of the 75th Infantry.

P COMPANY (AIRBORNE), 75TH INFANTRY (RANGER), 1ST BRIGADE, 5TH INF DIVISION

On 1 February 1969, Co. P (RANGER) 75th Infantry was activated to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (MECH). The personnel used to man PAPA Company were all volunteers and usually Airborne qualified, with a few exceptions. Team Leaders were usually graduates of & U. S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia or combat experienced non-commissioned officers. This was not always the case, as the most experienced and qualified men in the company were not always the ones with the highest rank. Team members had a wide variety of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS's) and training was usually done on the job. Recondo training was at the 5th Special Forces RECONDO SCHOOL in Nha Trang and was available to selected personnel as training allocations became available. PAPA Company was also equipped with trained Snipers, but because of terrain and mission objectives, they were seldom used operationally. The process of getting the company combat ready was declared complete in March of 1969.

PAPA Company fielded on average, six combat ready 6 man Ranger 'HUNTER-KILLER' teams that consisted of a team leader (TL) an assistant team leader (ATL), a radio operator (RTO) and 3 scout observers. Each team member performed a variety of tasks as assigned by the team leader. Generally speaking, 2 Ranger teams would be out in the field, 2 teams would be on 'READY ALERT' to back up teams out on patrol or to become a "REACTIONARY FORCE" as needed, and 2 teams would be in a stand down mode to resupply and prepare for their next assigned mission.

Missions assigned by the lst Bde., 5th Inf. Div. (MECH) generally consisted of an assigned 4 to 6 square kilometer area known as a 'BOX: The mission duration was normally 5 days and 4 nights unless the team was compromised or if contact was made with the enemy. In the northern I Corps area, to include the entire Demilitarized Zone, the enemy encountered was usually the hard-core NVA regulars, who were better equipped, better trained soldiers than their Viet Cong counterparts. A typical Ranger mission, if there is such a thing, would have the team recon and observe an area for enemy presence or movement for the first 4 days and attempt to ambush on the last night and day of the mission, prior to extraction. This was not always the case as some teams were authorized to ambush earlier in their mission, depending on circumstances.

PAPA Company Ranger teams were usually inserted and extracted by helicopter, but also used the assets of the 5th Infantry Division (MECH) which resulted in 'stay-behind' missions and direct insertions by tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Support for the PAPA Company teams was provided by 'REDLEG' artillery units at firebases A4 (known as Alpha 4) and C2 (known as Charlie 2) which were located just south of die Demilitarized Zone, a buffer zone that separated North and South Vietnam. Air support was provided by among others, the 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 101st Infantry Division (AMBL) in Camp Evans, near Phu Bai, and the 17th Air Cavalry, stationed at Camp Red Devil in Quang Tri. Also at the disposal of the Rangers were naval vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin for fire missions, land and ship based attack and fighter aircraft, and bombers based in Thailand. Forward Air Controllers (FAC) and their aircraft were also available for spotting, radio relay, and for directing air strikes as needed. Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA) missions were common for the Rangers in PAPA Company.

By late 1970, & PAPA Company Rangers found their missions to be centered more in the Khe Sahn Plain. Much of the intelligence gathered during this period, through the early part of 1971, was instrumental in the success achieved by friendly forces during LAM SON 719 in April of 1971. The PAPA Company Rangers continued patrolling the DMZ, Khe Sahn area, the Citadel, Rockpile, and the Tri-Border Area until they began stand down procedures on 23 July 1971. All personnel were transferred out of the unit by 5 August 1971.

Co. P (RANGER) 75th Infantry was officially de-activated on 31 August 1971.

On Darby's Ranger Photographer Phil Stern 1919-2014

I met Phil “Snapdragon” Stern (September 3, 1919 – December 13, 2014) in late 1997. My interest was in Ranger history and I was told by fellow Rangers about Phil, the official combat photographer of Darby’s Rangers. Post-war, Phil went on to become a Hollywood photographer working on countless sets and photo shoots and also as photographer of political bigwigs. What many people don’t know was that Phil was the photographer of a million jazz album covers. I mean, to say the man was an artist is an understatement. He shot pictures of Marlon Brando (not the nicest of guys, per Phil), Sammy Davis Jr., John Wayne, Bobby Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and many others. 

The most interesting aspect to me was his collection of about 800 or so photographs Phil took as a Signal Corps sergeant of Darby’s Rangers. Phil was not a ‘true’ Ranger in that he did not undergo commando training like the rest of them did. It did not matter. He was close to Colonel Darby and the men and did not escape being badly wounded during combat action in North Africa, and as a result, he missed the majority of combat actions in Sicily and all of Italy, including the destruction of the First and Third Ranger Battalions at Cisterna in January 1944. Phil’s contributions to combat camera were vital and I wanted to make sure things like that would be preserved. As some of us know, donating things to the Ranger Regiment or certain museums meant those items often ended up in the hands of individuals… (James Altieri’s things, upon his death, were stolen from his locker by the property owner and sold on eBay).

Phil was extremely kind to fellow Rangers and never made any money off his military photographs. He allowed me to scan over 100 Darby Ranger images probably in 1997 or early 1998 on a large-bed scanner I owned to preserve them digitally. Some of the pictures ended up on someone’s website via Phil and helped him start a writing career. As a side note, some of the Darby veterans who had been interviewed by the author (who shall not be named) were unhappy about being published in his book – they had contributed interviews for historical preservation, not knowing it was intended for commercial exploitation – but that’s another story. To be fair, when I wrote about Darby’s Rangers in a little book for Osprey, I donated a fair bit of cash to the Ranger Battalions of WW2 Association. https://ospreypublishing.com/darby-039-s-rangers-1942-45

I also helped raise funds for them. Ross Perot (1930-2019) and James Garner (1928-2014), who played Colonel Darby in a forgettable film called Darby’s Rangers, were both very generous donors to this. As some people may know James Garner was considered a mensch – a great human being. His donation to the association came when he was critically ill. Thank you, James!

Anyway, I became good friends with Phil and visited him way too many times – often he’d kick me out when he got tired. His house was a sweet little dump in the heart of Hollywood, full of his life’s work. We didn’t spend much time on his non-military pics. We talked a lot, he told stories mostly - while I listened. He had great stories about Darby and some of the men. His injuries had scared him, and so had some of the events he witnessed during the war. Like witnessing US soldiers murdering enemy soldiers – yes, WWII US soldiers did this – all armies do. He also shared stories about John Wayne and Marlon Brando and a million others. 

One day he made me look at proofs of his many awesome jazz album covers. I mean a ton of them. That reminds me of the great article Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote on Central Avenue, LA’s Hollywood jazz music scene. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-18/central-avenue-los-angeles-jazz

See Phil’s jazz work here: http://www.philsternarchives.com/archive/jazz/album-covers/

It also now reminds me of the great writer Walter Mosley’s series, Easy Rawlins. Anyhoot, I should have paid more attention to those images and stories (like describing Ella Fitzgerald’s shyness or why he would never cross a picket line), not just being a dumbass Ranger worrying about preserving Ranger history… I did not and it was my loss.

Phil was a great guy but there was also a strong narcissistic strain running through him. Maybe this goes with being a great artist. I am sure Patton had nothing on him. While he was in many ways a man of the people, Phil could be rude and in my view, became obsessively selfish once the not-yet-disgraced (sexual assault and harassment) Hollywood director, Brett Ratner, discovered Phil. Oh boy, one would have thought after all the decades of being in Hollywood and nearly killing James Dean with a car (they became friends after that and Phil took the iconic photo of Dean in his black turtleneck), Phil would have filled his need of ego-boosting. Well, he did not. But we all have flaws. The one thing that soured me on Phil was when he forbade me to use his Darby pics for the re-release of The Spearheaders by Jim Altieri. https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/the-spearheaders.

Jim had been friends with Phil ever since WW2, working in Hollywood and promoting Ranger history. Phil said to me “I know I promised but it is now all about me and my pictures.” Okay, why not. He did not own the copyright on the photos taken while on duty with the US Army – public domain, you know, but whatever. I loved Phil but was also disappointed. Of course, he came out with a great book on his career, which included a ton of his Darby pictures as well. https://bookshop.org/books/phil-stern-a-life-s-work/9781576871881

I also had lunch with him and his film producer daughter, Lata Ryan, who was a gem. Unfortunately, she died prematurely of shit-fuck-piss cancer. Really sad. Great person. A son of Phil’s had died in a plane crash years before that from what I remember. Also very sad.

In any event, Phil was overall a very good, determined, kind man no matter how Hollywood makes people crazy. He had a great sense of humor and we’d fax back and forth stupid little notes. I should also say he was kind to my friend who visited him in Cannes when he had an exhibition there, bringing her along to lunch with an attentive and adoring crowd – all the while an oxygen tank trailing nonagenarian, determined Phil. He was a great and interesting person. I wish I could say the same about me – but no.

After I moved to Canada, Phil and I rarely spoke. Another friend of his published his WW2 memoir with a lot of his photographs. It is a beautifully made book – again by the great people at Osprey Publishing: https://ospreypublishing.com/snapdragon

Brett Ratner loomed large, Phil’s time was running out, and he wanted to ensure his legacy. Maybe I had lost interest. It matters not. Phil and I were friends – Rangers. 

SSG Phil “Snapdragon” Stern was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2014.

For some Darby pics see: https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/world-war-ii#darby-rangers

For some of his great work visit: http://www.philsternarchives.com

I miss him.

RLTW!

Phil Stern (http://www.philsternarchives.com/about/) 

Born In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 3, 1919

1937
Works days as apprentice In New York City photo studio and darkroom and nights as photographer for the “Police Gazette.”

1939
Staff photographer at “Friday” magazine covering east coast labor and other social Issues.

1941
Sent to Los Angeles to work at Friday’s west coast bureau. Photographing labor stories again but with Cinema subjects added to the mix. “Friday” soon went bankrupt. Phil remains as freelance photographer for New York newspapers, LIFE , LOOK, Colliers, and other magazines.

1942
Assigned by US Army to a photographic unit in London, England. Volunteers for “Darby’s Rangers” a much heralded fighting unit as combat photographer; nickname 66 snapdragon.” Wounded in North Africa and assigned, after recuperation, to cover invasion of Sicily/Italy.

1944
Assigned by “LIFE” along with John Hersey to produce a photo essay on the homecoming of Darby’s Rangers. In Hollywood appears with film personalities promoting war bonds.

1945
More photo essays for “LIFE” on post war social rehabilitation and the start of serious Hollywood film coverage.

1946 – thru to 80′s
As freelance photographer contributes to many magazines…. served as a “special” still cameraman on numerous film features including “West Side Story,” “Judgement at Nuremburg,” Guys and Dolls,” etc.

Worked intermittently for music labels to produce Jazz album covers for “Verve Records” (Norman Granz)… “Reprise” and “Pablo”.

Periodically from 1960′s thru the 1970′s covered Hollywood’s many film locations in Europe, Africa and South America. Also did a number of of photo essays In the Soviet Union photographing the Bolshoi Ballet, the Mosfilm Studio, and spent a month (1976) on the set of “The Blue Bird” a detante coproduction of USA and USSR. Also Moscow’s Film festival in 1967 as part of the Hollywood delegation.

And ad infinitum to now where, as Phil says, he recycles his youth.

Sergeant Phil Stern Signal Corps US Army

Looking Ranger-like in this photo

North Africa - culture shock for the locals

Near London

Moments after taken this picture Phil got hit. The streaks are scratches on the negative.

This Sicilian family offered a home to Phil if he were willing to desert the army

Ranger legends from L-R - Jim Altieri, Phil Stern and Roy Murray on the movie set of the WB production Darby’s Rangers Copyright: WB

Phil Stern and James Garner on set. Copyright: WB

I am certain this photo was not taken by Phil

A recreation some 50 years later in 1992 near Achnacarry, Scotland Copyright: Phil Stern

Homage to the great photographers Copyright: Mir Bahmanyar

Beautiful country, Scotland that is….

Phil at a Combat Camera seminar Copyright:?

Phil’s wicked sense of humor can be seen in this and the fax below.

Phil Stern - a great artist and fellow Ranger

On Our Heritage - fighting Nazis and fascists

I thought I’d post the opening speech given in the film Patton to remind ourselves that we are not white nationalists seeking to put non-whites in camps and/or murder them or to tell them how they have to live. Our fight is against the very far right terror groups that are working on behest of the GOP, intimidating anyone opposing a dictatorship or any form of authoritarian-type government as we are witnessing today in the White House. We fight NAZIS, not support them, we are ANTIFA. As a former Ranger I want to remind the Army Ranger community of that - our Rangers fought since 1942 to defeat those kinds of shit-bags. And the rest of our military, active, reserve, retired, whatever - we are subordinate to the will of the people. The PEOPLE, not the fascist-leaning GOP and Trump. It does not mean you have to support the Democrats, it means stop supporting domestic white terror groups, which some of you do. Stop supporting them in any shape or form. What if democratic-leaning ‘militias’ had gone with gun in hand to Florida in 2000 when Bush and his cronies elected themselves? Stop, take a step back and reflect on what this country stands for – or at least should stand for – human rights for all.

On QAnon Stupidity regarding SEAL Team 6 (Extortion 1-7) and the 'fake news' Obama conspiracy

Dumb, dumb, knuckleheads

Marching down the avenue

If you want to know about the relationships between Rangers and SEALs, notably SEAL Team 6, and the supposed Obama conspiracy to get every fucking SEAL killed in the known universe and beyond, read Chapter 13 in our book Run to the Sound of the Guns, which details 13 combat deployments of Ranger NCO Nicholas Moore. He took part in rescuing Marcus Luttrell (also in the book) and he was the most senior Ranger NCO on the ground when Extortion 1-7 got shot down with all those SEALs who now are forever tainted by stupid QAnon morons. 

We cover the tragedy in great detail in our book and even refused to make some changes to remove some of the gore. It was a shitty day for all involved (and their families and friends). And no, the SEALs were not in the area to help the Rangers – another misconception living on.

Below is a PREVIEW of the opening pages to Chapter 13 in Run to the Sound of the Guns, which details 13 combat deployments of Ranger NCO Nicholas Moore. You should definitely buy the book if you want a proper historical perspective of the mission and of how combat changed for the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan and Iraq over more than a decade. https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/run-sound-guns and you can buy the book here so you don’t have to use Amazon - https://bookshop.org/books/run-to-the-sound-of-the-guns-the-true-story-of-an-american-ranger-at-war-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/9781472827098

But especially, you should buy and read this book to put those stupid conspiracy thugs and their theories to bed.

This is the true story of that mission and here are the first few pages of the TRUTH…

On Rangers - Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, Darby Ranger Presentation October 2017

On Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland – Home of Darby’s Rangers, the First Ranger Battalion

A few years ago a friend of mine, now military lawyer, from Weapons Squad, B/Co, 2/75, and a Panama vet, put me in touch with Shirin Murphy, who is the Collections Access Officer of the museum and civic centre, notably the US Rangers Centre in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, because they sought help with refurbishing the interior of the Rangers museum. I provided a few photos for that and their collection. I was delighted that they were able to use some of them.

Eventually, I donated the onionskins of James Altieri’s book on his experiences as a Darby Ranger from its foundation in 1942 to its destruction and subsequent disbandment in 1944 called The Spearheaders. You should also know that a number of surviving Rangers joined the American-Canadian First Special Service Force known as the Black Devils by the Germans – “Schwarzer Teufel.” In case you don’t know about the first American Rangers/commandos of World War II take a quick look at their history. It has been my experience that a lot of old-timers’ estates donated to the Ranger Regiment or museums ended up in the hands of unscrupulous Rangers. I knew Altieri’s onionskins would be in safe hands.

I was invited, along with other far more notable individuals – a lot of PhDs, to a presentation about Americans in Northern Ireland during WW2, and I was asked to do one on Darby’s Rangers. It was rather lengthy – probably two to three times the length of other presenters, because Darby Rangers along with the 18th century Rogers’ Rangers are my favorite . So I put together a PowerPoint presentation, feeling very much like a staff officer doing so, and used various images I either had or scoured on the internet – some are from Phil Stern’s collection (more on him later, especially on the preservation of the photos he took of Darby and his Rangers), Gary Zaboly (a great Rogers’ Rangers historian and artist), and others. I also included some old timers’ thoughts and notebook entries that were pertinent to the story – I was particularly fond of Darby Ranger Gino Mercuriali – a really great man – I’d say I had a man-crush on him - he occupies the last image at the end of this post. 

I  had to go through the presentation at great speed to meet the time restrictions. I don’t think I succeeded – hahaha. It was not just an honor but also the beginning of a great friendship with Shirin Murphy. We also met the US Consul General Daniel Lawton and the Mayor Cllr Paul Reid. I have included a couple of pictures but not naming names really.

Shirin in front of bearded fellow. To her left US Consul General Daniel Lawton. To the right of the bearded man is David Strachan-Morris (PhD) - USMC expert. Far left Jim O’Neill PhD, far right Ranger Hall Of Fame Larry Moores. Belfast, Northern Ireland.

It was a great event. We also received personalized tours of Carrickfergus, the castle, and of the town, and they arranged for excellent tours in the area visiting various WW2 sites. Really some great stuff – I should also mention that next to the US Ranger Centre is the cottage of Andrew Jackson – or one very similar to it from what I remember.  We concluded with a WW2-themed party at the conclusion of the week. It was a remarkable event. I am humbled and honored.

Rangers and Americans should be proud of what Carrickfergus has done to preserve our history. Below you will find some photographs , followed by my presentation. Lots of scrolling - sorry about that.

On RIP - the great Ranger Indoctrination Program and that's why Rangers Lead The Way!

Rangers Lead the Way!

“You smell that, son? Nothing in the world smells like that. I love the smell of Georgian red clay in the morning - it smells of victory.”

Sometimes I miss the stench of Georgia’s red clay, bug juice, chiggers and gun stuff... Georgia is the home of Army Ranger training.

THE ABRAMS CHARTER created early in 1974 by the god-father of modern Rangers (post-Vietnam) General Creighton Williams Abrams Jr (1914-1974) set the foundation of the then new Ranger Battalions:

The battalion is to be an elite, light and the most proficient infantry battalion in the world. 

A battalion that can do things with its hands and weapons better than anyone. 

The battalion will contain no “hoodlums or brigands” and if the battalion is formed from such persons it will be disbanded. (NAVSPECWAR take a hint)

Wherever the battalion goes, it must be apparent that it is the best.

One of the reasons the 75th Ranger Regiment is arguably the second best American military unit, top slot goes to Delta, is because of the Charter and its rigid adherence to it – well at least 99% of the time because nothing is perfect – except maybe Rangers and Delta. SEALs come a distant third because of their rather terrible behaviour over the last couple of decades – not all of them of course but enough of them to besmirch their otherwise good reputation. Perhaps even fourth because the US Army Green Berets aren’t too bad – Delta and Green Berets have a ton of Rangers in their respective units. The 75th Ranger Regiment is well-led, well-trained, and superior in all aspects except for Delta. There is a reason why we say “high-speed, low-drag.” We are also Airborne School graduates.

Rangers - Even Navy SEALs need heroes too. Source: Nicholas Moore

There is also such a thing called the Ranger Standard and it actually has stuck in my head ever since those long-lost or foggy memories of being young, dumb and full of cum when standards were hammered into my brain – sometimes painfully, but they were always entertaining. Koalifying was one such thing, Ranger Push-ups another, low-crawling and the endless push-ups, flutter kicks, running and road-marching… oh the joy of it all… if interested check out a small book I wrote called US Army Ranger 1983-2002: Sua Sponte – Of Their Own Accord published in 2003. https://ospreypublishing.com/us-army-ranger-1983-2002 - no royalties, work-for-hire.

The Pit where my teeth lost their virginity. Source: Mir

The Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) was three weeks long and conducted after Airborne School which was down the road in much spiffier barracks. The standards were high with the RIP Cadre – most of them were absolute professional, hard-core Rangers, demanding an excellent effort from the volunteers. They also had fun, often at our expense but it was also fun but challenging. The Cadre would kick your ass. “WTF? Bahmanyar, get the fuck up and start again.” I had stopped low crawling one foot or maybe six inches before the finish line – hahahaha. Fun crap. I also had my teeth kicked in during hand-to-hand combat in the PIT – but that’s another story. Some of us participated in nightly barracks horse-with-rider races across not so decent wooden floor planks. Others were allowed to low-crawl for their mail… sweet stuff. We ran everywhere and also conducted a ton of valuable training and more parachute jumps to a Ranger Standard.

Back in the day they had converted the old WW2 Airborne barracks near Cardiac Hill at Fort Benning, Georgia. It had the best accommodations and training facilities of all time – you think I am kidding? They were run down, had more bugs on the floors of the showers than soldiers on post, no toilet stalls whatsoever, and when someone says cold showers… often we’d grab the single hose and quickly rinse ourselves off while others preferred the company of bugs and warm showers… the obstacle courses could have been built in WW2 but I am kidding… we did almost no barracks maintenance – our purpose was to train, not to clean! 

You can chat up your buddies. Source: Mir

I don’t remember exact numbers but we had something like 60-68 RIP students and I think about 14 graduated after half re-took a grueling 12-miler. I am fairly certain seven of us made it the first time around (maybe 10?). In any event, it was a tough course as the numbers bear out – most washed out and stayed on for another entire RIP course while others moved on to meet the needs of the army – no shame in that. There are some great dog soldiers out there. I should mention I broke my ankle in my first RIP class during a parachute jump. And those bastards gave me a two-day notice that I was to start another RIP class – I was not in good shape. Hahaha. We also had Rangers returning to the Regiment from other duty stations and they too had to go through a three-week program called ROP – Ranger Orientation Program? for NCOs and Officers.

You also learned the Ranger Creed:

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers (we used to say my Battalion I seem to recall).

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

Rangers Lead The Way!!!

Mir is the second team leader from the left. I think five or six graduates were from ROP. One of the smallest number of RIP graduates - of all time??? Source: Mir

The Ranger Standard has helped me for better or for worse throughout my life. The good thing is that I have maintained a healthy respect for individuals – you never knew who would drop out or make it. We had some physical studs who quit because they could not handle the harsh training methods and some of the weakest looking dudes would finish even though their rucks looked twice their size. Don’t judge a volunteer by his (and now her) appearance. 

After graduating, you’d be sent to one of the battalions or Regimental Headquarters. Most ended up at the dreaded 3rd Ranger Battalion, right next to HQ and who wanted that? HQ pumped out nothing but new Ranger manuals and so on… phew… anyhow once at a Battalion you might spent one to two years before attending Ranger School. And after completion you kind of had a year left on your contract and many left the military. 

Justice was harsh and swift at the Battalion - if a Ranger did not conduct himself properly, he’d leave the battalion the same day his offence was discovered. Down the street to another unit in the army. The Rangers did have a few malcontents such as bank robbers, or drug abusers and so on but the Battalion took care of the offenders in no uncertain terms. The 75th Ranger Regiment excels because of its adherence to the Abrams Charter and the Ranger Creed.

The strength of the Regiment lies in its privates – it forces the veteran Rangers to maintain high training standards for the new Rangers. Its basics are arguably the best in the military. You know that each Ranger from private to Sergeant-Major knows his Ranger fundamentals.

If you want to read about modern Rangers pick up 2/75 Nicholas Moore’s book, co-written by moi, called Run to the Sound of the Guns. It is excellent – straightforward – no BS - no chest thumping. Published in 2018 – and we get royalties. https://ospreypublishing.com/run-to-the-sound-of-the-guns