--- title: "Today in military history: Marines storm Mogadishu" date: "2021-12-10" modified: "2021-12-10" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/today-in-military-history-marines-storm-mogadishu/" categories: - "History" tags: - "Marine Corps" - "Military History" - "Somalia" --- # Today in military history: Marines storm Mogadishu ![The crew of Super 64 a month before the Battle of Mogadishu. From left: Winn Mahuron, Tommy Field, Bill Cleveland, Ray Frank and Mike Durant. Not Marines Mogadishu]() *The crew of Super 64 a month before the Battle of Mogadishu. From left: Winn Mahuron, Tommy Field, Bill Cleveland, Ray Frank and Mike Durant.* On Dec. 9, 1992, some 1,800 United States Marines arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia, to help restore peace in the war-torn country. As part of Operation Restore Hope, the Marines supported international aid workers in the country for humanitarian aid operations, including food and supply distribution; however, the violence continued, including the killing of 24 United Nations soldiers from Pakistan in 1993. **Related: [A US Marine went to Somalia and became a warlord]()** https://youtu.be/W4W7COpUQVk In response, the U.N. authorized the arrest of General Mohammed Farah Aidid, the leader of a rebel clan responsible for much of the unrest. The attempt to make the arrest would inspire the 2001 film "[Black Hawk Down]()," when rebels shot down two UH-60s and killed 18 American soldiers while footage of the bloodshed aired on television worldwide. President Bill Clinton immediately ordered the withdrawal of American troops from Somalia, and other U.N. countries followed suit, leaving the region unstable and without a functioning government. The Battle of Mogadishu remains one of the most infamous and controversial engagements in modern U.S. military history. The battle has been documented in books and film, most notably "Black Hawk Down." The film depicts the Rangers, Delta operators, 160th SOAR pilots, and Air Force Pararescuemen who made up the ill-fated Task Force Ranger. Even the 10th Mountain Division and Pakistani U.N. Peacekeepers were mentioned and depicted respectfully. Of the many incredible stories of bravery and brotherhood that emerged from the day, one in particular stood out enough that two of the soldiers within would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for their heroism and sacrifice. Black Hawk pilot Mike Durant had been trained at [survival, evasion, resistance, and escape school](), but nothing could compare to the real experience of being captured and taken as a POW. Delta Force operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart [sacrificed their lives]() in order to rescue him. “I have tried to raise the bar on myself, elevate my game, do things that I probably wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t had that experience,” he has said of the harrowing experience. “I’ve done a lot of things that stray outside the lines for me, but I did them because I realize I already have a second chance, I’m not going to have a third. So, I’m going to take full advantage of what’s been offered to me.” ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty ##### • [How AC/DC helped save a POW in Mogadishu]() ##### • [The M2 .50-caliber ‘Ma Deuce’ will live forever]() ##### • [The Indian Scouts that forged the legacy of American Special Forces]() ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()