This battle is another example of of the insanity of allowing DoD civilians to dictate and limit how on scene Commanders handle their mission.
The simple fact of the matter is that Secretary of Defense Les Aspin and the Clinton administration decided that giving the Commanders what they asked for USAF AC-130 gunship coverage and the USMC M-1 Abrams tanks would make us look too imperialistic.
I've read some of the apologists analyst paper on the use of tanks and APC's in this operation and how it would not have made much of a difference. I heartily disagree with all of them. Having the heavy fire power in support and armor protection by these tracked vehicles in my opinion would have prevented many of the deaths and and decreased the number of wounded. Anyone who would argue this point should apologize to the widows and family of the men who were KIA.
Mogadishu is another example that shows how dedicated and brave our Armed Forces members are. It also shows how our politicians will task our military with ridiculous missions but then limit their support, kind of like a boxer fighting with one arm tied behind his back. If your wondering how Afghanistan is going to end look no further than Somalia.
IN MEMORUIAM
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta
MSG Gary Gordon
MSG Tim Martin
SFC Randy Shughart
SFC Earl Filmore
SFC Matt Rierson
SSG Daniel Busch
160th Special Operations Aviation Detachment
CWO Raymond Frank
CWO Clifton Wolcott
CWO Donovan Briley
SSG William Cleveland
SSG Thomas Field
3rd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment
Sgt Casey Joyce
Sgt Dominick Pilla
Sgt Lorenzo Ruiz
Cpl Jamie Smith
Spc James Cavaco
PFC Richard
2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment 2nd Brigade 10th Mountain Division
Sgt Cornell Houston
PFC James Martin
19th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment
LCPL Mat Aznan Wang
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