Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, commonly referred to as the Black Hawk Down Incident that was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. My son Aaron was there that day with the 10th Mountain Division, a member of the 14th Infantry Regiment (“Golden Dragons”).

Just a little over a year earlier, he had a midnight curfew; now he was one of America’s finest defending the weak and fighting for the lives of the poor and starving in Somalia. They were there to prevent the starvation and assist in the distribution of food that was being hijacked by warlords in the area.

On 3 October 1993, a raid was planned to seize two of of the warlord’s top lieutenants. During the operation Somali forces shot down three American Black Hawk helicopters and the battle that followed to rescue the soldiers deep in city became an overnight standoff that extended into the next day. In the end, although a success, it left 18 dead American soldiers and 73 wounded. Mine was one of the wounded.

Receiving a call from the Department of Defense is something that is burned into your mind. Thankfully, I was forewarned by Aaron’s dad who was called first and told that he had been injured. In some ways it was a relief; as it had been nearly unbearable to have a loved one serving there and watching the horrors unfolding on the news.

My DOD call came after days of watching live action on the news, watching as young men were being dragged through the streets, watching as the chaos unfolded. I found myself trying to determine if it was my son in these scenes. The truth is, they were all my sons; they all wore US uniforms, they were all… oh so young.

He received a Purple Heart for the wounds he received that day. A medal to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms; those wounded or killed in combat.

After I watched the 2019 documentary “Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story,” I understood better the terror of that night and the bravery and loyalty these young men exhibited surrounded by darkness and gunfire in the middle of Mogadishu.

Young men who stepped up to the job, fought to bring their fellow soldiers home. Some wounds heal quicker than others and although they relive the horrors and loss of this day every day, on the anniversary it is especially poignant.

My prayer is that on this day their hearts will also be filled with pride for their actions and those of their brothers in arms who accepted the task and fought through that long night. We love and respect you all and keep you in our prayers.

I often pray for the mothers whose sons and daughters are today serving our country today, as it is a hard job to be strong and supportive when your child is in harms way.

Remembering the lost:

• CW3 Donovan Lee “Bull” Briley – 19 Dec 1959 – 3 Oct 1993
• SSG Daniel Darrell Busch – 30 Jul 1968 – 3 Oct 1993
• SPC James Manuel Cavaco – 12 Feb 1967 -3 Oct 1993
• SSGT William David “Bill” Cleveland Jr. – 27 Jan 1959 – 3 Oct 1993
• SSGT Thomas Joseph “Tommy” Field – 11 Apr 1968 – 3 Oct 1993
• SFC Earl Robert Fillmore – 16 Jun 1965 – 3 Oct 1993
• CW4 Raymond Alex Frank – 11 May 1948 – 3 Oct 1993
• MSG Gary Ivan Gordon – 30 Aug 1960 – 3 Oct 1993
• SGT Cornell Lemont Houston – 22 Jun 1962 – 6 Oct 1993
• SGT James Casey Joyce – 15 Aug 1969 – 3 Oct 1993
• SPC Richard Wayne “Alphabet” Kowalewski Jr. – 31 Mar 1973 – 3 Oct 1993
• PFC James Henry Martin Jr. – 17 Mar 1970 – 4 Oct 1993
• MSGT Timothy Lynn “Griz” Martin- 9 Jul 1955-3 Oct 1993
• SGT Dominick Michael Pilla – 31 Mar 1972 – 3 Oct 1993
• SFC Matthew Loren “Matt” Rierson – 29 Sep 1960 – 6 Oct 1993
• SGT Lorenzo Manuel Ruiz – 21 Jun 1966-3 Oct 1993
• SFC Randall David Shughart – 13 Aug 1958 – 3 Oct 1993
• CPL James Edgar “Jamie” Smith Jr. – 16 Feb 1972 – 3 Oct 1993
• CWO Clifton Phillip “Elvis” Wolcott – 20 Jan 1957 – 3 Oct 1993