I had the opportunity to attend a presentation done by the author. He visited MCAS Miramar and described the research research he did to write the book.

I’m glad that he wrote the book, as many people were not aware of the situation in Somolia, and the efforts of our troops over there at the time.

Saw the movie first, then got the book to read. Both were stunning, engrossing, frustrating, inspiring, saddening.

And extremely relevant given what we’re experiencing in Iraq, where almost 100 times the number of soliders have died or been injured.

It was shocking to think of these soldiers, exposed and largely wandering Mogadishu for hours, just constantly being fired upon. How we couldn’t even give them straight directions despite plenty of air support. How the principle of going back for every man, kept putting more and more in danger. How massive firepower does you no good if you can’t use it (in an urban setting). And how military engagement where it’s not desired by the populous can so easily go awry, especially if you’re in the midst of desperate, destitute people.

If you’re at all interested in military non-fiction, this meticulously recreated on-the-ground account of the events in Somolia in 1993 is a must-read.

A gritty look at war in hostile land.