The United States Army special operations community is comprised of four main combat elements: Delta Force, Green Berets (Special Forces), Rangers and Nightstalkers (Special Operations Aviation Regiment or SOAR). In the past thirty years, these units have participated in conflicts around the globe.
With mechanical issues with three helicopters, the mission was aborted.
Shortly after the order was issued to abort, another helicopter crashed into a C-130 causing eight casualties.
The mission was a failure and the hostages remained in Iran until the following January.
A great portion of the forces had to unexpectedly jump into the combat zone while the rest were inserted by fast roping out of Blackhawk helicopters.
The mission was a success though highly criticized by other nations including Canada, Russia and Britain.
They seized the airfield and the surrounding areas under heavy gun fire from the PDF. Even with 23 American casualties, the mission was a success and ended on December 27th.
Noriega surrendered on his own to face the charges against him.
The United States deployed elements of Delta Force, 3rd Ranger Battalion and Nightstalkers to accomplish the task.
The elements entered the country in August but the real mission took place on October 3rd when intelligence indicated Aidid would be meeting with two of his top lieutenants.
The mission was going as planned until the opposition took down a Blackhawk helicopter that was circling the area. Some of the teams were redirected to the downed helicopter. Shortly after, a second helicopter was hit. Known for never leaving a fallen comrade, the special operations teams worked their way to secure the bodies in the two helicopters.
The pilot of the second helicopter had his body dragged through the streets and was held hostage for eleven days before eventually being released. When October 4th arrived, the Americans had suffered nineteen casualties and endured the worst fighting in recent history ultimately resulting in a failed mission.
With communication issues, the Rangers were unaware they were landing in a hot zone and immediately came under heavy fire. The troops were able to secure the mountain top. Whether the mission was a success depends on who is asked.
Arguing between high-ranking officers led to the communication issues and played a part in the American deaths that occurred. It is also widely believed that high ranking Al Qaeda officers, including possibly Bin Laden, were able to escape during the battle.
All photos courtesy of USASOC.
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As to the first part, that is untrue. The Marine Corps is functional at best for a heavy infantry role, but it's elite portion, the Marine Special Operations Regiment "Raiders" are the Marine Corps' answer to the Navy SEALs.
I agree with McLaughlin as far as our Marine corp track record,I'm a veteran infantryman myself,but i salute with great pride to the special forces who've fought in the unknown wars that have kept americans sleeping peacefully at night,not knowing exactly how close they were to imminent danger. Some brothers are more trained than others,but all brothers fight for the same reason.
Looks like my Unkie's resume`. :)
McLauglin I respect you defending the Corp but you are misinformed buddy.
In my day, MAC-V SOG, CCN, CCC, CCS ran missions in North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, with South Vietnam thrown in. 5th and 7th SPECIAL FORCES GROUPS, 1st SFG (Airborne) stood watch at dinky little A-Camps and mountain top radio relay stations in South Vietnam and Laos with a healthy assistance ready in Thailand. The 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger/Airborne)with Companies attached to each Corps and Division ran long range reconnaissance missions in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. In SOG you might have 2-4 Americans running the ops in the field along with some yards, Nungs, etc. Usually no more than 5 to 6 individuals at the most with odds against them usually at a 1,000 (+) to 1. The A Camp teams usually consisted of 12 Americans...(sometimes less)...... mounted and ran patrols with their Vietnamese counter-parts or with a Striker Force composed of montagnards. On those patrols it was the norm to only have 2 or 3 Americans and acting in a advisory capacity. Sometimes not! In the 75th...the company (which in all reality was no more than an over-strength platoon) ran their recon missions with 4-6 Americans and maybe a Kit Carson scout or a dog handler.In most cases all were usually outnumbered by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) from anywhere to 10 to 20 to 1 or in the hundreds to1. Either way, whichever unit, was composed of all volunteers who knew what faced them and what the odds of survival was. We were kmown as the "Men With The Painted Faces" by our enemy and were hunted ruthlessly by the NVA. After that war..missions were run, by SFG's, in Africa, South America, North Korea, Central America, the Mid east, and Southeast Asia. A lot died when nobody in this country were even aware of what was taking place to keep this nation free and it's people safe. I know.....I was there.
Our "Brothers in Arms", Navy Seal Teams, Marine Recon, Air Force Commandos and Rescue were pretty much all doing, and most importantly, accomplishing all of the assigned tasks and missions they were given against insurmountable odds. Running the bush takes outstanding training, experience, team work, caution, courage, excellent judgement, good tactical knowledge, and most importantly knowing your enemy, his habits, his dress, what he smells like, what he eats, what his spore smells like and being able to "read" the surrounding terrain..be it jungle, desert. mountains, swamps, beaches, cities, villages, etc. Not everyone makes the score or passes training and some that do cannot handle it (and nothing is thought the less of them). I salute them all...past, present, and future warriors of America who are dedicated and willing to give their life for mostly a nation of people who don't know they don't know or could care less. That's why they all, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, are............special!
It's when the plan and intell go south that the training takes over. Thats what seperates the grunts from the co-ops . that applies to all branch's. Semper-fi Hoo-rah
I was in the AirForce for 8 years, ALL OF US VETERANS, now and retired was and now are the best in the world. and all that gave there lives to keep us free are the greatest, Don't let Obama and his gang take this country away from us, pls vote in NOV and take our country back to us AMERICAN CITIZENS to whom it belongs...GOD BLESS THE USA..
McLaughlin, you're partially correct but you really should know what you're talking about entirely before ragging on Army Infantrymen. We are just as good as the Marine's if not better than them. I spent 2 tours in Iraq, in the 3rd HBCT, 3rd I.D., and the 3rd Infantry Division was the lead division that took Baghdad, not the Marine's. So while I've got nothing but respect for Marine's I don't believe the Marine's are able to get their hands on everything & the Army is the branch that holds everything down & contains the immediate area. Hooah.
My son is a Green Beret. It is bitter sweet.