There.
Technicals, nine o'clock.
Oh, shit! Did you see that?
Chief, we got unarmed civilians getting shot down here at nine o'clock.
l got it, Matt. l don't think we can touch this.
This food is the property of Mohamed Farrah Aidid!
Go back to your homes!
Command, Super 64...
...we got militia shooting civilians at the food distribution center.
Request permission to engage.
Super 64, are you taking fire? Over.
Negative, command.
U.N.'sjurisdiction, 64. We cannotintervene.
-Return to base. Over. -Roger.
64 returning.
Ready, Mr. Atto.
Leaving.
Sir.
Keep Driving!
I'm going to be late.
Call you back.
General Garrison?
No, thanks. l got one.
But these are Cuban.
Bolivar Belicoso.
So is this.
Miami, my friend, is not Cuba.
l see not catching Aidid is becoming a routine.
We weren't trying to catch Aidid. We were trying to catch you.
Me?
But am l that important?
l hardly think so.
-You're just a businessman. -Trying to make a living.
Yeah. Selling guns to Aidid's militia.
You've been here, what?
Six weeks?
Six weeks you are trying to catch the general.
You put up reward posters.
$25,000. What is this? Gunfight at the K.O. Corral?
lt's the O.K. Corral.
Do you think bringing me in will make him suddenly come to you?
Make him more agreeable?
You know where he sleeps.
You pay for his beds, much less his militia.
We're not leaving Somalia till we find him.
And we will find him.
Don't think because l grew up without running water...
...l am simple, General.
l do know something about history.
See all this? lt's simply shaping tomorrow.
A tomorrow without a lot of Arkansas white boys' ideas in it.
Well, l wouldn't know about that. l'm from Texas.
Mr. Garrison, l think you shouldn't have come here.
This is civil war.
This is our war.
Not yours.
300,000 dead and counting.
That's not a war, Mr. Atto. That's genocide.
Now, you enjoy that tea, you hear?
How'd he strike you?
Urbane, sophisticated, cruel.
Yeah, he's a good catch.
lt'll take time, but Aidid will feel the loss.
l'm not sure time is something we got in great supply.
This isn't lraq, you know. Much more complicated than that.
Boss, most of Washington might disagree.
They've been calling for situation reports every morning this week.
Well, tell them the situation is fragile.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Cliff ''Elvis'' Wolcott.
I'll be yourpilot today.
Federal regulations designate this a non-smoking Black Hawk helicopter.
Those in Mogadishu frequent flyer program will earn 100 free credits.
And as always, the air sickness bags are in the seatback in front of you.
Number one indications are good, Cliff. Put her on two.
You're still clear.
61, this is 64. Go to UHF secure.
l've got some bad news.
''Limo'' is a word, Durant. l don't want to hear about it.
Itis not a word. It's an abbreviation of a word.
''Limo'' is a word in common usage.
That is the key phrase in Scrabble, my good friend. Common usage.
lf it's not in the dictionary it doesn't count!
It doesn't have to be in the dictionary!
It does have to be in the dictionary!
When we get back to the base, it's coming off.
You touch my ''limo'' and I'll spank you, Nightstalker.
Yeah, promises.
That's a nice beach down there.
How's the water?
Yeah, it's nice and warm. And it's loaded with sharks.
-Name. -Todd.
-Last name. -Blackburn.
First name, Todd.
-So, what's it like? -What's what like?
Mogadishu. The fighting.
-Serial number. -72163427.
Firstly, it's ''the Mog'' or simply ''Mog.'' No one calls it Mogadishu here.
Secondly, l wouldn't know about the fighting, so don't ask.
Why not?
Didn't l just say, ''Don't ask''?
You look like you're about 12, so let me explain something to you.
l have a rare and mysterious skill that precludes me from doing missions.
Typing.
-Can you type? -No.
-Date of birth. -2-27-75.
Well, l'm here to kick some ass.
Let's bring itin.
Nice, man! Very smooth!
Single shot through the engine block.
Shit, that's a shame. That was a nice jeep.
Cease fire! Cease fire!
Check your weapons!
Sergeant Eversmann.
Private First Class Blackburn.
Yeah?
Reporting for duty.
Not to me. You're reporting to Lt. Beales. He should be here somewhere.
Can l leave him with you?
Yeah, go ahead.
-You brought your weapon. -Yes, sir.
Want me to shoot? l'm rested.
-When did you get in? -Just now, Sergeant.
Hey, who's hungry?
What is this, Sarg'nt? Another taxpayer-funded Delta safari?
-Not if General Garrison is asking. -l'm asking.
Have a nice meal, Captain.
-Hey, man, there's a line. -l know.
-Well, this isn't the back of it. -Yeah, l know.
Sergeant. Sergeant.
What's going on here?
Some aerial target practice, sir. Didn't want to leave it behind.
l'm talking about your weapon.
Delta or no Delta, that's a hot weapon.
You know better than that. Safety should be on at all times on base.
Well, this is my safety, sir.
Let it go, sir. The guy hasn't eaten in a couple of days.
You Delta boys are a bunch of undisciplined cowboys.
Let me tell you something, Sarg'nt.
When we get on a five-yard line, you're going to need my Rangers.
Y'all better learn to be team players.
We're done here.
Speak up. You say this is your safety?
Well, this is my boot, son.
And it will fit up your ass with the proper amount of force.
-ls that a Jersey accent? -l'm trying to do this, give me a break.
Take those sunglasses off.
Delta wants to wear Oakleys, that's their business.
l don't want to see them on you again.
Is that a hot weapon?
ls that your move?
ls my hand on the piece?
l can mate you in three whatever you do.
l'd keep my eye on that queen before counseling others.
Well, she's just lying in wait.
Yikes.
lt's good. You're really improving.
lf l may make a suggestion-- Observation.
Go ahead.
-lt's a children's book, right? -Right.
They are not supposed to scare the living shit out of the children.
This is the part of the story where our knight is slaying the dragon.
That's scary. Besides, my daughter loves this stuff.
Thought you finished that last week.
You done?
Hey, we are at the 10-yard line here, men.
You understand?
Can you count? One, two, ten.
Okay? Where are my running backs?
Where are my running backs?
Hey, l didn't see you at church on Sunday.
You had something more important to do?
Not on Sunday, you don't. Not anymore.
l will make you believe, you understand?
Pretty funny, hoo-ah?
lt was a good impression. l recognize myself.
All right, carry on.
-l'd like a word, specialist. -Sir.
You understand why we have a chain of command, don't you?
Roger that, sir.
lf you ever undermine me again, you'll clean latrines with your tongue...
...till you taste no difference between shit and French fries.
-Are we clear? -Hoo-ah, sir.
All right.
Listen to this:
lf one skinny kills another his clan owes the dead guy's clan a hundred camels.
A hundred camels.
Camels. l wouldn't pay one camel.
Must be a lot of fucking camel debt.
ls that really true, Lieutenant?
Ask Sgt. Eversmann. He likes skinnies.
Sgt. Eversmann, you really like the skinnies?
lt's not that l like them or l don't like them. l respect them.
See, what you guys fail to realize is the sergeant is a bit of an idealist.
He believes in this mission down to his bones. Don't you, Sergeant?
Look, these people, they have no jobs...
...no food, no education, no future.
l just figure that, l mean, we have two things that we can do.
We can help...
...or we can sit back and watch the country destroy itself on CNN.
Right?
l don't know about you guys, but l was trained to fight.
Are you trained to fight, Sergeant?
Well, l think l was trained to make a difference, Kurth.
Like the man said, he's an idealist.
Oh, wait. This is my favorite part.
Stay away from the cans!
Die, gas-pumper!
Stay away from those cans!
No, no, stay back.
He's having a seizure. Put something in his mouth.
John, it's okay. John, it's okay. lt's okay.
Well, he'll be fine. But not in this army.
He's out of the game. He's epileptic, going home.
l'm putting you in charge of his chalk.
-You got a problem with that? -No, sir.
lt's a big responsibility.
Your men will look to you to make the right decisions.
Their lives depend on it.
All right.
-Rangers lead the way, sir. -All the way.
Good luck.
A meeting ofAidid's senior cabinet may take place today at 1500 hours.
l say ''may'' because we all know by now...
...with the intel we get on the street, nothing is certain.
This is actual intel confirmed by three sources.
Two tier-one personalities may be present:
Omar Salad, Aidid's top political advisor...
...and Abdi Hassan Awale, interior minister.
These are the guys we're after.
Today we go.
Same mission template as before.
1545, Assault Force Delta will infiltrate the target building...
...and seize all suspects within.
Security Force Rangers: 4 Ranger chalks, under command of Capt. Steele...
...will rope in at 1546...
...and hold a four-corner perimeter around the target building.
No one gets in or out.
Extraction Force:
Lt. Colonel McKnight's humvee column will drive in at 1547...
...on Hawlwadig Road and hold just short of the Olympic Hotel.
Wait for the green light.
Now once Delta gives the word...
...McKnight's column will go to the target and load the prisoners onto trucks.
lmmediately after the prisoners are loaded...
...the four Ranger chalks will collapse back to the target building...
...load up on humvees...
...and the entire ground force will exfil the 3 miles back to base.
Mission time, no longer than 30 minutes.
Now, l had requested light armor and AC-130 Spectre gunships...
...but Washington, in all its wisdom, decided against this.
Too high-profile.
So Black Hawks and Little Birds will provide the air cover...
...with miniguns and 2.75 rockets.
Colonel Harrell.
ln the C-2 bird, Colonel Matthews will coordinate the air mission...
...and l will coordinate ground forces.
Colonel Matthews.
Mission launch code word is lrene.
Questions?
Which building is it, sir?
We're confirming that now. Somewhere near the Bakara market.
l don't choose the time or place of their meetings.
l didn't say a word, sir.
Make no mistake, once you're in the Bakara market...
...you're in an entirely hostile district.
Don't underestimate their capabilities.
We'll be in friendly neighborhoods before we hit the market...
...so remember the rules of engagement: No one fires unless fired upon.
Now, let's go get this thing done.
Good luck, gentlemen.
What's the matter, Danny? Something you don't like?
No Spectre gunships, daylight instead of night...
...afternoon when they're all fucked up on khat...
...only part of the city Aidid can mount a counter-attack on short notice....
-What's not to like? -Life's imperfect.
For you two, circling above it at 500 feet, it's imperfect.
Down in the street, it's unforgiving.
What the fuck, Smith?
-Well? -Well, what?
We going?
-Why should l tell you that? -Because l'm me.
Yeah. 3:00. Downtown.
-Bakara market. -All right.
Listen, Smith, l need you to back me up out there today, all right?
Keep sharp.
Yes, sir, Sergeant Eversmann.
Ev, it's going to be nothing, man.
Nothing.
lt's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse.
This, my friend, is a science.
You're looking at the guy that believed the commercials.
About ''be all you can be.''
l made coffee through Desert Storm.
l made coffee through Panama, while everyone else got to fight...
...got to be a Ranger.
Now it's ''Grimesy, black, one sugar'' or ''Grimesy, got a powdered anywhere?''
-What happened to you? -Ping-Pong accident.
What?
So guess what.
Your wish has been granted. You're going out today.
You're fucking me.
You're taking my place assisting the 60 gunner.
Sergeant Eversmann said to get your stuff and get ready.
lt's what you wanted, isn't it?
Oh, yeah.
Hell, yeah.
Grimesy, stick with Waddell and give him ammo when he needs it.
-Hoo-ah? -Hoo-ah.
l wouldn't worry about that. Generally speaking, Somalis can't shoot for shit.
Just watch out for the sammys throwing the rocks, and you'll be fine.
Might even be fun.
D-boys do their thing now. All we got to do is cover them.
Choppers going to cover us, and we'll be all right.
Look, you guys, this is my first time as chalk leader...
...but, this isn't our first time out together. This is serious.
We're Rangers, not some sorry-ass JROTC.
We're elite.
Let's act like it out there. Hoo-ah?
Any questions?
We're going to be okay.
Grab your gear. Let's move out.
You're not going to need that, dude. We're not out there long enough.
You won't need that, either.
We'll be back before dark.
You might as well take dope and beer instead.
What?
Ammo, dude. Take ammo.
Let me tell you something, Grimes. You got 50 pounds of gear.
You don't need another 12.
l don't know about you, l don't plan on getting shot running away.
Well, l better keep mine in.
Grimes.
Most important thing:
Remember, when everyone is shooting, shoot in the same direction.
Look at this. He's taping his blood type to his boots.
-That's bad luck. -No, it's smart.
All Delta do that.
That's bad luck too, man.
Come on, let's go.
lt's a good thing you're right-handed, Adonis.
-lf not, l don't know what you'd do. -You're a funny guy, man.
-l'm not taking no death letter. -We have a deal.
l'll give it to you back in an hour.
-Blackburn, you okay? -Excited.
ln a good way. l've been training my whole life for this.
You ever shot at anybody before?
No, sir.
Me neither.
Think he's reliable?
Well, we'll see. lt's his first time out.
-Tell him to turn his damn radio off. -Yes, sir.
Tell him to turn his radio off.
Abdi, you need to turn your radio off.
Hi. You've reached Stephanie and Randy, leave us a message. Thank you.
Hey, baby, it's me. Are you there?
Pick up ifyou're there.
l'm just calling to make sure everything's all right.
l'll call you in a couple hours.
You'd better not be sleeping.
Your move, Randy.
I'm missing you.
l love you, baby.
Hello? Hello?
Thanks, bud.
You know, it's kind of funny.
Beautiful beach, beautiful sun.
Could almost be a good place to visit.
Almost.
You don't think we should be here.
You know what l think? lt don't really matter what l think.
Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and all that shit...
...just goes right out the window.
l just want to do it right today.
Just watch your corner. Get all your men back here alive.
Now, is this supposed to be the place, or did his car just take a dump?
Abdi, come in.
Abdi, can you hear me? ls this the place?
Abdi, come in.
Can you hear me? Abdi.
Abdi, come in. Is this the place?
To my right side, above the cafe.
He says this is the building.
He's certain?
Abdi, you need to be sure.
Are you sure?
Well, it's down the road, two blocks over on my left.
But there's too many militia.
If I go closer, they mightshoot me.
Now he's saying the building's a couple blocks down...
...but if he's seen outside it, he'll be shot.
l'll fucking shoot him myself.
Tell him l want his skinny ass parked in front of the building.
He's not getting paid till he does exactly that.
Three miles to the target. We're never off the main roads.
At K-four traffic circle, we turn north, then east on National...
...and we wait until extraction of prisoners is complete here.
Then we roll up in force on Hawlwadig...
...load the prisoners, the assault-blocking forces and bring them back.
Home in an hour. Okay?
There will be some shooting. Bakara market is the Wild West.
But be careful what you shoot at. People do live there.
Hoo-ah.
Last one of these guys shot himself in the head playing Russian roulette.
Sir, the vehicle is stopped.
So this is the real deal now. He's sure this time.
-He sounds scared shitless. -Good. That's always a good sign.
That's it. That's oursignal.
All right.
All QRF out of the airspace.
All units, lrene. l say again, lrene.
Check in when ready. Barber 51 up and ready. Star 41 up and ready.
lrene!
Copy, Irene.
Fucking lrene!
Come on.
Good luck, boys.
Be careful.
No one gets left behind.
What's wrong?
Nothing. He's just never done that before.
Aw, fuck!
Let's go.
Sergeant Struecker. Let's roll.
Two minutes.
Why are they burning tires?
Signals to the militia that we're coming!
Okay, 56, looks like there's some friendlies on the ground.
Looks like I've got a tally on the voice.
One minute.
What's that for?
Last rope, l almost bit my tongue off.
Touching base.
Two feet, one foot...
...clear.
Little birds touching down at target.
Ropes!
Go! Go! Go!
Chalk One troops are on the deck. Chalk Two deployed.
This is McKnight. Uniform 64 approaching staging area.
Down! Get down!
Down! Stay down!
Get down! Everybody down!
You, down!
Get down!
On the floor.
Let's go, let's go!
Grimesy! No fear!
Oh, yeah, right!
Rangers securing perimeter. Four corners.
Colonel, they're shooting at us!
Well, shoot back!
This is 64. Chalks on the ground, going into holding pattern.
This is 62, delivered chalks. Going to coverpattern.
Super 62, take up an overhead pattern to provide sniper cover. Over.
This is Super 65. Chalks on the ground, going into holding pattern.
Go, Blackburn, go! Go!
Go, Blackburn!
RPG!
Hold on!
No!
C-2, we got a man fallen.
Super-61, you're a sitting duck.
Take up overhead pattern to provide sniper cover. Over.
Roger that. 61 coming out.
13, go ahead. I need you to move to the north of the street.
Right to the north. Right there. Over.
Doc! Doc Schmid!
Come on!
Schmid, we got a man hit.
-Where's he hit? -He's not. He fell.
-What? -He fell.
Why aren't you shooting?
We're not being shot at yet!
How can you tell?
A hiss means it's close.
A snap means--
Now they're shooting at us!
Galentine!
Get me Captain Steele! Get me Captain Steele!
Juliet 64, this is Juliet 25. Come in. Over.
Blackburn, can you hear me?
Juliet 64, this is 25. Come in. Over.
l can't get him!
Juliet 64, this is Chalk Four! We've got a man down!
We need to get him out of here! Over.
This is 64. Say again, 25. Over.
We've got a man down! Over.
Take a breath, 25, and calm down. Over.
-Man down! -Missed that, 25.
-Fuck it. -Say again.
Matt, it's a long way to the humvees!
We'll get a stretcher in here. Get him to the target building.
What did he say?
Super 61, we got a man wounded on the ground.
-Stretcher! -Get me a stretcher!
Come on. Stretcher.
Come on, come on!
Grab this end!
Let's go!
-All right. -Go.
Get him to the humvees. We'll hold down the corner.
Up to the humvees! Now!
Go! Go!
Keep moving, Grimes! Run!
-Secure! -Let's move out!
Everybody up! Let's go!
Come on!
Let's go! Let's move!
-Grimes, run! -All right.
C-2, this is Super 61, beginning my orbit of the target area.
Chalk Four, clear for a clear. Coming in.
Kilo 11, this is 61, providing cover forprisoner extract. Over.
Kilo 64, green light.
-Ready for extraction. Over. -Roger that. Will relay.
That's it. We got them.
Uniform 64, ready for extraction. Over.
Roger that. There's the call. Let's move out!
-Let's move out! -Hold on.
-How much longer? -Five minutes, sir.
-What? -Five minutes.
Nothing takes five minutes!
What happened to him?
-He fell! Missed the rope! -How'd he do that?
Put him in that humvee! Grimes, give him a hand!
Let's go! Let's move it!
Move, move! Come on! Move!
Get him in there!
Get ready to move!
Go! Everybody move! Move!
Get the fuck up!
Grimes! Come on!
Grimes! Grimes!
Fuck this!
Fuck!
Let's go.
Come on!
Go! Move it!
Move!
Romeo 64, l need to send out three humvees with a casualty.
He looks real bad. l need to evac now.
Roger that, Uniform 64.
We'll chop a team of gun ships to you. Over.
Roger that.
l need extra security on these humvees!
l'll go. l'll take my team, make sure they get back okay.
Do it.
Struecker, you're lead humvee.
First three vehicles mount up, we're moving back to base.
Move out!
How are things going? Things okay there, Struecker?
l don't want to talk about it now, Colonel!
I'm busy.
Sergeant Pilla's hit!
Christ, he's fucked up!
Is anyone hit?
Struecker, talk to me!
lt's Sergeant Pilla!
What's his status?
He's dead.
Pilla's dead, sir.
C-2, this is McKnight. We have a KIA Dominick Pilla. Over.
Roger that.
Get on that 50!
Someone get on that 50!
lt's mine.
Three guys with RPGs, coming up on your side now!
Stay with it!
This is 61. I'm hit. I'm hit.
Super 61 is hit. He is hit. Wolcott's bird is hit.
You want to pull those PCLs off-line or what?
Right, babe.
Come on.
61, going down.
61 going down.
61 is going down.
Super 61 is going down.
61 is going down. I repeat, it's going down.
61's going down.
Hold on!
We got a Black Hawk down. We got a Black Hawk down.
Super 61 is down. We got a bird down in the city.
Super 61 is on the deck now.
Get an MH-six on site. Check for survivors.
Send in the SAR bird.
l want ground forces to move and secure a new perimeter around that crash site.
Can you guide the convoy in there?
Roger that.
Well, move quick.
The whole city will be coming down on top of them.
Star 41, come inbound and see if you can land at the crash site.
Roger that. Star 41 inbound.
We just lost the initiative.
25, this is 64. Over.
25. Over.
25, Chalk Four is closest to the crash site. Over.
64, l can't see the crash site. Over.
25, it's due east of you. You will find it.
Leave a security element in place. Take the rest of your chalk to the crash.
Check for survivors. Secure the area. All other chalks will follow.
25, do you read me? Over.
Galentine! Schmid!
Get Yurek.
Get Twombly.
Hey, there's a Black Hawk down.
Twombly, Nelson, stay here.
Hold this corner and then exfil with the humvees.
Galentine, Schmid, you're coming with me. Let's go.
How come l got to stay back here?
Because you're dependable.
All right...
...let's go!
l hate being dependable, man.
Juliet 25, hostiles advancing, parallel west to yourposition.
Women and children among them. Over.
Hit the wall.
lncoming!
Grenade!
Go.
We still got guys inside!
l'll go to the crash.
You take the rest of the team. l'll finish loading the prisoners.
No! We'll go to the crash site together.
Secure the perimeter, wait for the humvees.
-Roger that. -Follow my lead.
Sarg'nt, are you receiving me?
Yeah, l heard you. We should be leaving soon.
All right, we need to move out now!
l'll finish loading the prisoners and pick you up at the crash site!
Let's move out!
Moving out! Go!
Get in! Get in!
Move!
Eight o'clock!
Grimes, stay away from the walls.
Grimes. You okay?
Yeah!
Let's go, Maddox.
-C-2, convoy's moving out. -Roger that.
Maddox, look at these jerks! These idiots!
Go, go! Right, Maddox, right!
Twombly, the convoy is leaving!
Hey, Twombly!
What?
-l think they've forgotten us. -What?
lt doesn't matter.
63 confirm. Skinnies are moving in on all sides. They need help now.
Indigenous personnel advancing to Wolcott crash site.
Say again. Over.
A lot ofpeople closing in.
How far is Chalk Four from the crash site?
-Six blocks, sir. -They need to haul ass.
Get down! Get down!
Scotty, are you okay?
No, don't go back!
Get down! Get down!
Technicals!
Got them!
Six o'clock! Move, move!
Go, go, go!
Go, go!
Come on!
Yurek, leaving!
Come on!
Uniform 64, left turn. Left turn.
Romeo 64, l need to know before l get to the goddamn street!
You have to slow down. There's a delay.
From the time directions are relayed from surveillance to JOC, then to me.
We can't slow down! We're taking heavy enemy fire!
We can't slow down!
Danny, I'm getting information from Orion surveillance above.
So get me my fucking directions to the crash site!
Danny, hold on. I no longer have the best view ofyour route.
Getyour ass in the rightplace, goddamn it!
What in the hell is the status of Struecker's humvees?
Colonel Harrell, ETA to base, Struecker's column.
ETA to base momentarily.
Open the gate!
-Get him out! Let's go! Let's go! -Come on.
Watch his head.
Easy.
-Blackburn, can you hear me? -Get him to a medic.
Star 41 is at the crash site to evacuate the injured. Over.
Roger that.
l got you.
Easy.
Galentine, you all right?
Galentine, Kurth, with me! Cover fire, now.
Full cover!
How many are in there?
Two pilots are dead, two crew chiefs are wounded!
-He's hurt bad. We must get out of here. -All right. Go ahead.
26, this is 25. ls that you shooting up the technicals?
This is 26. Roger that.
DiTomasso, take the southeast corner. We're setting up a perimeter. Over.
This is 26. Roger that. Moving there now.
Move out!
Captain Steele, come in.
Go ahead, 25. This is 64.
We got two wounded and we got both the pilots dead in the chopper!
We need a medivac now!
lt's too hot to land a bird. You must secure the perimeter first. Over.
Where are the humvees?
Be advised, 25, the convoy will be there.
They're encountering a lot of resistance. 64 out.