An expanded excerpt from the full chapter. Setting: the early morning hours of September 25th, 1993 in Mogadishu Somalia. A chapter that could easily be called “The Original Black Hawk Down”. Based on the firsthand accounts of 1-87 INF, 2-14 INF, 3-75 RGR and 5th Special Forces soldiers. Blood on the Altar The incident we’re […]
Some details have been excluded in this condensed preview version of the events. This chapter sets the stage for the climax in Somalia and more importantly, shows you where the war on terror actually started. These are the first Americans known to have directly faced Al Qaeda, long before most of America or the world knew […]
Michael Jackson is Gay. Before telling you about this incident, let me first be clear that I have nothing against Michael Jackson or gay people, nor is another human being’s sexual orientation anything that I have ever concerned myself with caring about. As a teenager, I listened to Michael Jackson quite a bit. I guess. […]
On today, his birthday, Behind the Gun is going to tell you about Gerard Gutierrez as we celebrate his service, and also his birthday. Gutierrez, or “Gute” (like GOOT), fought in Mogadishu on Oct.3rd and 4th as a SAW gunner with 3rd Platoon C CO. 1-87 IN, and was wounded during the Battle of Mogadishu. Gute […]
I’m sure many have heard of the term “1,000-yard stare”, a term used to describe the blank expression some get after experiencing war. And I will never forget the first time I knew for sure I had seen it. And it wouldn’t be the last. Though it would have been nice to have a tougher, […]
In the Lower Shabelle Hoose region of Somalia, outside a small village somewhere between the cities of Qoryoley and Barawa, on February 16 of 1993, I would experience what I now refer to as the ‘The Gift’. As I describe the events of that evening, I am sure you might misconstrue the meaning of this […]
**************setting, a full chapter and some comic relief******************** “I never knew whether I was drawn to eccentric people or if they were drawn to me.” ~ Dean Koontz, author. Like most of this book, the story of Jesus in Somalia isn’t widely known. A secret weapon of the US Army, Jesus was in fact a […]
I promised long that I would put a big fat Combat Infantryman’s Badge at the top of his Warrior Profile here on Behind the Gun. You might wonder why that’s a big deal since about everyone I’ve posted about has one. Long is the exception, however, and not for his lack of being in combat. […]
“Arch” is the next hero I want to tell you about. Though I only knew him in passing, I have a special love for anyone who carries the M-60, especially a gunner of this caliber. As good as I was (or thought I was, whatever), next to no one can claim to be a better gunner […]
Poncho is my brother and he is my hero. That is the first description I always give when telling people about him. I know his squad mates call him the same, and always will. Hailing from Texas, Poncho and I first met as members of the same platoon in Basic Training. The first thing that […]
Behind The Gun: Poncho's Last Walk 