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Round 20
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LFitch
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Houston TX
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Re: Alex von Sunnydale: "Why couldn't the Marine's (sic) be involved..." Study the events at Desert I in Iran and you'll see why Marines are no longer invited to events of this type. See espec Jim Kyle's "The Guts to Try"
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Ted Redman
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Atlanta, Ga
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Will there be anything in the book about the Ranger medics that were there..... Sgt. Black, Spc. Stanfield, et al.?
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Mark Bowden
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Ranger medics Strous and Good make an appearance in the book, as well as severeal of the Delta medics and Air Force PJs. I'm afraid I will not be able, even in 500+ pages, to tell the story of everyone who fought in Mogadishu on 1-/3-4/93.
MB
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lefty
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san jose ca
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As I read these captions I cannot help but to cry, for I
know all too well the thoughts that these young men have
racing through their head. It seems to me that the main
source of firepower the skinnies had were light weapons.
How come we were not provided with tracked vehicles?
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Mark Bowden
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I would refer you back to the earlier rounds of Q&As, lefty. Defense Secretary Les Aspin cut Bradley armored vehicles from the force request. There are those who feel this was, perhaps, the worst single mistake associated with this event (and, indeed, Aspin later acknowledged it was a mistake). Others, notably Maj. Gen. Bill Garrison, the TFR commander, believe armor would not have significantly altered what happened and might have made things worse.
MB
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former Infantryman
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Arlington, Va
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Mark TO&E -table of organization and equipment
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Former Infantryman
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Arlington, VA
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Re: Armor in built up areas. Unfortunately, armor guys like to dream of massed tank bns operating over open, rolling terrain or in deserts ( approx 10% of earths surface). The Gulf War was the first time they could do this since Tunisia in 1943. In between, tanks have fought in jungles, mountains and cities and done well. The armor on an M-1 or Bradley stops a lot more than a flak jacket or BDUs will. For anyone to suggest that 5 ton trks or Humvees were better in Mog is pretty ridiculous.
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Rey
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San Jose
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Not a question but another reader riveted to the web site. You've done a great job writing the story. To all the servicemen and servicewomen, thanks.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Rey.
MB
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Shanna Jagusch
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St. Paul, MN
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It was mentioned in the analysis on p7 that the Somalian warlord had written to former President Carter and that Carter had taken the peaceful message to Clinton who received it 'warmly'. So why then were our troops there if both leaders were seemingly ready to negotiate?
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Mark Bowden
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If you read further in the same story, it explains that American and UN leaders believed Aidid's willingness to negotiate was a direct consequence of the pressure being applied by TFR. They were pursuing a two-track strategy (carrot and stick).
MB
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reader
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St. Paul, MN
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Why aren't the videos working?
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Mark Bowden
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They work okay on my computer. I'll refer you to our online genie, Jennifer.
MB
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bradley stout
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ft irwin ca
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I really enjoyed your article, there was no sugar coating
about it and you talked to the soldiers. If you ever do a
continuation story do one on what happened before the
rangers arrived 44 americans died total only 18 on those 2
days, there is alot more of a story there than just oct 3-4
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Mark Bowden
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You are right, Bradley. I think that's probably true of most stories, especially about war. I do hope that BlackHawk Down will help Americans remember the sacrifices made in Somalia by all the men and women who served there.
MB
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Dan Hagee
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Paoli, PA
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Your piece was heart wrenching to read. As a veteran of the USMC debacle in Beirut it pained me to read a similar tragedy happen a decade later. Great Work...the show was great as well. dhagee@voicenet.com
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you, Dan.
MB
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Ed
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San Jose, Ca.
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Well Done...Enjoy your Pulitzer.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks.
MB
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Mark Cushing
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Seattle, WA
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The Seattle Times has been running your series for a few
weeks now. I must tell you that this is most harrowing
account of battle I have ever read. The store hooked me
from chapter 1 and I can't wait to read each installment
each day.Keep up the great work and I hope to read more of
your articles in the future.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Mark. I've been very flattered that so many newspapers have picked up the series, especially considering its length. Newspapers in Columbus, Ga., Alabama, St. Paul, San Jose, Arizona and Grand Forks, N. Dakota so far. The book will be out in October, The Atlantic Monthly Press.
MB
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Mark Cushing
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Seattle, WA
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The Seattle Times has been running your series for a few
weeks now. I must tell you that this is most harrowing
account of battle I have ever read. The store hooked me
from chapter 1 and I can't wait to read each installment
each day.Keep up the great work and I hope to read more of
your articles in the future.
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Eric Ruttencutter
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St. Louis, MO
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Another book on the intervention in Somalia that hasn't been mentioned yet is Losing Mogadishu, by Jonathan Stevenson. ISBN 1-55750-788-0, Naval Institute Press. Good luck on your book, and don't let Hollywood mess up the movie.
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Mark Bowden
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You're right. I have it on my shelf. Thanks, Eric.
MB
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LTC Cliff Cloonan
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Fort Bragg, NC
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Mark,
I know you are busy. Any possibility of getting a copy of
the entire casualty list (or let me know your source)? I am
continuing to work on the Mogadishu Raid Medical Case Study
for the JSOMTC and will use this info to train SOF medics
for combat. Any assistance you can provide to help me "flesh
out" the medical aspects of this raid would be appreciated.
Thanks
Cliff
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Mark Bowden
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I'll send you what I've got on Monday.
MB
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DGBrown
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KATTERBACH, GR
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Mark, did you mean to say that no AC-130's were ever used
in MOG or just on 3-4 OCT? Because I certainly remember
seeing them on the MOG airfield ramp and actually used them
a few times to help spot for me as we flew "eyes over MOG"
missions.
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Mark Bowden
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Just on 10/3-4/93.
MB
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Pablo Lee
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Seattle, WA
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I think your article brings to light the heroism that is
lost in todays world. It made me furious to see this
headline being quickly overshadowed by a basketball player
deciding to retire. Is it possible to get a copy of the
documentary?
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Pablo. You can order a copy of the series, the CD-ROM and the videotape by calling 1-800-440-1470, or right here on this Web site.
MB
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Steve Baller
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Hastings, MN
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I just wanted to say thank you, I served during Desert Storm and this does credit to the people who were in Somalia. People don't realize what war is all about.
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you, Steve.
MB
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David Nguyen
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New York, New York
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Dear Mr. Bowden:
Your article "Blackhawk Down" is remarkable. You also
mentioned that there is a TV Documentary based on your work.
Where and when the documentary will be shown? And what
would it be called? Thank you.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, David. The documentary is entitled "Good Intentions, Deadly Results," and aired in Philadelphia back in January on the local PBS station. Still no national air date, but we expect it will be shown this year. You can order it, along with a reprint and a CD-ROM of the series, by calling 1-800-440-1470 or by clicking on the right places on this Web site.
MB
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CPT Brad
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U.S. Army
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I'm very excited for you and your phenomenal series. It
goes without saying, at this point, that your attention to
detail, unswerving adherence to the facts and dogged
determination to "get it right" have won over the support
and adoration of a great deal of the military community.
This is no small task (as I'm sure you well know). We ache
to have reporters, writers, and movie producers "get it
right" and generally just laugh and shake our heads when
they don't. You've transcended an emotional barrier WE'VE
constructed to protect ourselves from those who've never
served and don't care to understand what we go through. Let
it be known we appreciate your efforts to "get it right". I
have one unsolicited request. The movie deal will reach a
much broader audience and, unfortunately, is potentially
where the trust you've developed could go sour with the
military...please, please, pursue accuracy with that account
as well...do everything in your power to hold the producers,
directors, and actors to your exceptional standard. Perhaps
the warriors of the battle of Mog will act as technical
advisors (who knows, maybe the military will support the
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CPT Brad
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U.S. Army
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effort...and really complicate your efforts :) You have a
monumental task ahead Mr. Bowden... good luck!
Congratulations on your success. And again, Thank You.
P.S. I'd like to e-mail you (I know, I know, you won't have
time until the year 2001) and ask some writing questions.
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you very much, Brad. I will do my best with the movie. The producer and director have said they want to be accurate, and have hired me to write the screenplay, which means I'll at least start out with a shot at some control. But movies are the ulimate collaborative art form, and I can't promise I will even be happy with what is ultimately done. The good news is that whenever a big movie is made about a book, it promotes sales of the book like nothing else in this world. So it's kind of a Faustian bargain. Even if the movie gets it wrong, more people end up reading the book, which I can stand fully behind. Any mistakes there will be my very own fault. You can reach me by email through jmusser@phillynews.com.
MB
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Vito
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Charlottesville, VA
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I don't mean to add to the confusion but... In Q/A #18 (I
think) you mentioned the book would be called Black Hawk
Down (not Blackhawk Down). I did a net search using UH-60
as a search term. Several web sites with the .mil extension
came up. It seems they use both the one word and 2 word
version on their pages. Which one is correct? I haven't the
foggiest, but I thought I should mention it.
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Mark Bowden
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Sikorsky says it's two words. So the book will be Black Hawk Down, or maybe BlackHawk Down which has been suggested as a compromise. Frankly, it don't matter a hill-o'-beans to me.
MB
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John L
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Knoxville, TN
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Mark, thanks for the response to my inquiries. I am impressed by the time you spend answering questions. I can't disagree w/ Sikorsky, but is it possible that the Army uses a different nomenclature? I think I'm right about the use of Indian names for helicopters, which would imply its one word. No need to respond, just a suggestion to check further. BTY, I didn't mean to suggest the SEALS didn't hold their own. I just wondered why they were in the mix, since the inclusion of units from different services can lead to "unity of command" problems.
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Eugene Lim
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Guildford, United Kingdom
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I am a Malaysian working in the UK for the moment. I found your account rivetting. Naturally, the M'sian press makes a muck of the Malaysian involvement (glossing over the details). But thanks for not passing judgements.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Eugene.
MB
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Liam Jackson
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New Jersey
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Dear Mr. Bowden
I am particularly interested in the gunship issue. An
interesting bit of info, although likely with little impact
on TFR, was the fact than an ammo defect caused the
IMMEDIATE withdrawal of AC-130s from combat following the
Kenya crash. I'll forward you the info...
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Tom Hunter
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CA
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Hi MB
Thought my site might help with your research, gimme a call
if you need anything (714) 673-0455, or talk to our mutual
friend.
TH
www.specialoperations.com
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Tom.
MB
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Jon Grogan
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Flossmoor, IL
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I was a Major in the USMC at Camp Pendleton on October 3,
1993. During a staff meeting, one of my fellow officers
lamented on the fact that the country seemed more upset
about Michael Jordan's retirement than the loss of 19
soldiers. A week later, I was on my way BACK to Mogadishu.
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CIB11H20
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FT.BENNING,GA
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I WAS A MK-19 GUNNER ( QRF TF-2/14) DURING OCT.3-4 BATTLE.WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS WAS OUR THIRD BATTLE OF THE MONTH(SEPT-OCT). GREAT JOB ON STORY!! LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE LITERATURE ON THE SOMALIA MISSION.
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks.
MB
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Jennifer Cox
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Clarksville, TN
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As the wife of an A Co, 2/14 Infantry vet. and Oct.3 and 4
survivior I want to thank you for your article. We are t
at Ft. Campbell now, and it just started running in our
paper. I can tell after just one day that it will be
wonderful and that all soldiers involved will be
represented. Thank you for the much needed attention to the
events of that night! YenniYo@aol.com
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you, Jennifer. As you will see noted below, soldiers from the 2/14 were unhappy with how much of their part in this battle I told, and I have agreed with them. There will be more about the 2/14th's gallant and eventful rescue in the book.
MB
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Lindy
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San Jose, Ca
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My question concerns the "Lost Convoy". Did they have road
maps on the ground? It seems to me they could have
pinpointed the crash site with a street location and set the
route accordingly. Even if they had to deviate from the
original route, they might not have gotten so lost.
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Mark Bowden
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There are no good road maps of Mog. The ones I have seen (the ones used by TFR) just have this hopeful grid superimposed on the city, but having been there I know the actual streets and alleys hardly form a neat grid. The force never knew where they would be going in the city until minutes before they launched. They got detailed aerial photographs of the neighborhood they were going into, but these were limited to the immediate target. The choppers crashed well outside the target perimeters. There are no posted street names or numbers of anything like that. Also, part of the problem was the effort the choppers and plane were making to steer the convoy clear of roadblocks and ambushes, coupled with the fact that sometimes the roads the convoy was directed to take were simply too narrow for the trucks. I think the episode of the lost convoy points up one of the biggest problems troops face going into an unfamiliar urban environment to fight, and may point up the need for more sophisiticated, rapid mapping systems.
MB
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Jeff Peterson
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Baldwin WI
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The St.Paul paper could'nt come early enough in the morning
Absolutely the best combat story ever written. My question
is, How many magazines of ammunition did the Rangers go out
with that morning and what was total count of ammo fired
during the mission?
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Jeff. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question.
MB
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bill dahl
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san leandro, ca
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mark, outstanding work of journalism! will the video that aired in december be available for purchase? how about the book? if so, i want them!
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Mark Bowden
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Thanks, Bill. You can order a reprint, CD-rom and the video by calling 1-800-440-1470, or by clicking on the right spaces on this Web site. The book will be published in October by The Atlantic Monthly Press.
MB
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JackFlash
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Fitchburg,MA
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Saw the recent comment from wife of A/2-14 IN soldier thinking the story of every unit involved in 3-4 Oct was going to be told. Mark, are you going to tell her that you glossed that part over? I read every chapter waiting A/2-14 IN. to be told. Too bad! Seems like you had an axe to grind. Father of A/2-14 soldier
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Mark Bowden
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The only axe was the one that trimmed my copy to fit the space requirements of the newspaper. The book will tell more of the 2/14th's critical role in the fight.
MB
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Todd
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Fort Dodge, Ia
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Mark - I find myself troubled over many of the questions and
comments posted. For me, the main point to be remembered is
that the mission was completed. No matter what is said
about tanks, command and control, confusion, casualties,
tension between various units, the men out there completed
the mission. From my comfy chair, I find it infuriating that
the captured persons were released. How do those involved
feel?
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Mark Bowden
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Infuriated.
MB
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Todd
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Fort Dodge, Ia
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Another quick question - have you any information on whether
or not the senior commanders in theater (in Somalia) "went
to the mat" to get armored vehicles from Aspin? And a quick
comment - thanks to Mr. Bowden, and a big thanks to those
who were there.
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you, Todd. My impression is that there was not a big fight over the Bradleys and AC130, primarily because Gen. Garrison, the commander of TFR believed (as he has publicly testified), that the resources approved were sufficient to do the job.
MB
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Todd
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Fort Dodge, Ia
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Ok..one more question. Is the information (text, audio,
video, photos) available on a disk or CD? If so, let me know
where to send a check! Thanks again for the series!
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Mark Bowden
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Call 1-800-440-1470. Or order it online.
MB
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CPT Preston McMurry
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Milwaukee, WI
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What sort of viewing software do I need to see the *.vdo movies? More a technical than reportorial question, I know, but I can't find a help e-mail address for the Inquirer.
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CPT Preston McMurry
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Milwaukee, WI
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I should have said this first, before I asked my question: You did an outstanding job. Thank you.
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Mark Bowden
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Thank you.
MB
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gman
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To CIB11H20: The MK-19's were rockin'! Your support was accurate and muchly appreciated.
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