|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Where are they now Editor's Note: This was published on Dec. 14, 1997 and has not been updated.
First Lt. Larry Perino, who received the Bronze Star with Valor Device for leading Rangers to the first crash site, is now a captain with the Ranger regiment at Fort Benning. Staff Sgt. Jeff Struecker, who received the Bronze Star with Valor Device for leading several vehicle convoys into the fight, is still with the Ranger regiment at Fort Benning, and in 1996 was named "Ranger of the Year." John Gay is still a Navy SEAL. He received the Bronze Star with Valor Device. His hopes for a deal to endorse the Randall knife that deflected a bullet and saved him from serious injury have never been realized. Sgt. Scott Galentine, who had his thumb shot off early in the battle, had the digit reattached in surgery and has regained some use of it. He left the Army and is attending college in Georgia. Abdiaziz Ali Aden still lives with his brothers and sisters and parents in the house in Mogadishu clipped by Cliff Wolcott's helicopter as it crashed.
Capt. Mike Steele, who received the Bronze Star with Valor Device for his actions as commander of the Rangers during the fight, is now a major with the 82d Airborne Division. CWO Keith Jones, the Little Bird pilot who, along with copilot CWO Karl Maier received the Silver Star, for their daring landing and rescue efforts at the first and second crash sites. Both men are still pilots with the 160th.
Sgt. First Class Matt Rierson, the D-boy whose steadiness under fire helped bring the Lost Convoy home, and who helped lead the giant convoy back out into the night, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He was killed in a mortar attack on the Task Force Ranger hangar two days after the battle.
Pfc. Tory Carlson, who was injured in an RPG blast in the back of a humvee, left the Army and is now working as a high-line electrician in Florida. Sgt. Raleigh Cash, who rode into the battle on several different convoys, is now a staff sergeant with the Ranger regiment at Fort Benning. Spec. Peter Squeglia, the company armorer who rode out with two separate convoys during the fight, left the Army and is now sales manager for a high- tech electronics firm in Boston. Homer Nearpass, who was injured in both legs on the Lost Convoy, received the Bronze Star and is still a Navy SEAL. Tech. Sgt. Tim Wilkinson, the Air Force parajumper, a rescue specialist, who repeatedly braved enemy fire to offer medical attention to the wounded at the first crash site, received the Air Force Cross and a Purple Cross. He is still serving in the Air Force. Staff Sgt. Ray Dowdy, a crew chief who went down aboard Super 61, lost the tip of one finger and is still serving with the 160th at Fort Campbell. Sgt. First Class Al Lamb, who roped in with the Combat Search and Rescue team to crash site one, received the Silver Star. He is still serving in the Army. Cpl. Rob Phipps, who was injured in the back, face and leg after roping in to the first crash site with the CSAR (Combat search-and-rescue) bird, recovered and is now a Ranger staff sergeant at Fort Benning. Sgt. First Class Paul Howe, the D-boy team leader who led the main ground force to the first crash site, received the Bronze Star with Valor Device. He is now a master sergeant and is still serving in the Army. Capt. Scott Miller, who was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for leading the Delta Force units on the ground, is now an Army major. Pfc. Carlos Rodriguez, who was critically injured by a bullet to the groin in the fight around crash site one, recovered fully from his injury. He is still a Ranger and is based in Washington state. Spec. John Stebbins, the company clerk who was drafted into the fight, and was knocked down and thought dead three times during the battle, recovered from his wounds and received the Silver Star. He is now a staff sergeant at Fort Benning. Lt. Col. Bill David, commander of the 10th Mountain Division force that rolled out into the city to rescue the pinned-down Rangers, is now a colonel and commands a garrison at Fort Bragg.
CWO Daniel Jollota, pilot of the search and rescue Blackhawk that was hit by an RPG while delivering a rescue team to crash site one, received the Distinguished Flying Cross and is still flying with the 160th.
Killed on Oct. 3 and 4, 1993
Staff Sgt. William Cleveland, a crew chief on Super 64, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Air Medal with Valor Device. Staff Sgt. Thomas Field, a crew chief on Super 64, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Air Medal with Valor Device. CWO Raymond Frank, copilot of Super 64, Silver Star, Air Medal with Valor Device.
Pfc. James Martin, who was killed on the rescue convoy.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||