Mogadishu Mile facts for kids

The Mogadishu Mile was a brave journey made by American soldiers during a battle in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 4, 1993. These soldiers, from groups like the Army Rangers and Delta Force, had to run a long distance to a safe meeting point. They were part of a mission called Operation Gothic Serpent, trying to capture two helpers of a local leader named Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

What Was the Mogadishu Mile?

The Mogadishu Mile was a difficult route taken by U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers. They ran from a helicopter crash site to a safe meeting spot. This spot was held by soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division on National Street. This happened during the Battle of Mogadishu.

The soldiers were supposed to run next to military vehicles. These vehicles included Humvees and armored trucks, also known as APCs. They needed these vehicles for cover and protection. However, the convoy of vehicles left without them. This forced the soldiers to run without much support. They also had very little ammunition left.

The Difficult Run

The Mogadishu Mile started very early in the morning, at 5:42 a.m. It ended when all the troops reached the meeting point. They were then loaded into the APCs and Humvees. They arrived at either the Pakistani Stadium or the Airport by 6:30 a.m.

During this run, the soldiers faced many attacks. They were shot at with rocket-propelled grenades and small guns. Several soldiers were hurt, including Sgt. Randy Ramaglia. Many soldiers were also very tired from not sleeping. They were also suffering from dehydration, meaning they didn't have enough water.

Mogadishu Mile in Movies vs. Reality

Many people believe the soldiers ran all the way to the Mogadiscio Stadium. This is because of the 2001 movie Black Hawk Down. However, the movie changed some parts of the story. Filmmakers often do this to make a story more dramatic.

What Really Happened

The movie is different from the book it was based on. The book is called Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden. In the film, the Mogadishu Mile ends with soldiers entering the Mogadishu Stadium. This makes it seem like they ran through the whole city.

But in real life, the soldiers reached a meeting point on National Street. This was in the opposite direction from the stadium. One soldier described reaching the meeting point with joy. He saw tanks, APCs, and many soldiers waiting for them.

It wasn't just the Rangers and Delta Force soldiers who made this journey. Soldiers from the U.S. 10th Mountain Division were also with them. One soldier said they didn't ride away from the crash site. They also didn't run out of the city. Instead, they walked in a careful tactical formation for about a mile. They walked to where a convoy was waiting for them.

The movie shows the convoy leaving the soldiers to run alone through the city. This is not what truly happened. No one ran out of the city by themselves. The "Mog Mile" was a run to a specific meeting point. At this point, Pakistani tanks and vehicles from the 10th Mountain Division were waiting. They were there to take the soldiers to the Pakistani stadium.

The plan was to move the wounded soldiers in vehicles. The healthy soldiers would walk back to a strongpoint. This strongpoint was where reserve soldiers and tanks were waiting. This is exactly what happened. This real event, though less dramatic, is what is known as the "Mogadishu Mile."