Black Hawk Down : A Story of Modern War (Abridged)

Rating:
Summary: A definitive work on an unfortunate episode in US history...
Review: The last "vacation novel" I took along with me was Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down. If you want to see the reality of war, this will deliver the goods.

Bowden is a writer who decided to research out the story of America's involvement in Somalia, specifically the actions in Mogadishu in 1993. The mission started out as a UN-led humanitarian effort to feed the population after years of war and the total breakdown of any sort of government. It turned into a US action to remove a Somali warlord named Mohamed Aidid. The whole campaign came to a head when the US ran an operation to raid a house known to house some top officials in Aidid's clan. Due to mistakes and miscalculations, it ended with two Black Hawk helicopters being shot down, scores of dead and injured Rangers and Delta Force operators, the capture of a soldier, and images of dead US soldiers being paraded through the streets of Mogadishu. The US commitment to the Somalia mission was questionable before the episode, and it totally evaporated after it. Bowden takes great pains to tell the story of the soldiers who took part in the operation, and to voice their feelings and emotions of what they went through.

As a documentary of an ugly time in US military history, Bowden has done his job well. His research has sorted out fact from fiction, and he does a good job in telling the story without injecting personal bias until the epilogue and afterwords. The reception from various military sources after the book was published was very positive, and speaks well to his efforts. The book does seem to be a bit repetitive at times, as much of the action involves trying to fight their way out of tight confined quarters (or trying to navigate to a downed copter to support the downed crew). Still, what happened is what happened, and Bowden relates it well.

Rating:
Summary: Breath Taking and Riveting
Review: This book truly proves that war is no game. Where fear is always on the move.
The book was a powerful aspect of the men who died in Somalia, carfully scripted and studied that it proved WHY the Somali's attacked the Americans.
This book earned my respect and I reccommend to ANYONE.
Even if you are the romantic person, this book will move you deeply.

Rating:
Summary: The Real Black Hawk Down!
Review: We've all seen the movie. we've all felt the pain. We've all thanked Hollywood for the video. But what we haven't all done, is read this title. And, WE must.

Bowden was Black Hawk Down. He was there. An active participant who saw his comrades killed and maimed. He was there to see the Somalis use purchased weaponry to kill Americans who were there to help them. Nevermind the fact that they didn't want our help - or deserve it.

After you read this, compare the film version with what really happened and then make your judgments about whether we should have been there. And, make your judgments about who the heroes were, and are. And, there were many....

Rating:
Summary: A truly gripping account of modern combat
Review: Wow! Mark Bowden shows the flair that he picked up as a journalist for picking and telling engaging stories in this tale of a US Army operation gone horribly awry. Bowden's writing puts you into the middle of the action and captures the emotion and chaos that is inevitable in any combat situation.

Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in learning more about the nature of modern skirmish warfare or for anyone who just enjoys reading a really well-told war story.