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Summary: From a father of a US Soldier
Review: It has been many years since I picked up a book, began reading it and did not want to let it out of my hands or my sight. Mark Bowden takes you to the streets of Somalia and into the hearts and minds of our elite soldiers, the Rangers and Delta Force members, as well as into the confusion felt by those living in a cultural civil war. Bowden extensively deals with the military operation and touches on the political misgivings that often place our young hero's in harms way. My only regret about the book was that I finished it. I could have continued to read this book until the day I die.
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Summary: Greatest and Best Detailed Action/War Story Yet!
Review: Blawk Hawk Down, perhaps the greatest and most detailed war book that I have ever read. Blawk Hawk Down is a true story about 1st SFOD-D(Delta Force) and US Army Rangers battle against the Somalians. What started out to be a quick mission to capture high ranking warlords ended up to be their worst nightmare. 1st SFOD-D and the Rangers thinking that the mission will be very brief take the lightest load of gear possible, leaving their kevlar vests, extra ammunition, and water. They find themselves not only against warlords but also against a soldiers most dreaded force, Somalian civilians; children and women used as shields. While the warlords shoot over the heads of the children and women. Little boys with assult weapons and women with carrying infants. This isn't all, the soldiers are now not only battling the Somalians, but they find themselves battling their inner morale. To shoot or not to shoot... Pinned down for hours without supplies and bad communication links, the worst is just ahead. While flying supplies and backup to the hot spot, a UH60 Black Hawk gets shot out of the air, nosediving into the earth causing death and a greater lack of supplies. 1st SFOD-D and the Rangers are pinned down throuhout the night. With casualties increasing by the minute... I won't give the rest away. A must read for anyone enjoying military or action related stories! -I recommend this book to a mature audience. Although the author mutes out bad language, it does give hints. -Great realism! The author shows points of view of not only the ground troops but multiple troops. "Lead The Way, All The Way!"
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Summary: An Army Helicopter Crew-Chief -UH60's
Review: I can not say enough about this book, and how it affected me. I have been a helicopter crew-chief for 8 years training for missions like this one in the book. Reading this book, brought tears to my eyes, and also opened them. It is a detailed report of what really happened in a small city in africa. How men thought, felt, and acted under conditions I wish no soldier to be in. If you want to know what war is like, and how it feels, READ this book. My hat is off to the soldiers who died, and lived this nightmare. JOB WELL DONE! "NSDQ!"
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Summary: An incredible piece of journalism
Review: As an ex-military, paid researcher, I find what Mr.Bowden has achieved staggering. To come in as an outsider and get this kind of insight into Special Ops Units. To put the scattered pieces of the puzzle together and come out with this kind of quality. To be able to deliver on this level in spite of the classified information restrictions. This is a winner.
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Summary: Book is about Rangers & Delta Forces plight
Review: Contrary to pro - 10th Mountain reviews, I see the book as excellant and factual account of what happened. It is about real american men, who believed in a cause, and fought with courage and fortitude. The book is NOT about the 10th Mountain storming through the city, with a convoy three miles long, saving the Rangers. The roots of the book surrounds a highly trained light infantry unit being ambushed over the course of the night. Kudo's to the 10th, but the real story is what happened to the Rangers & Delta.
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Summary: Vivid account of small-unit action
Review: This is the best, most gripping account of small-unit action I have read in a very long time.
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Summary: Good Read
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. Particulary liked the tactical descriptions of the battles. Moved a little slowly at points, but this is a minor quibble.
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Summary: A current military primer
Review: For those armchair quarterbacks who think they know the military way (attention White House), please read this book. The deadly debacle in Somalia is given a human face in this chronicle. It is bloody, bold and sad. And it really happened. You will see how competing military interests can cripple an operation. You will realize that technology can only enhance a battle but not replace the men and basic equipment needed to win that battle. And you will see courage by the pageful. This should be mandatory reading for all military officers and noncoms. It is a lessons learned book and may help prevent some of these mistakes from happening again. As for the politicians who like to play soldier with other people's lives, please read this book before you commit the military where they do not belong and can not do their jobs without restrictions.
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Summary: a good book, but not the complete story
Review: It was incredible book but Mr. Bowden completely ignored and downplayed the role of the QRF (2-14 Infantry and its attachments.) I realize that Mark was telling the story of the rangers but it seemed like he didn't want to acknowledge the QRF except were he had no choice. readers please keep in mind that the QRF suffered 2 KIA and 28 WIA and yet there was barely a mention of it. consider the consequences had they failed (much more than 18 dead, I assure you) Mark interviewed many, many rangers yet only 4 or 5 of the 300 QRF soldiers involved. Certainly not a "complete" account of the battle. He also could have interviewed some of the Malaysians and Pakastani soldiers, who probably saved ALL our lives with their tanks and APC's Other than my complaining, it was an extremely well detailed book that brought back tons of memories and insights into a bizarre chapter of my life. I just don't understand Mark's ignorance of the QRF. They were the most disciplined and hard-core unit I ever saw, far from the "incompetent, civilian-like schmoes" he described us as!
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Summary: Great Read...Bothersome Dramatization
Review: A fascinating book that looks at a modern military conflict and confronts the reality of combat in a somewhat dramatized manner. I found this book particularly hard to get into at first, because I struggled with the dramatization Bowden inserts with historical facts. After reading reviews of this book I expected a very historical account of the battle in Mogadishu. What I was presented with was a sort of "docudrama" with Bowden taking literary license to insert bits of drama and suspense here and there that tended to turn the book into a Jerry Bruckheimer movie at times. This is ironic as a couple chapters into the book I flipped to the back jacket and read that he working on turning the book into a Bruckheimer movie. This, coupled with a "vacation picture" of Bowden's grinning mug next to a crater in a wall made by a large shell, diluted the idea that this book was in fact heavily researched and based mostly on fact. Despite my own misgivings on the book, I had a hard time putting it down and found it to be a worthy read.
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