Day of the Rangers: The Battle of Mogadishu 25 Years On

by Leigh Neville

On 4 October 1993, Task Force Ranger was dispatched to seize two high-profile lieutenants of a Somali warlord. Special Forces troops were transported by ground vehicles and helicopters, and the mission was meant to be over within the hour. They quickly found themselves under heavy fire, and two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. With a hastily organized relief column many hours away, the American troops faced a desperate battle for survival.

Focusing on the stories of the soldiers on the ground, and in the air, Day of the Ranger reveals the experiences and recollections of the Special Forces units, including the Rangers, Delta operatives, and Nightstalker crews who fought in the battle of Mogadishu.

Published to mark the battle's 25th anniversary and using recently declassified documents and new interviews with many of the participants, Day of the Ranger is a fascinating and revealing new history of a battle that would influence American Special Forces for decades to come.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Military History, Nonfiction, Somalia, Africa

352 pages, Hardcover

Published September 18, 2018

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting retrospective book about the Battle of Mogadishu. The title of the book comes from an English translation of the Somali name of the battle - Maalintii Rangers, which translates to Day of the Rangers. The author reviews the events leading up to the decision to capture Somali warlord General Mohammed Farah Aidid. It describes the actions of soldiers from Task Force Ranger and the 10th Mountain Division and support by Pakistani and Malaysian forces against Somali insurgents and armed civilians. Several of Americans interviewed for the book point out that this was not the disaster often portrayed, but rather a successful withdrawal under extreme duress.

The events of the day were portrayed in a successful movie - Black Hawk Down. Neville goes into detail explaining the difference between the portrayal of the events in the movie and what actually happened during the battle and why such things were done.

Overall this is a very good book. If you enjoyed Black Hawk Down, this is a book that you should read.

[Atar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Day Of The Rangers is a excellent account of the Battle of Mogadishu. I have read Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden and watched the movie, read The Battle Of Mogadishu by Matt Eversman. Watched a few documentaries as well but this book gives the closest account of the overall battle. From Delta, Rangers, Seals, Air Force Special Tactics, 10th Mountain, 160th Nightstalkers to the U.N.s Malaysian and Pakistani forces this book combines all they’re stories, from personal accounts to after action reports, congressional reviews, operation logs, recently unclassified documents, books and news sources. The book is written in such a way as to give a ton of detail but also keep the reader interested. The Day Of The Rangers is a must read for those wanting to better understand that fateful day and for those wanting to understand how the U.S. Military got to that point and how it changed afterward

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is distinct from Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War in that it is not written as much as a narrative, and is very detail oriented as to the events of The Battle of Mogadishu. There is a place for and great value in multiple accounts of this event that has had so much influence on modern warfare. This particular book is highly recommended for people who want to dig deep into the topic and are interested in a more tactical approach to this story.

[Vin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond thorough; exhaustive in covering all aspects of the conflict from the strategic to the tactical to the personal, aided by an overwhelming share of the material directly quoted from primary sources. The book was highly recommended for its accuracy by a few SOF and intelligence-related individuals in interviews I watched. Casual readers may find the jargon difficult to follow, but the often chaotic flow of precise information only lends to the immersion. A trying but invaluable masterpiece in military history.

[Kyle Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

More detail and more accurate than Blackhawk Down

Good retelling of what really happened without the Hollywood insertions
. Still an inspiring tale of resilience and courage under fire. Shows the difficulties faced by commanders in combat situations. So times there are no great options.

[Aloysius Teng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read about the Battle of Mogadishu besides the book 'Black Hawk Down' written by Mark Bowden. In this book, Neville provided more insights into the Battle from other perspectives. Although there were some spelling mistakes in the book that got through despite the editorial process, the book was still an enjoyable read.

[Dorian Edgerly]

This one is packed with details of the events of the historic battle of Mogadishu, with insights from those who were there. It paints a picture of that day and the characters involved, all while moving at the pace of a well-crafted thriller.

[Daniel Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems to be the definitive look at the events of Oct. 3.
Very detailed and easy to follow. A must read for BHD movie fans.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. It is well written and includes many quotes from the soldiers that were actually there. Even though the movie was good too, I now have a much clearer understanding of what went down during the Blackhawk Down battle. Being written 25 years after the fact it is able to clear up a few incorrect ideas that made it into other books and the movie. Well worth reading.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best detail I've heard to date while providing an account from all US military involved. Fills in gaps where other books do not intend to go and is useful to complete the story.
Alot of good details on gear used.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you have read Black Hawk Down! This book adds clarity and additional details now available from declassified documents, as well as additional interviews.