[matthewb0051]

In 1993 I got an all expense paid trip, certainly not a vacation, to Mogadishu Somalia courtesy of Mr. Clinton. As the Defense Ready Brigade at Ft. Stewart (24th ID) we got the alert as the battle was still on going. It took about week to get our Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1 tanks railed to the port and loaded on ships.

By about the 20th of October we arrived thanks to the Air Force. Seems every time I've had to go to war the Air Force has been kind enough to give me a ride.

There was pretty much no plan on what we were to do while there and shortly after arrival POTUS announced the planned withdrawal date of 1 April, 1994, or thereabouts. So the skinnies knew it was just a waiting game and we would be gone.

In the 6 months there we built up forces, stuff, and installations, only to withdraw. Pretty strange.

Got shot at a bunch and mortared a bunch as well. Usually harassing stuff but when you hear them crackle by your noodle it is a little unnerving. By the time we left I had seriously dropped my guard.

To say that I get a little torqued when I hear Ilhan Ohmar speak or disrespect this country is an understatement.

In our Bradley we had a news photo clipping of the US Soldier being dragged thru the streets half naked. We were there to really mess some folks up and someone at a higher level decided not to let us level the place.