thedrifter
08-09-02, 11:00 AM
By Mark Bowden
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
November 16, 1997
Reliving a firefight:
Hail Mary, then hold on
The raid was barely under way, and already something had gone wrong. It was just the first in a series of worsening mishaps that would endanger this daring mission. For Eversmann, a five-year veteran from Natural Bridge, Va., leading men into combat for the first time, it was the beginning of the longest day of his life.
Just 13 minutes before, three miles away at the Ranger's base on the Mogadishu beach, Eversmann had said a Hail Mary at liftoff. He was curled into a seat between two helicopter crew chiefs, the knees of his long legs up around his shoulders. Before him, arrayed on both sides of the sleek UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, was Eversmann's Chalk, a dozen men in tan, desert camouflage fatigues. He had worried about the responsibility. Twelve men. He had prayed silently during Mass at the mess hall that morning. Now he added one more.
. . . Pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen
http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/default16.asp
http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/dec02/crashsite.gif
Sempers,
Roger
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
November 16, 1997
Reliving a firefight:
Hail Mary, then hold on
The raid was barely under way, and already something had gone wrong. It was just the first in a series of worsening mishaps that would endanger this daring mission. For Eversmann, a five-year veteran from Natural Bridge, Va., leading men into combat for the first time, it was the beginning of the longest day of his life.
Just 13 minutes before, three miles away at the Ranger's base on the Mogadishu beach, Eversmann had said a Hail Mary at liftoff. He was curled into a seat between two helicopter crew chiefs, the knees of his long legs up around his shoulders. Before him, arrayed on both sides of the sleek UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, was Eversmann's Chalk, a dozen men in tan, desert camouflage fatigues. He had worried about the responsibility. Twelve men. He had prayed silently during Mass at the mess hall that morning. Now he added one more.
. . . Pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen
http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/default16.asp
http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/dec02/crashsite.gif
Sempers,
Roger