Michael Whetstone

Madness in Mogadishu: Commanding the 10th Mountain Division's Quick Reaction Company During Black Hawk Down Michael Whetstone

Marc Notes: On the afternoon of October 3rd, 1993, two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down over the Somali capital of Mogadishu, leaving a handful of US Army Rangers and Delta Force operators at the mercy of several thousand approaching militants. This vivid story of modern war is the intense first-hand account of the mission to find the crash site and retrieve the downed soldiers. Publisher Marketing: ""Madness in Mogadishu" is both a powerful narrative of the U. S. Army's early clash with asymmetrical enemies and an honest, absorbing study in command. No outside historian could capture the immediacy, fear, courage, menace, and adrenaline rush of such fighting half so vividly and convincingly as Michael Whetstone, the commander who took the fight to a savage enemy. Outstanding!"--Ralph Peters, Fox News Strategic Analyst and author of "Cain at Gettysburg" On the afternoon of October 3, 1993, two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down over the Somali capital of Mogadishu, leaving a handful of U. S. Army Rangers and Delta Force operators at the mercy of several thousand approaching militants. Ordered to "go find the glow"--the burning wreckage--hard-charging Capt. Mike Whetstone, commander of a Quick Reaction Company in the 10th Mountain Division, led part of the convoy sent to rescue the survivors. This powerfully vivid story of modern war is the intense firsthand account of the mission to find the crash site and retrieve the downed soldiers. Raw descriptions of urban combat in the labyrinthine streets and shantytowns of MogadishuComplements the bestselling book and Oscar-winning movie "Black Hawk Down," which recounts these events primarily from the perspective of the Rangers and Delta ForcePresents battle-tested lessons for young leaders

Contributor Bio:  Whetstone, Michael Michael Whetstone remained in the U. S. Army after Somalia and retired as a lieutenant colonel after service in Afghanistan. For his actions in Mogadishu, he received the Silver Star. He currently heads scenario development for a defense contractor, providing live and virtual combat-training support to the U. S. Army's Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk. He lives in Leesville, Louisiana.