Black Hawk Down (2001) Group REACTION

[@jeffburnham6611]

I think many people forget that the initial operation to restore peace and get the food shipments flowing to the people, was a UN mission. This was successful. Once they pulled out the 20,000 US Marines, Aidid became bolder and began targeting the UN Peacekeepers that remained behind to protect the American Red Cross volunteers overseeing humanitarian aid. The mission to send the Delta, Rangers and 160th SOAR back was to find and remove Aidid and his lieutenants so the food could flow again.

[@douglascampbell9809]

The battle shifted American policy and led to an eventual pullout of the UN mission. The civil war in Somalia continues even now. It's the reason the US and UN pretty much ignored the Rwandan genocide of 1994 along with a long list of other atrocities in Africa.

[@goodkrypollo1706]

Yep. President Bill Clinton withdrew troops and caused a disaster. Just like Obama withdrawing from Iraq, and Biden from Afghanistan. All resulting in disasters.

[@Strider91]

@@goodkrypollo1706 he withdrew troops because thats what Americans wanted. Seeing 2000 Africans and what like 20 US troops killed on a humanitarian mission wasn't what Americans posy Vietnam wanted to see on TV. Keep your political bullshit out of this channel.

[@Joseph.M.]

Ideals are peaceful, history is violent. We shouldn't have been there, and the government plays our emotions to make us alright with it again and again. These guys laid down their lives so people can have the choice not to. That's the real sacrifice.

[@kellymoses8566]

@@goodkrypollo1706 Wars need to end eventually.

[@cheshrkatt]

The two Delta Force snipers who volunteered to secure the 2nd crash site were Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart. They basically knew it was a suicide mission and were both posthumously awarded the medal of honor for their bravery. Why did they do that? you might ask. Simple. It was their job.

[@jjc5871]

They didn’t do it because it was their job. They did it because they knew the survivor had 0% chance of surviving without help. They knew they most likely wouldn’t survive by themselves, but they also knew the survivor’s chances of survival were far better with them on the ground than in the air. Getting dropped into a hot zone to make a stand against possibly hundreds of hostiles is part of the job, but that’s not why they did it. That’s why it took so long for them to convince the higher ups to let them go in on foot.

[@michaelsegriff3362]

@@jjc5871 Excellent points, all of them.

[@thomasstorch4266]

They were true heroes. In the Book it comes even more obviously.

[@nwj03a]

I don’t know specifically what they were thinking, but I do know why. In a SF unit, everyone leaves, or everyone dies. I assume that’s generally true of all US military, but I don’t know.

[@energeez]

@@nwj03a it is

[@batbrick3949]

The Somalis who were fighting against the US soldiers were (mostly) from the same clan as Aidid, or from clans allied with his. They benefitted from his actions. The other clans, those who were denied food and were killed by his militias, were (mostly) in support of the US and UN missions. The Somali people near the stadium (at the end of the movie) were from clans that were friendly toward UN and US forces. It’s more complicated, but that’s the general idea.

[@JayM409]

It was tribal war rather than true civil war.

[@batbrick3949]

@@JayM409 Clan versus clan war (not tribes), but yeah, definitely not really civil war.

[@nabibomohamedafrax2818]

No your wrong everone was agains usa becouse of how many People they kilded the hole People of mugidisho was agains usa Even the imams was against and all People Even Those that ceydiid killed many People from deffendet him for going agains america

[@ephennell4ever]

Good description; well done.

[@nabibomohamedafrax2818]

@@ephennell4ever well it is not true

[@dabegmister]

This is one of my all time favorite war films. Its pretty true to the actual events that happened. Some people complain that it's not like the book but you can only fit so much into a movie. They did an amazing job capturing the moments and making you feel like you are actually there.

[@ThatShyGuyMatt]

It inspired me to join the army. But sadly I was rejected due to seizures at the time.

[@dabegmister]

@@ThatShyGuyMatt dang sorry to hear that. Yeah I wanted to join growing up as a kid but when I was old enough I was too busy with my personal life and missed out on my dream

[@wingsclippedwolf]

"...making you feel like you are actually there" As someone who has been in combat, no. There is an emotional reality that is likely beyond your imagination. You can't smell the battlefield from the comfort of your screen-the sweet smell of cordite (modern "gunpowder") or the metallic smell, like pennies on your tongue, of human blood. You don't feel the explosions in your bones. And again, you are safe. Your limbic and parasympathetic nervous systems will not engage in the same way, you KNOW your life isn't in danger watching a film, so you don't NEED to be amped up the same way. Rather, we likely engaged in stress-reducing behaviors watching this film, activating the parasympathetic system, self-calming, because we can. I too watched all the movies. Read all the books. I talked to vets who had "been there". I am typing words visualizing my pre-war self. To him I say, you don't know fucking shit, and don't pretend otherwise.

[@dabegmister]

@@wingsclippedwolf do you feel better?

[@matthewfreeburg8291]

@@wingsclippedwolf not disagreeing with anything else but this, cordite is far from modern "gunpowder". It had already fallen out of widespread usage before the beginning of US involvement in WWII, and was removed from US military manuals produced after WWI. Well before the events of this movie actually took place.

[@alanhilton3611]

They kept taking losses but they kept going back in that's far beyond bravery in my eyes. The Blackhawk was designed to survive such a crash landing that's why the ship stayed relatively intact. I love how Ellie's tears are always genuine she's such a gentle soul.

[@justmeeagainn]

Stop simping. You’re never getting in her pants.

[@puterbac]

Lol…unless you’re a bad guy and then it’s Man on Fire times Law Abiding Citizen.

[@alanhilton3611]

@@justmeeagainn and your being a white knight .

[@Hiraghm]

to be honest, while I love all their reactions, Ellie has _the_ most expressive face; you can see every emotion she's feeling from moment to moment

[@RetSol61]

We do it for the girls and the weak men.

[@scotthewitt258]

The Little Birds circling the city all night broadcasting the message to Durant that they are coming for him and he has not been forgotten kinda pokes the feels every time.

[@aHandsomeMan2]

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a must

[@h.c4898]

And "The Hurt Locker." (2008)

[@bribriarwhitey7781]

12 Strong... Shows how politics affects front line soldiers.

[@chairmanofthebored6860]

@@h.c4898 while Hurt Locker is a good movie, it is the most unrealistic depiction of war

[@nicholaswolf2756]

Yes, react to 13 hours

[@aauwhatitdo1582]

@Kim Faes F*Kim Dunkirk, Midway, and Saving Private Ryan are my favorite WW2 movies. Midway is amazing and it shows how important the Carrier is and why Nimitz is a class of them. FMJ is the best US Military movie because it is the best depiction of Training. I had a Hartman in MARSOC training and Boot.

[@McPh1741]

I was a 15 years old and in high school when this happened. I remember watching the news a seeing the dead bodies being dragged through the streets. This movie is mostly true to the real events. A lot of things were changed but a lot of small details were shown. For instance, the Rangers were told several times to stop shooting into the windows of the target building because they were shooting at the Delta boys. The Wolcott crash was actually in more of an alley, not a town square area but the chopper did clip a building when crashing as shown. FYI, when the little bird Star 41 lands at the first crash and evacs Sgt. Busch, the pilot in the movie is the actual pilot who did it in real life.

[@NurseAmamiya]

I've read the book years back, and iirc, sgt. Busch actually died defending crash site 1, and it was a crew member that was brought to the little bird

[@McPh1741]

@@NurseAmamiya They also didn't show that Sgt. Ruiz, who tells Capt. Steel not to go back without him near the end, actually died in route to a hospital in Germany. I saw an uncut version of the movie that hinted to it though. When Steel first walks up to him laying there before he starts talking to Ruiz, as seen in the theatrical cut, he and the medic standing at Ruiz's head exchange a look and the medic shakes his head implying that he's not going to make it.

[@steev11]

I got to meet the rangers that fought in that battle. They all came to the grand opening ceremony for the school that was dedicated to Sergeant Pilla who they fought with in that battle. At the ceremony all the Rangers stood up and recited the Ranger’s Creed. It was so emotional. I couldn’t hold back the tears. It was amazing to witness.

[@rcardoso1680]

When you asked "what do they do" when they didn't have 45 minutes to remove the dead pilot, they had to cut the body from the crushed counsel. In combat, "no man behind" often means only bringing parts of the casualty (which is why that ranger picked up the hand and put it in his pouch). Thats why the soldier who was told "we don't have 45 minutes" had the reaction of dread, knowing he would have to cut the body, possible with that power saw

[@ashtonpiper5031]

I take it you haven't read any of the books on the battle. They removed the entire front half of the aircraft and pulled his body out.

[@rcardoso1680]

@@ashtonpiper5031 I didnt, but we learned about the actual events when I was in the service. As you obviously know Hollywood did take some liberties with the movie. This was one of them.

[@josephvincent4629]

I watched my best friend walking a land mine in irqa and it was like time slowed down. Even with bullets whizzing all around us it somehow felt surreal that one second he was here and the next he was gone. Just like that.

[@josephvincent4629]

Thank you so much. I would do it all over again. Ideals are peaceful history is violent.

[@bretcantwell4921]

I know I'm a year late, but I'm so sorry man. I'm Gen X and Vietnam still looms larger in my mind than OAF or OIF. My brief inglorious service was in the BDU and steel pot to K pot transition.

[@EReelz]

My uncle fought in that war back in 1993, The battle of Mogadishu. He was in Bravo Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. You guys should watch tears of the sun, its a great movie by the way.

[@EReelz]

@PompousBreadRolls Yeah this one is definitely realistic since its based on a real war but Tears of the sun is pretty good in my opinion.

[@DestinyAwaits19]

@PompousBreadRolls Tears of the Sun is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Remember to get access to Black Hawk Helicopters the staff working on the film literally had to get the blessing of the US Army, of whom didn't want any Hollywood nonsense in the film. So they pretty much had to make it a autobiography of the actual events that happened, which in my opinion did the film so much justice. Because it's pretty much a reenactment of the events rather than a movie.

[@h.c4898]

My friend who was in the French navy at the time, their destroyer was located nearby. They have a different side of the story, not so glorious than they tried to portay here in this movie.

[@realburglazofficial2613]

All the actors went to Ranger school for this film. They also met the survivors of this Op

[@maicksalas680]

a like mosul(nexflit) and kingdom jamie foxx

[@absolutezero6423]

If Hollywood needs any blackhawk helicopters the Taliban has Billions of dollars worth of U.S. military hardware they could buy from them thanks to the Biden administration.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@h.c4898 I do not think this film is glorious in a literal sense. This incident almosted ended up becoming another Little Big Horn, everything went wrong. Far cry from the Merica glorification you see in say the Transformer movies were the US military is portrayed as the almost perfect professional force. Even the very end of the film, the symbolic scene of the Rangers literally having to run on foot out of the combat zone. There is no glorification their, we fled, ran. Maybe not in a route but fleeing from the enemy is still fleeing.

[@MrFarnanonical]

I saw an interview of DJ Shipley who was a Navy Seal, he was on Seal Team Six which is the Seals tier 1 unit. They're the Navy's equivalent of Delta Force that you see in this movie. He said this is the most realistic war movie he's ever seen. He's too young to have been in Somalia but he was in Iraq and Afghanistan and god knows where else.

[@energeez]

pretty sure delta pulls from all military branches, usually seals rangers sf etc

[@JHulse29]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the Army even acknowledged Delta Force existed back when the Battle of Mogadishu happened. The Somalis called them the Black Hats and considered them exceptionally vicious killers. This movie is based on a book I recommend to anyone, quickest read I ever had

[@MrFarnanonical]

@@energeez Delta does pull from all branches but it's still an army unit thats apart of socom.

[@energeez]

@@MrFarnanonical yea i guess technically

[@MrFarnanonical]

@@JHulse29 they didn't publically acknowledge them but people knew they existed. Remember the terrible Chuck Norris movies in the 80s? Delta Force... its kind of like how the British never acknowledged the SAS or SBS but everyone knew they existed anyway.

[@ADR.1993]

In the US military from the time line of 2000s and up we had a running Physical Training exercised named in honor of that last experience of the soldiers running up to the stadium /U.N F.O.B It's called Running "The Mogadishu Mile"

[@Epicspartan]

Did it at Fort Eustis when I was there for AIT

[@Eisenhorne77]

First Elle calls for knocking a kid unconscious then calls for bombs instead, yep that's war.

[@scotthewitt258]

Mike Durant is now running for the U. S. Senate.

[@ricruss1869]

“Who are we to understand things like this at the end of the day” very insightful comment.

[@cottonysensation3723]

The guys in the armor who left the rangers behind were UN troops from Pakistan , they didn’t give a fuck about US rangers. I highly recommend reading the book black hawk down, it really goes into the details about the chain of events. Also it wasn’t the whole city it was the Bakarah market, there was a civil war and different warlords vying for power, the market was adid’s base of operations which is why so many were on his side there. The warlords were seizing UN foreign aid (food) to gain control of people by controlling the food supply, the UN wouldn’t defend the shipments and the US forced couldn’t engage unless fired upon which was what they showed in the opening scene.

[@mikehawkhovers9872]

The UN is fucking useless honestly, they let so much much shit slip by. Take the Rwanda genocide for an example

[@miker252]

I remember President Clinton was criticized for not deploying US armored vehicles with our troops forcing them to rely on other UN countries for armor support.

[@alanhigh8125]

@@johnc5023 Bill Clinton was and always will be a sack of $hit.

[@douglascampbell9809]

@@miker252 Spoken like someone who doesn't realise that heavy armor in a city like that is next to useless. Sure put heavy armor in a city where any fool can get ahead of it and either a drop molotov cocktails on it or shoot RPGs down into the thinner armor on the top. Bradleys and LAV-25s sure, M1's not so much. Why the hell do you think only 16 M1's were deployed in Afghanistan in late 2010? Simple answer no tanks to fight and city fighting infantry is a death sentence.

[@douglascampbell9809]

@@mikehawkhovers9872 Rwanda wasn't the UN's fault. The US changed policy and refused to get involved if the UN went there. No US support = No UN intervention.

[@Hiraghm]

We had both A10 Thunderbolts and Apache attack helicopters when this happened, and near as I can tell, we didn't deploy either of them for this mission. I remember the criticism in Iraq and Afghanistan about the Humvees not being armored.... they weren't armored here, either.

[@Eisenhorne77]

Very true, the humvees had fiberglass doors, you could poke a stick through the doors. We started cutting steel off of bulldozer tractors and welding them on the sides of our humvees in Iraq very near the same time because it was so damn stupid to get shot at in an unprotected vehicle. Remember, the military always plans on how to win the last war they just fought, not the war they will be fighting in the future, incompetence at its best. I actually went to the grand opening of this movie in Pensacola Florida and at the time Blackburn was the guest of honor, got a personal invite due to the job I was doing at the time. Had the honor to meet him and a bunch of cop cars were lined up outside the theater with sirens and lights going to honor him. After the movie I was in complete awe as to what he went through and this was well after I had been through war too and it changed my perspective of war for the rest of my life. I do not support war anymore.

[@bfahren]

IIRC it was political top level decision not to bring in the big guns of the air support (AC-130 gunships included) to reduce civilian casualties considering that the "Bloody Monday" (12th of July) was still very recent.

[@realburglazofficial2613]

Yeah it was a collateral damage decision not to deploy fast air.

[@MrHws5mp]

A-10s wouldn't have been able to avoid mass civilian casualties with the kit and weapons they had at the time. Apaches, with their night-vision, armour and 30mm guns would have been useful though. The problem with all these 'messy' situations is that a lot of the US/Western warfighting equipment is designed for fighting total, high-level war against the Soviet Union, where it would be a case of 'anything goes'. In situations like this, where every casualty and every civilian death is a political/PR liability as well as a human tragedy, it's too much and can't be dialled back: you need different gear used in different ways. The US and NATO eventually, via Iraq and Afghanistan, got themselves better able to deal with asymetric warfare and counter-insurgency, but it took so long that they were just about sorted in time to pull out. If previous cycles are anything to go by, the military will now divest themselves of all the counter-insurgency kit and experience and get back to preparing for 'proper' warfighting ASAP. Then ten years later, a new crop of politicians will look at some shitty situation and decide to 'solve' it by sending the army in, and we'll start the same cycle all over again...😠

[@matthewdunham1689]

And were denied AC gunships aka puff the magic dragon.

[@steev11]

I grew up with Sergeant Dominic Pilla. His father is my Godfather. It is heartbreaking to watch this. Our town named an elementary school after him.

[@ryangiles5174]

This is one the saddest movies in my opinion, especially in the end when the helicopter is surrounded

[@joshtheplow]

What?

[@ryangiles5174]

@@joshtheplow sorry what I meant to say was in the end when the pilot read the letter he wrote his wife

[@shawnofdanaukota3843]

Did you know that it was Pakistanis and the Malaysians help took part in the rescue? I’m from Malaysia, during the rescue one of us was killed during the rescue operation.

[@TyranyFighterPatriot]

Thank you Sir. If I'm in conflict I'd be happy to have y'all standing to my right.

[@gazlator]

Ellie yet again demonstrates her super capacity to empathise and engage so genuinely with a particularly tough war movie. One of the actors - among several - she seems to have recognised (but Mish somehow missed) was Tom Sizemore, playing a Colonel here, who memorably was Sergeant Horvath (Tom Hank’s old army sidekick) in Saving Private Ryan.

[@shawnofdanaukota3843]

She should watch Pearl Harbour and Windtalkers as well.

[@15blackshirt]

This was adapted from the novel of the same name by Mark Bowden, who also wrote the book about Pablo Escobar; other great military movies are Tears of the Sun, Lone Survivor, Act of Valor, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Top Gun and Battle: Los Angeles, while Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Generation Kill are great miniseries; The US Marines came first in 1992, then were replaced by the US Army Rangers and Delta Force in 1993

[@dastemplar9681]

Its actually important to collect body parts and take them with you. 1. It could be medically reattached, but we’re talking a miracle in medicine. 2. It’s a form of accountability, if you can’t find the rest of the body, you can identify who it was through DNA or fingerprint testing. It can also be accountability for the body if it’s in pieces. 3. For all you know, that could the last intact part of someone who’s been blown to smithereens. At least the part could be sent home for burial.

[@Jekyll_Island_Creatures]

Read about a croc taking off a guy's hand and people were able to retrieve the hand and he got it reattached. Almost anything is possible these days.

[@kaypirinha1982]

23:13 that Delta (age 44) was a veteran since Vietnam. He had 6 more weeks in the army before becoming a pensonier. Source: Audiocommentary (1of 3 - that one with 3 Colonels and the real Matt Eversman)

[@michaelsegriff3362]

Ladies, you reacted the only way possible to the brutality and horror shown in this film. Thanks for hanging in. On a lighter note, did you notice Ewan McGregor (Obi-wan of Star Wars), Tom Hardy(Bane in Dark Knight Rises) Nicolaj Coster Waldau (Jamie Lannister of GOT) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas of LOTR) among other young stars who went on to bigger success?

[@moiseshernandez5340]

tom hardy (venom) eric bana (troy)

[@michaelfitzgerald38]

Kim Coates Sons of Anarchy.

[@michaelsegriff3362]

@@moiseshernandez5340 Yes, I mentioned him relative to DKR, but didn’t see Venom. Also, Inception, Taboo, many others.

[@michaelsegriff3362]

@@michaelfitzgerald38 Good catch. Never saw SOA, so nice one!

[@michaelsegriff3362]

@@moiseshernandez5340 Yeah, Eric Bana, of course. He’s had a good career. Star Trek, Hulk, Munich, many more. Good one!

[@dabegmister]

One of the most accurate war reenactment events. There were only a couple things that were not accurate but 99% is how it happened .

[@JHulse29]

Yes, prob because it's based on a book that's pretty much a minute by minute recreation of what happened

[@StopReadingMyNameOrElse]

Hoo ah? Hoo ah. Hoo ah! Hoo ah... HOO AH.

[@bittemeinrammstein]

The scene where the young man dies always is close for me. I had to hold a boys hand when he dies in a similar way when we are in Chechnya, only he dies from metal in the belly from explosion.. I am relived in a way that some people still find war to be horrible. It feels like that there is times when every person have forget how horrible it really is and long for it.

[@Existntlangst]

I had the honor of meeting Mike Durant a few times in my Army career (1997-2017). He is an incredible man. He is exceptionally humble. One hell of a man.

[@Brandawn69]

This is one I’ve been waiting on you guys to react to. It’s such a good war movie but so unknown by the majority of people.

[@e.paradigm7415]

The book was great. I remember reading that during High School on my free time. They have actual video of some of the event on YT, last time I checked.

[@tdrewman]

One of my buddies was caught out there for 8 hours. He was lucky to make it back alive

[@dayangabdullah]

Because he was rescued by the Malaysian army..

[@SoulSteeler22]

My neighbor died over there. Youngest ever to become Delta force. RIP Earnest p Filmore.

[@ChrisDogan]

Also an incredible book by Mark Bowden. I read the book before I saw the movie, it does a really good job of trying to tell the truth of what happened. It was tough for everyone, and a lot of ARMY missions are FUBAR. Guys know that and still run towards the fight. They just built different

[@WisdomoftheSphynx]

As soon as we saw Ellie was going to react to Black Hawk Down: 🥺 “Her gentle soul is going to hurt watching this one 😢.” Great job as always ladies ❤️‍🩹

[@javix2013]

And with LONE SURVIVOR, how will you react? that one has very strong realistic scenes.

[@russnielsen4231]

If a kid picks up a weapon and uses it they are no longer a child they are now an enemy combatant as sad as that is there is no other way to look at it!

[@russnielsen4231]

@KJ10 you're entitled to your opinion but me personally my life and the lives of the men/women with me matter more than anyone shooting at us!

[@NurseAmamiya]

After what those savages did to the bodies of the two deltas and Durant's crew on live TV? Anyone would be out for blood just by that. And just for that alone, those 'civilians' mobbing and throwing rocks are pretty much to be considered hostile. If it were only to be allowed, I'd say level the city and drag the dead bodies of men, women and children through the streets in the back of the humvees. They never respected the dead, they don't deserve respect either as dead bodies imo

[@thedragonlee76]

The Delta guy that was blown in half,he was airlifted to the US Germany base and later died.His pelvis was blown up and shattered and his legs were mangled.How he lived as long as he did,is a medical marvel.

[@MrFarnanonical]

41:57 it's more complicated than that. The guy they were trying to arrest is a warlord. The country didn't have a government, it was controlled by warlords. They were the ones stealing the food the UN was giving them. They held all the power with the people. So people had to do what they want or they would kill them, and if they wanted food they had to participate. Most of the Somali males chewed khat, which is a stimulant like cocaine. Life in Somalia was short during that time and it wasn't unusual to see 12-year-old boys chewing khat and carrying a rifle. It's just a completely different world than we live in. I'm sure most of the people would have accepted foreign aid quite gladly, but circumstances made it impossible for most. What they should have done was a much larger scale, long-term intervention. This was also well before 9/11 so the number of special forces units around the world was much fewer. This was just after the cold war so every big military power in the world was focused on conventional warfare, unlike the war on terror where militaries rely on unconventional/special forces.

[@Hiraghm]

Or we could have blockaded Somalia and let them (figuratively) eat each other. IMO, if we go in, we conquer, we rule. We don't "liberate". Maybe in a generation their grandchildren can be taught civilization. Otherwise... blockade. And I don't buy this, "most of them were victims" excuse. Either they pay with their blood first, or they don't deserve freedom from their warlords. They don't get to have freedom handed to them, paid for with the blood of Americans.

[@dmwalker24]

Somalia is a very socially/politically complicated place. There are clan alliances and rivalries that go back thousands of years. Gen. Garrison used to come out for morning coffee in the small rural TX town where my Grandparents lived. He took full responsibility for the outcome of this operation, even though he was simply carrying out the mission he was given with the resources made available. Part of me thinks we were never going to solve Somalia's problems by putting more guns there, but the guys on the ground were fucking heroes who took care of their own, and I think we can at least be proud of that.

[@476429]

I remember when this happened. We saw news footage of the mob dragging the naked bodies of the Delta operators through the streets. And we saw images of the mob jumping up and down on the crashed Blackhawks. I also remember the hostage footage of the pilot they captured. When this first happened, we knew it was a bad situation, but it wasn't until later that we learned how bad it really was. After this event, President Clinton withdrew U.S. forces. Many of the soldiers who were in this battle were *not* happy about that at all. They said it felt like the sacrifices were for nothing. And it left the warlords in charge so the people continued suffering and starving. Thirty years later, the situation in Somalia is not a whole lot better. I believe the State Department recently said Somalia has "no functioning government". Now that you've seen this one, you need to watch _13 Hours_ .

[@gr3yh4wk1]

Seems to be the same story over and over again. Troops from western nations go into someone else's war, get their arses kicked and go home. Nothing changes.

[@agoogleviewer]

To the comment you made on minute 22:17, that's the decision that was made with using nuclear bombs on japan, add to the fact that not only the numbers where going to be equally bad, it would give enough time for the soviet union to invade japan as well and it becoming another divided country with a wall down the middle just like germany

[@mikeserot1410]

In reality, Colonel McKnight was travelling with an Air Force Combat Controller who communicated with the different helicopters and headquarters. It was his job to let the convoy know where to go, unlike in the film. Also, Air Force medic Tim Wilkinson spent the night across the street from the first downed Black Hawk treating wounded soldiers. He crossed a wide road 3 times to retrieve medical supplies for the wounded until a resupply helicopter dropped more ammo, medical supplies and water to the men. He didnt spend the entire night inside the chopper.

[@drexlspivey5210]

My father took me to see this in the theater when I was 12, I was literally shaking while leaving when it ended.

[@1320crusier]

It made me so incredibly angry.

[@KimiF17954]

"We should just put bombs on buildings like this" - This happened in the run -up to the raid. The US used a missile on a meeting and it was full of tribal leaders and this caused great resentment to the US troops who were there to help them. Cannot remember if the US had bad intel on the gathering.

[@Thane36425]

I was going to mention this. It may have been bad Intel as they did get a lot of that. Just one other example was raiding what was a small UN facility instead of one of Aidid's positions, which was actually not far away. Aside from that missile attack, it is possible they were being given bad information intentionally. All the raids wore on the men but it also allowed the Somalis to watch how they operated, and thus make plans accordingly.

[@douglascampbell9809]

Look up the hellfire R9X. The US has gone from targeting meetings to targeting individuals with precision munitions that don't carry explosives.

[@Hiraghm]

obviously we didn't use enough missiles, if there were people left to resent us.

[@Hiraghm]

@@douglascampbell9809 maybe we should consider going back to the B52...

[@pirateblackhawkdown9047]

@@Hiraghm you troops always coming back in bags North Korea,Vietnam,Somali,Iraq,Afghan learn to stay in your dam country no one ask you to be world police. Biggest terrorist in the world are USA.

[@loganwagner1816]

Talk about two legendary badasses. Two Medal of Honor recipients.

[@adammaynard5683]

You guys (ladies) are covering some heavy stuff. Next to Schindler’s List, I would say that Machine Gun Preacher would be one of the toughest true stories movies to watch. But it’s really good and worth the viewing.

[@tim_davidson6344]

I think the girls were emotionally better prepared for this movie after having seen Schindler's List.

[@Trillogical]

A lot of well-known actors started out in this movie. The 2 rangers who got lost, one of them is Tom Hardy, guy who played Venom

[@bradleyhart2492]

BRAVO! I love your reactions . Merry Christmas! Btw...Capt. Steele, ( The bald guy) was Col. Tavington in The Patriot.

[@HollywoodMarine0351]

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS All of the Homies need to watch. Plenty of action, drama, romance, and a great music score.

[@kevinl8440]

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Willow, and Lion are movies you'd love based on your past reactions

[@hollywoodghostbusters9869]

Something that is wrong with the night time scenes is that all the Delta and Air Force Operators had strobe lights attached to their helmets and Rangers marked THEIR positions with the strobes, so the Little Birds knew where all the friendly forces were and did their gun runs on everyone else. When the convoy raced off and ditched the men on foot, they actually stopped outside the city and began laying down heavy suppressive fire with the tanks and APCs. Also, the Ground Reaction Force KNEW about the raid ahead of time but it was the organization of all the forces at the harbor between the 10th Mountain Division, Ranger convoy, and Pakistani and Malaysian forces, along with route planning that caused the delay going back into the city.

[@ScarriorIII]

Heroes are born under fire Stories are passed down through the years The make of a man often proven When duty must overcome all of his fears 10-93 Mogadishu Nothing but chaos all around Super Six Four taking fire A final request and their boots hit the ground Best of the best, no debating Maybe they trained for this day The flag on your sleeve, well it don’t mean a thing Your national pride or the anthems we sing When your death is at hand, those who’ve been there they know We’ll stay with you brother until it’s our time to go Running like hell through the city A bullet to all those who would dare Fought their way through to the wreckage Tended the wounded and began to prepare Two men with side arms and their rifles Vastly outnumbered and outgunned Many will fall to defeat them But they knew this battle could never be won Best of the best, no debating Maybe they trained for this day The flag on your sleeve, well it don’t mean a thing Your national pride or the anthems we sing When your death is at hand, those who’ve been there they know We’ll stay with you brother until it’s our time to go The flag on your sleeve, well it don’t mean a thing Your national pride or the anthems we sing When your death is at hand, those who’ve been there they know We’ll stay with you brother until it’s our time March in Arms- An Act of Valor

[@nathanh2509]

What those men did that day was incredible and a miracle that they made it out. As a former member of the military myself, Hoot is right. Its about the man next to you. You should see 13 Hours The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi next. True story. I also recommend The Outpost with Orlando Bloom, and 12 strong with Chris Hemsworth.

[@DeadAbeVigoda]

A child who points a gun at you is no longer a child.

[@thejoker9201]

Love you ladies I enjoy watching you're reaction video's. This one kind of hits closer to home for me although i didn't take part in the Mogadishu operations. I served more than a decade later in the US Army Infantry in Iraq. But we often watched this movie in the Army. I know you have to cut off scenes from time to time for copyright reasons and prevent utube from pulling you videos but i wish you wouldn't cut the sound so much. Other then that. Love you ladies. Love your heartfelt reactions and keep it up

[@jjc5871]

This is probably my favorite military/war movie with Saving Private Ryan or, if you consider it military/war, The Rock, being a close second. ------ Actually, I think I’d put Tears of the Sun as #2. So many good military movies.

[@piotrrozynek9658]

What do you say about "Enemy at the gates"?

[@rubenlopez3364]

7:20 sounds like a good rule, but the first scene shows the enemy takes advantage of it, they can kill their own people and commit crime as long as they don't shoot at US and this also let's them choose to shoot first and that is good for an ambush

[@skywalker7505]

Can we have whole group reaction to The Mummy and its sequel The Mummy Returns. It'll be awesome.

[@Thane36425]

Communications were a mess as was shown in the movie. At one point after Durant's chopper was shot down, the convoy was getting different directions from two different people. One was trying to send the convoy to the Durant crash site and the other trying to send them back to the first crash. Part of the convoy was on its way to Durant but was ordered to stop and go back to the main convoy. Depending on exactly where the crash site was, the exact location is disputed, they may have been able to reach them and then go back to the airfield, but who knows. Several other choppers were almost shot down. The SAR bird that dropped the medics at the crash site was shot up badly enough that it was out of action and had to land. The one the dropped Shuggart and Gordon was hit by an RPG. This took the leg off of another Delta Operator, Howe, who had stayed on board to operate a minigun in for a wounded crew chief. There was a supply run on the surrounded Rangers after dark. The chopper might have landed to take the critically wounded man out, but it couldn't touch down, and in the short time it took to kick out supplies it was so badly shot up it barely made it to a safe area to land. A 10th Mountain Helicopter had been shot down shortly before the operation started and they could have taken the hint, but wrote it off as a freak chance shot. But it still could have gone worse. That rescue convoy that went back out was actually almost cut off and wiped out. Another trying to rescue it was shot up pretty badly. Fortunately they both made it back to the airfield along with the first convoy. They linked up with 10th Mountain and other allied units and made the push to the crash sites. It was one of these that went to the Durant crash site, and almost got itself in deep trouble.

[@Jesusisking2785]

I was 10 when this happened my older brother was over there I remember watching on tv scared I would see his body dragged through the streets

[@TedC5203]

I got to meet Mike Durrant once, after this happened. Seemed like a really good guy. He was the helicopter pilot that was taken prisoner and rescued.

[@MrTech226]

This movie was based on true mission during Battle of Mogadishu when Black Hawk crash in Mogadishu in Operation Gothic Serpent. Their mission was capture a Warlord there who was fighting Somalian government. Besides rescuing Black Hawk team, their mission is also destroying helicopter due it has classified equipment to keep out of enemy's hands.

[@Logan-ed4pu]

40:26 I thought Ellie was about to actually pass out there. Those eyelids went full Morse Code. I don't blame her either, this movie is a hard watch on a sensitive subject.

[@mark.8949]

I enjoy watching your reactions to the various movies, you show great emotions and insight. I have been to Somalia, it isn't the nicest place to go. Thank you for showing this. That last part where the soldiers ran, was called the 'Mogadishu mile', where they ran almost the last mile back to the base. Also, I love Ellie :)

[@michaeloyaski7602]

It's nothing short of a miracle the men of the 75th Rangers in Operation Gothic Serpent survived Mogadishu. The book is excellent and I'd recommend reading it before watching the movie Black Hawk Down. My parents can still vividly remember the video footage of what happened to the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon.

[@ephennell4ever]

This kind of movie gets me misty-eyed, both for the guys they depict who did so much more than should be expected of anybody ... but also for Michelle and Ellie, who obviously both needed hugging (especially Ellie) after being so affected from being exposed to the stress/violence of this. Sending both of you virtual hugs ... 🫂 & 🫂 I hope when you get/read this that you both had some nice relaxing and pleasant times recently! P.S. - this probably wasn't the kind of movie you thought you'd be watching around Christmas, is it?

[@chandlermorgan708]

This is what happens in wars

[@richardkim3652]

Did you know that there were SEAL Team 6 snipers giving sniper cover to the Rangers and Deltas to. One of the Team 6 sniper escaped by paying a fisherman to smuggle him out of that city.

[@Dr-me6pj]

Very good!! This is the Unrated Extended Cut version of the film. I love it !!!

[@richardheinz]

Every time I watch a meaningful and touching video like this and a commercial pops up, I feel like grabbing the billionaire who owns the company by the neck and breaking their face.

[@Metamorfeus]

The book on which this was based is a journalistic account of that fateful day told from both sides of the conflict. The use of RPGs to down at least one Black Hawk helicopter was an intentional tactical move from Aidid. He correctly figured if he did that, then the Americans would divert their resources to rescuing the downed men. To him, the American soldiers' weakness was that none of them were prepared to die.

[@IllustriousCrocoduck]

Ellie's point about bombing the target building, rather than sending people in... That is a huge thing that has changed with our operations since this took place. When I was working in Somalia a few years ago, we used a missile called an R9X, which is a guided missile with blades instead of explosives. They are extremely accurate and let us hit targets in busy areas without hurting civilians. The US military makes a lot of mistakes, but developing that weapon and others like it was not one.

[@ti7ano515]

22:22 the reason of why you dont start bombing buildings in a city, its the same of why you dont rush in a city completly hostile with a bunch of rangers and Especial forces, and hope nothing bad is goind to happen. You going to provoque casualties you like it or not so its simpler not to do it, and wait for a better situacion, americans rushing thinks like always, like in Nayaf, where americans wanted to bomb a hospital because they where enemy snipers in the ceiling shoting the troops, but an spanish coronel dismised the order and avoid the destruccion of the hospital. EDIT: you cannot justify civilian casualties under any circunstance.

[@justinpeck6015]

"We Were Soldiers" is a really good movie

[@youn1700]

A bit of history behind this country. In 1980s the Soviet Union trained the Countries of Somalia and Ethopia in their military doctrines. Then in order to test those doctrines they incited the two countries to war. In a very short war between the two countries Ethopia rolled over Somalia and killed their president. His advisor console was made up of 7 warlords. Mogadishu was controlled at this point by 3 of those warlords and their tribes. The famine in Ethopia and Somalia in the late 80s was the result of conscripting the farmers. The incident at the beginning you saw was one group stealing the food meant for the other tribe. A riot started and a Nigerian and Pakistani check point was overrun. The rangers and delta force were sent in to capture General Adid and his advisors. Adid was one of the three warlords in town.

[@Jekyll_Island_Creatures]

The history sounds fascinating. Any book covering this subject?

[@paulieluppino1856]

2:26 ......"Not normal"..... More normal that you would say......

[@kurtkatzemcqueennovaaetate6873]

At first, it's about the cause, when you're on the battlefield it's about saving you and the guys all around you.

[@chriscarchia9442]

You two should look up the video of a Medal of Honor recipient that was filmed, truly sad but shows the beauty of brotherhood in the military

[@matthewhull5876]

What you are feeling is ok. War sucks and it’s important to remember the men and women that went through these things.

[@nwj03a]

Served in 1st group (Delta is in it), you don’t ever leave someone behind, ever. Maybe they make it, maybe they don’t, but their family deserves the right to bury them… and mine can bury me if that’s what it takes.

[@dsumner1234]

No it's not, Delta is in JSOC.

[@nwj03a]

Well every group is in JSOC. Joint special operations command. The seals and marsoc also are under jsoc. I know SF way better than you bud.

[@nwj03a]

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie… only 1st has a Delta (CAG). Undumb yourself.

[@dsumner1234]

@@nwj03a No, JSOC, or Joint Special Operations Command, is sub command of US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). SOCOM consists of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), JSOC, MARSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM (Naval Special Warfare Command), US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), and Theatre Special Operations Commands (TSOC). US Army Special Forces, the "Green Berets", are part of USASOC. MARSOC is also a sub unit of SOCOM. The "regular", or "White" SEAL teams are part of NASPECWARCOM. The 1st SFOD-D, along with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG - the former SEAL Team Six), Ranger Reconnaissance Company (RRC), 724th Special Tactics Group, ISA, and several other units are under JSOC (1st JSOAC, FCD, 66 AOS, 427th SOS, JMAU, JCU, JIB, etc.) JSOC contains the US Military's "Special Mission Units" (SMU), "Black", or "Tier One" units (contrary to what most people think the "tier" system has more to do with funding and readiness than how "elite" a unit is). JSOC is primarily tasked with counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, counter proliferation, and reconnaissance missions (they also do a lot of other stuff when tasked). Other units outside of JSOC routinely get pulled under their command when they're needed, namely 75th Ranger Regiment and the 160th. Before the army got rid of the Special Forces Group Commander's In-Extemis Force (CIF)/Crisis Response Force (CRF) Companies, they were trained to hostage rescues and counter-terrorism missions. A few of them were pulled under JSOC command in Iraq to deal with Iranian backed militias targeting US and Iraqi government troops.

[@nwj03a]

You are fantastic at googling things you don’t really understand. Tell me next about what a JTAC is, where that falls in google searches, next explain what a tab is. Frickin goof.

[@jayburgs9882]

hello pretty! Two excellent movies about wars that you could react to are: "Tears of the Sun" and "Blood Diamonds", surely you will not regret it. greetings from Ecuador.

[@JustSir430]

The burning tires were also a signal to call in help from other allied militias in the area

[@muhammadfirdaushakimi9442]

The real stories black hawk, the Malaysian soldier who rescued the American soldiers until a member of the Malaysian army was killed, namely corporal mat aznan awang

[@satoncho]

Even today Somlia is still like that right now.

[@dmytryblyzniuk8211]

So fuck them it’s their problems not ours

[@hm.4730]

somalia is getting better, especially compared to the 90s-- our people are resilient. an example is one man whose restaurant (The Village) was bombed over and over again and keeps rebuilding each time.

[@kyleoconnor5944]

Probably a random suggestion but you guys should watch a movie called Children Of Men from 2006. Not many people have reacted to it but it is a great film. I am sure a lot of your viewers would love to see it

[@nathankrush3289]

You guys would look Steve Martin movies, especially "All Of Me ". He was the original Jim Carrey and he plays a man and a woman trapped in one body. Steve Martin was was so popular that 25,000 people would come to see his incredible stand up act. .

[@miker252]

During the Cold War many countries were armed to the teeth, in a kind of chess game, between the Soviets and Americans. When the Cold War "ended," , in the power vacuum following, one after another of these countries fell into civil war.

[@TheBunnyodeath]

you asked why do people defend a bad person. . . . I'd say detach yourself from the narrative of the movie. the movie was made to make you feel sympathy for American "peacekeepers" yet in Mogadishu the crime lords and weapons dealers. they were the source of hope food and a job. like all other people need and want. the people of Somalia saw America as invaders. and treated them as such. though the soldiers did what they thought was honorable and a just war (respects) the criminality lay with the politics that sent them there. as well as intelligence that thought invasion would be looked at as liberation. we didn't liberate shit. we just got killed and we liked a lot of citizens as well. like children. and that's something we don't talk about. or that this movie shows. I remember lt Durant and his capture. my heart went out to him and his family. but he should have not been there in the first place. I remember the soldiers that were on television dragged through the streets dead like nothing or than a dead goat. and it angered me like the media knew it would so war seems nessicary. it isn't war happens when you insist people of my country shove themselves into the face of another country's problems.maybe let that country deal with there own problems. trust me I love my people and my military. but we should never be in any of the 8 wars we've been in for the last 20 years.

[@ryancurrul7208]

I love Michelle's blue streaks in her hair.

[@nomak38416]

Tears of the Sun would be another great movie to follow after this.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

War is when people kill those who otherwise could have been best friends. In Christmas 1914 during WWII there was an unofficial truce and enemy soldiers started to sing songs and even play a soccer game. As high command in both sides saw that, they reassigned everyone so no more friendship scenes take place.

[@Hiraghm]

The advisor to the head general guy was played by Steven Ford... son of President Ford.

[@PabloLopez-hj4kv]

Is that Black Hawk Down extended version? i have that DvD. Great version by the way

[@darkphoenix2]

There are a lot of movies that portray war with the appropriate seriousness and brutality, but this one really demonstrates the pointlessness of America's imperialistic tendencies since World War II ended. I believe we all have a duty to work together to stop evil, but the U.S. has been far to willing to wage war on its own, and often there are ulterior motives for the people making the decision to send men and women to die in a country that was never a threat to them.

[@leedog396]

Great reaction. We Were Soldiers is another good war movie based on a true story.

[@emmersonsantiago8199]

ellie windtalkers with nicolas cage is goodddddddd

[@willmartin7293]

Ellie and Michelle, the way this operation was conducted was not the ideal way the Army commander wanted to do it. The politicians in Washington refused him permission to use tanks, armored fighting vehicles, or helicopter gunships, because they were concerned it would look "aggressive and threatening" to the Somalis. So, the commander had to order his men to use trucks and lightly armored hummers with only transport and scout helicopters for air support.

[@Manu-rb6eo]

If they go back it's for their brothers in arms. I saw a stream from a fighter pilot who said when they fly to combat it's not to die they are afraid of, it's doing their duty, what you brothers and sisters expect from you, so they go back because the others are part of their family now and it's..... their duty.....