"Black Hawk Down" 20 year anniversary.

As a veteran of two wars and three humanitarian support missions I can tell you that this battle was a turning point in the way that the modern US combat soldier fights. Until Delta Force Detachment and company of US Rangers ended up surrounded and fighting against a determined enemy with no fear just blood lust the fighting spirit of the common soldier relied on the belief that Air Support and Artillery would always save the day. Rather than hide the battle under a blanket and never look back the military embraced it, studied it and eventually learned from it. By the time the US invaded Iraq and Afghanistan LTC Steele was a living legend and well known guest speaker in pre-command courses and the War College.

After BHD we never forgot that the secret to combat is confidence, training, discipline and the will to fight. 

Never-before-seen military footage of "Black Hawk Down" | khou.com Houston:

"'Black Hawk Down.' Now for the first time, they can see how the actual battle unfolded in footage obtained by 60 Minutes. Lara Logan's report, containing the images and combat veterans' eyewitness accounts of the battle, also follows the secret, 7-month effort of a retired soldier and his wife to repatriate the helicopter's wreckage. This remarkable 60 Minutes story will be broadcast almost 20 years to the day of the battle Sunday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT."

(Via Louisville's Independent Media / LNOradio.com.)