Original subtitles

There.

Technicals, 9:00.

Oh, shit! Did you see that?

Chief, we got unarmed civilians getting shot down here at 9:00.

I got it, Matt.

I don't think we can touch this.

Command Super 6-4, we got militia shooting unarmed civilians

down at the food distribution centre.

Request permission to engage.

Super 6-4, are you taking fire? Over.

- Negative, Command. - U.N.'s jurisdiction, 6-4.

We cannot intervene. Return to base.

- Over. - Roger.

6-4 returning.

Mm.

Leaving.

General Garrison?

- No. No, thanks. I got one. - But these are Cuban.

Bolivar Belicoso.

So is this.

Miami, my friend, is not Cuba.

I see not catching Aidid is becoming a routine.

We weren't trying to catch Aidid. We were trying to catch you.

Me? But am I that important?

I hardly think so.

- You're just a businessman. - Trying to make a living.

Selling guns to Aidid's militia.

You've been here, what,

six weeks?

Six weeks you are trying to catch the general.

You put up reward posters.

Twenty-five thousand dollars.

What is this, gunfight at the K.O. Corral?

It's, uh... It's the O.K. Corral.

Do you think bringing me in would make him suddenly come to you?

Make him more agreeable?

- Hm? - Well, you know where he sleeps.

You pay for his beds, much less his militia.

We're not leaving Somalia until we find him.

- And we will find him. - Don't make the mistake...

of thinking because I grew up without running water, I am simple, general.

I do know something about history.

See all this? It's simply shaping tomorrow.

A tomorrow without a lot of Arkansas white boys' ideas in it.

Well, I wouldn't know about that. I'm from Texas.

Mr. Garrison, I think you shouldn't have come here.

This is civil war.

This is our war, not yours.

Three hundred thousand dead and counting.

That's not a war, Mr. Atto. That's genocide.

Now, you enjoy that tea, you hear?

How did he strike you?

Urbane, sophisticated, cruel.

Yeah, he's a good catch.

It'll take some time, but Aidid will feel the loss.

I'm not sure time is something we got in great supply.

This isn't Iraq, you know. Much more complicated than that.

Boss, most of Washington might disagree.

I'm just saying, they've been calling for these dang situation reports every morning this week.

Well, tell them the situation is, uh, fragile.

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Cliff "Elvis" Wolcott.

I'll be your pilot this afternoon.

Federal regulations has designated this a non-smoking Black Hawk helicopter.

For those of you enrolled in our Mogadishu frequent-flyer program,

you'll be earning 100 free credits this afternoon.

And as always, the air-sickness bags are located

in your seatback in front of you.

Number one indications are good, Cliff. Put her on two.

6-1, this is 6-4. Go to U.H.F. secure.

I've got some bad news. "Limo" is a word, Durant.

I don't wanna hear about it.

It is not a word. It's an abbreviation of a word.

"Limo" is a word in common usage.

That is the key phrase in Scrabble, my good friend. Common usage.

No. If it's not in the dictionary, it doesn't count.

It doesn't have to be in the dictionary.

It does have to be in the dictionary.

Listen. When we get back to the base, it's coming off the board.

You touch my limo and I'll spank you, Nightstalker. You hear me?

Yeah, promises.

That's a nice beach down there.

How's the water?

Yeah, it's nice and warm. And it's loaded with sharks.

- Name? - Todd.

- Last name? - Blackburn.

- First name, Todd. - So, what's it like?

- What's what like? - Mogadishu. The fighting.

- Serial number? - 7-2-1-6-3-4-2-7.

Firstly, it's "the Mog," or simply "Mog."

No one calls it Mogadishu here.

Secondly, I wouldn't know about the fighting, so don't ask.

- Why not? - Didn't I just say, "Don't ask"?

Look, kid, you look like you're about 12, so let me explain something to you.

I have a rare and mysterious skill that precludes me from going on the missions.

- Typing. - Can you type?

No.

- Date of birth? - 2-27-75.

Well, I'm here to kick some ass.

Let's bring it in.

Nice, man! Very smooth!

Single shot through the engine block.

Shit, that's a shame. That was a nice jeep.

Cease fire! Cease fire!

- Check your weapons. - Sergeant Eversmann!

- Sergeant. - Yeah?

Private First Class Blackburn.

- Yeah? - Reporting for duty.

Not to me, you're not. You're reporting to Lieutenant Beales.

He should be around here somewhere.

Can I leave him with you?

Yeah, go ahead.

- You brought your weapon. - Yes, sir.

Want me to shoot? I'm rested.

- When did you get in? - Just now, sergeant.

Hey, who's hungry?

What is this, sergeant? Another taxpayer-funded Delta safari?

- Not if General Garrison's asking. - Well, I'm asking.

Have a nice meal, captain.

- Hey, man, there's a line. - I know.

- Well, this isn't the back of it. - Yeah, I know.

Sergeant. Sergeant!

What's going on here?

Oh, just some aerial target practice, sir. Didn't wanna leave it behind.

I'm talking about your weapon.

Delta or no Delta, that's a hot weapon.

You know better than that. Safety should be on at all times on base.

Well, this is my safety, sir.

Let it go, sir. The guy hasn't eaten in a couple of days.

You Delta boys are a bunch of undisciplined cowboys.

Let me tell you something, Sergeant.

When we get on the five-yard line, you're gonna need my Rangers.

So y'all better learn to be team players.

We're done here.

Speak up.

You say this is your safety?

Well, this is my boot, son.

And it will fit up your ass with the proper amount of force.

Is that your Jersey accent?

I'm trying to do this. Give me a break.

Take those sunglasses off, soldier.

If Delta wants to wear Oakleys, that's their business.

I don't wanna see them on you again. Hoo-ah?

Hoo-ah.

Is that a hot weapon?

- Is that your move? - Is my hand on the piece?

I can mate you in three whatever you do.

I'd keep my eye on that queen before counselling with others.

Well, she's just lying in wait.

Griz. Yikes.

It's good. You're really improving.

- Ah. - If I may make a suggestion.

- Observation. - It's a children's book, right?

Right.

They are not supposed to scare the living shit out of the children.

This is the part of the story where our knight, our warrior,

is about to slay the one-eyed dragon.

That's scary. Besides, my daughter loves this stuff.

- I thought you finished that last week. - You done?

Hey. We are at the ten-yard line here, men. You understand?

Can you count?

One, two, 10. Okay? Where are my running backs?

- Where are my running backs? Hoo-ah!

Hey, I didn't see you in church on Sunday, soldier.

You had something more important to do?

Not on Sunday, you don't. Not anymore.

I will make you believe, you understand?

It's pretty funny, hoo-ah?

Hoo-ah.

It was a good impression. I recognize myself.

All right, carry on.

- Quick word, specialist. - Sir.

Tell me, Pilla.

You understand why we have a chain of command, don't you?

Roger that, sir.

'Cause if I ever see you undermining it again,

you'll be cleaning latrines with your tongue until you can't taste the difference

between shit and French fries. Are we clear?

- Hoo-ah, sir. - All right.

Listen to this. If one skinny kills another skinny,

his clan owes the dead guy's clan a hundred camels.

- A hundred camels. - Camels. I wouldn't pay one camel.

Must be a lot a fucking camel debt.

Is that really true, Lieutenant?

Well, ask Sergeant Eversmann. He likes the skinnies.

Sergeant Eversmann, you really like the skinnies?

It's not that I like them or I don't like them. I respect them.

See, what you guys fail to realize

is the sergeant here is a bit of an idealist.

He believes in this mission down to his very bones. Don't you, Sergeant?

Look, these people, they have no jobs,

no food, no education, no future.

I just figure that... I mean, we have two things that we can do.

We can either help or we can sit back and watch the country destroy itself on CNN.

Right?

I don't know about you guys, but I was trained to fight.

You trained to fight, sergeant?

Well, I think I was trained to make a difference, Kurth.

Like the man said, he's an idealist.

Wait. This is my favourite part.

Stay away from the cans!

Die, gas pumper!

Stay away from those cans!

Beales!

No, no, no, no. Stay back. Stay back.

Wilkie, he's having a seizure. Put something in his mouth.

Hey, John. It's okay.

John, it's okay. It's okay.

Well, he'll be fine, but not in this army.

He's out of the game. He's epileptic. Going home.

I'm putting you in charge of his chalk.

- You got a problem with that? - No, sir.

Now, it's a big responsibility.

Your men are gonna look to you to make the right decisions.

Their lives depend on it.

All right.

- Rangers lead the way, sir. - All the way.

Good luck, sergeant.

The long anticipated meeting of Aidid's senior cabinet

may take place today at 1500 hours.

I say "may" because we all know by now,

with the intel we get on the street, nothing is certain.

This is actual intel confirmed by three sources.

Two tier-one personalities may be present.

Omar Salad, Aidid's top political advisor,

and Abdi Hassan Awale, Interior Minister.

These are the guys we're after.

Today we go.

Same mission template as before.

Fifteen forty-five, Assault Force Delta

will infiltrate the target building

and seize all suspects within.

Security Force Rangers: four Ranger chalks, under the command of Captain Steele,

will rope in at 1546 and hold a four-corner perimeter

around the target building.

No one gets in or out. Extraction Force:

Lieutenant Colonel McKnight's humvee column

will drive into the city at 1547 on Hawlwadig Road

and hold just short of the Olympic Hotel.

Wait for the green light.

Now, once Delta gives the word,

McKnight's column will move to the target building

and load the prisoners on flatbed trucks.

Immediately after the prisoners are loaded,

the four Ranger chalks

will collapse back to the target building, load up on humvees,

and the entire ground force will exfil the three miles back to base.

Mission time from incursion to extraction no longer than 30 minutes.

Now,

I had requested light armour and AC-130 Specter gunships,

but Washington, in all its wisdom, decided against this.

Too high-profile.

So Black Hawks and Little Birds will provide the air cover

with mini-guns and 2.75 rockets.

Colonel Harrell.

In the C-2 bird,

Colonel Matthews will coordinate the air mission,

and I will coordinate ground forces.

Colonel Matthews.

Mission launch code word is "Irene."

Questions?

Which building is it, sir?

Exactly which building we're confirming right now.

Somewhere around the Bakara market.

I don't choose the time and place of their meetings.

I didn't say a word, sir.

Make no mistake.

Once you're in the Bakara market, you're in an entirely hostile district.

Don't underestimate their capabilities.

We'll be going through friendly neighbourhoods before we hit the market.

So remember the rules of engagement:

No one fires unless fired upon.

Let's go get this thing done.

Good luck, gentlemen.

What's the matter, Danny? Something you don't like?

No Specter gunships, daylight instead of night,

late afternoon when they're all fucked up on khat,

only part of the city Aidid can mount a serious counterattack on short notice.

- What's not to like? - Life's imperfect.

Yeah. For you two. Circling above it at 500 feet, it's imperfect.

Down in the street, it's unforgiving.

What the fuck, Smith?

- Well? - Well, what?

We going?

Why should I tell you that?

Because I'm me.

Yeah. 3:00. Downtown.

- Bakara market. - All right.

Listen, Smith. I need you to back me up out there today, all right?

Keep sharp.

- Yes, sir, Sergeant Eversmann. - All right.

Ev, it's gonna be nothing, man.

Nothing.

It's all in the grind, Sizemore.

Can't be too fine. Can't be too coarse.

This, my friend, is a science.

I mean, you're looking at the guy that believed the commercials.

You know? About "be all you can be."

I made coffee through Desert Storm.

I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight,

got to be a Ranger.

Now it's "Grimesy, black, one sugar,"

or "Grimesy, got a powdered anywhere?"

- What happened to you? - Ping-Pong accident.

- What? - So guess what.

Your wish has been granted. You're going out today.

You're fucking me.

You're taking my place assisting the 60 gunner.

Sergeant Eversmann said to get your stuff and get ready.

It's what you wanted, isn't it?

Oh, yeah.

Hell, yeah.

Grimesy, I want you to stick with Waddell and give him ammo when he needs it. Hoo-ah?

- Hoo-ah. - I wouldn't worry about that.

Generally speaking, Somalis can't shoot for shit.

Don't worry about it. Just watch out for the sammys throwing the fucking rocks, and you'll be fine.

- Might even be fun. D-boys do their thing now.

All we got to do is cover them.

Choppers gonna cover us, and we'll be all right.

Look, you guys, I know this is my first time as chalk leader,

but this isn't our first time out together.

This is serious.

We're Rangers, not some sorry-ass J.R.O.T.C.

We're elite. Let's act like it out there.

- Hoo-ah? Hoo-ah!

Any questions?

We're gonna be okay.

All right, grab your gear. Let's move out.

Hoo-ah!

You're not gonna need that, dude.

We're not out there long enough.

Hey, you're not gonna need that either.

We'll be back before dark.

You might as well take dope and beer instead.

What?

Ammo, dude. Take ammo.

Let me tell you something, Grimes.

You got about 50 pounds of gear as it is. You don't need another 12.

I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on getting shot in the back running away.

Well, I better keep mine in.

Hey, Grimes. The most important thing,

just remember when everybody else is shooting, shoot in the same direction.

All right.

Look at this, Ruiz. He's taping his blood type to his boots.

- That's bad luck. - No, it's smart.

All Delta do that.

That's bad luck too, man. Come on. Let's go.

It's a good thing you're right-handed, Adonis.

If not, I don't know what you'd do.

You're a funny guy, man.

I'm not taking no death letter. We have a deal.

I'll give it to you back in an hour.

Blackburn. You okay?

I'm excited. In a good way.

I've been training my whole life for this.

- You ever shot at anybody before? - No, sir.

Me neither.

You think he's reliable?

Well, we'll see.

It's his first time out.

- Tell him to turn his damn radio off. - Yes, sir.

- Tell him to turn his radio off. - Abdi, you need to turn your radio off.

Hi. You've reached Stephanie and Randy.

Leave us a message. Thank you.

Hey, baby, it's me. Are you there?

Pick up if you're there.

I'm just calling to check up on you, make sure everything's all right.

I'll call you in a couple of hours.

You'd better not be sleeping.

Your move, Randy.

I'm missing you. I love you, baby.

Hello? Hello?

Thanks, bud.

You know, it's kind of funny.

Beautiful beach, beautiful sun.

Could almost be a good place to visit.

Almost.

You don't think we should be here?

You know what I think?

It don't really matter what I think.

Once that first bullet goes past your head,

politics and all that shit just goes right out the window.

I just wanna do it right today.

Just watch your corner.

Get all your men back here alive.

Now, is this supposed to be the place, or did his car just take a dump?

Abdi, come in. Abdi, can you hear me? Is this the place?

Abdi, come in.

Can you hear me? Abdi.

Abdi, come in. Is this the place?

To my right-hand side, above the café.

Sir he says this is the building.

He's certain?

Abdi, you need to be sure. Are you sure?

Well, it's down the road, two blocks over on my left.

But there's too many militia.

If I go closer, they might shoot me.

Now he's saying the building's actually a couple blocks down.

But if he's seen outside it, he'll be shot.

I'll fucking shoot him myself a couple blocks down.

Tell him I want his skinny ass parked in front of the damn building.

He's not getting paid until he does exactly that.

It's three miles to the target area. We're never off the main roads.

At the K-4 traffic circle, we turn north, then east on National,

and we wait until extraction of prisoners is complete here.

Then we roll up in force on Hawlwadig. We load the prisoners,

and then the assault and blocking forces, and bring them back.

Home in an hour. Okay?

Now, there will be some shooting. Bakara market is the Wild West.

But be careful what you shoot at because people do live there.

Hoo-ah!

Hoo-ah!

Last one of these guys shot himself in the head playing Russian roulette in a bar.

Sir, the vehicle is stopped.

So this is the real deal now. He's sure this time?

He sounds scared shitless.

Good. That's always a good sign.

That's it. That's our signal.

All right.

All Q. R. F. Out of the airspace.

All units, Irene.

I say again, Irene.

Check in when ready. Barber 5-1 up and ready. Star 4-1 up and ready.

- Irene! - Copy Irene.

Fucking Irene!

Come on.

Good luck, boys. Be careful.

No one gets left behind.

What's wrong?

Nothing. He's just never done that before.

Aw, fuck!

Let's go.

Sergeant Struecker, let's roll.

Two minutes.

Two minutes.

Why are they burning tires?

Signals to the militia that we're coming.

5-6, it looks like there's some friendlies on the ground.

It look like I've got intel on the voice intercept.

But we've got burning tires in the front of us. Over.

One minute.

What's that for?

Last rope I almost bit my tongue off.

Touch base.

Two feet, one foot. Clear.

Little Birds touching down at target.

Ropes!

Go! Go! Go!

Chalk One troops are on the deck. Chalk Two deployed.

McKNIGHT: This is McKnight. Uniform 6-4 approaching staging area.

Down! Get down! Down! Stay down!

- Everybody down! - Down! Down!

Get down on the floor!

Let's go! Let's go! Grimesy! No fear!

Oh, yeah, right!

Rangers securing perimeter. Four corners.

They're shooting at us! Colonel, they're shooting at us!

Well, shoot back.

This is 6-4. Chalks on the ground. Going into holding pattern.

This is 6-2. Delivered chalks. Going to cover pattern.

Super 6-2, take up an overhead pattern to provide sniper cover.

- Over. - This is Super 6-5.

Chalks on the ground. Going into holding pattern.

Go, Blackburn. Go! Go! Go, Blackburn!

- R. P.G.! - Hold on!

No!

C-2, we got a man fallen.

Super 6-1, you're a sitting duck there.

Blackburn! Take up overhead pattern

to provide sniper cover. Over.

Roger that. 6-1 coming out.

1 -3, go ahead.

I need you to move to the north of the street.

Right to the north. Right there. Over.

Doc! Doc Schmid!

Come on!

Schmid, we got a man hit.

- Where is he hit? - He's not. He fell.

- What? - He fell.

Why aren't you shooting?

We're not being shot at yet.

- How can you tell? - A hiss means it's close.

- A snap means... - Now they're shooting at us.

Galentine!

Get me Captain Steele. Get me Captain Steele.

Juliet 6-4, this is Juliet 2-5. Come in. Over.

Blackburn, can you hear me?

Juliet 6-4, this is 2-5. Come in.

Over. I can't get him.

Juliet 6-4, this is Chalk Four.

We've got a man down. We need to get him out of here. Over.

This is 6-4. Say again, 2-5. Over.

We've got a man down. Over.

Take a breath, 2-5, and calm down. Over.

- Man down! - Missed your last, 2-5.

- Fuck it! - Say again.

Matt, it's a long way to the humvees.

We'll get a stretcher in here. Get him to the target building.

What did he say?

Super 6-1, we got a man wounded on the ground.

Stretcher! Jamie, Stretcher!

Stretcher!

Come on! Come on!

Grab this end!

Let's go!

All right. Go.

Get him to the humvees. We'll hold down the corner.

Up to the humvees. Now!

Go. Go!

Keep moving. Grimes, run.

- Secure. - Let's move out!

- Everybody up! - Let's go!

- Come on! - Let's go! Let's move!

- Grimes, run! - All right!

C-2, this is Super 6-1. Beginning my orbit of the target area.

- Roger that. - Chalk Four,

10-4 clear. Coming in.

Kilo 1 -1, this is 6-1.

Providing sniper cover for prisoner extract.

Kilo 6-4, green light.

- Ready for extraction. Over. - Roger that, Kilo 1 -1 . Will relay.

That's it. We got them.

Uniform 6-4, ready for extraction. Over.

Roger that. There's the call. Let's move out!

Let's move out! Hold on!

There's fire on the rooftops.

- How much longer? - Five minutes, sir.

- What? - Five minutes!

Nothing takes five minutes.

- What happened to him? - He fell. Missed the rope.

How'd he do that?

Put him in that humvee. Grimes, give him a hand.

Let's go! Let's move it!

- Move! Move! Move! Get them up! - Come on!

Come on!

Get him in there! Get ready to move!

We're ready for your prisoners.

Go! Everybody move! Move!

- Hey! Hey! - Get the fuck up!

Grimes!

Come on! Wait! Wait!

Fuck this!

Fuck!

Stop! Hey! Come on!

Move! Move! Romeo 6-4,

I need to send out three humvees with a critical casualty. He looks real bad.

I need to evac now. Roger that, Uniform 6-4.

We'll chop a team of gunships to you. Over.

Roger that. Hey, Sanderson, I need extra security on these humvees.

I'll go. I'll take my team, make sure they get back okay.

Do it. Struecker, you're lead humvee.

Hoo-ah!

First three vehicles mount up. We're moving back to base.

Move out! Go!

How are things going? Things okay there, Struecker?

I don't wanna talk about it now, colonel. I'm busy.

Sergeant Pilla's hit. Christ, he's fucked up.

McKNIGHT: Is anyone hit?

Struecker, talk to me. It's Sergeant Pilla.

What's his status? What's his status?

- He's dead. - He's dead.

Pilla's dead, sir.

McKNIGHT: C-2, this is McKnight.

We have a K.l.A., Dominick Pilla. Over.

Roger that.

Get on that 50! Someone get on that 50!

It's mine!

Three guys with R. P.G.'s coming up on your side now!

Stay with it!

This is 6-1 . I'm hit. I'm hit.

Super 6-1 is hit.

He is hit. Wolcott's bird is hit.

You wanna pull those P.C.L.'s off-line or what?

Right, babe.

Come on.

6-1 going down. 6-1 going down.

6-1 is going down. He is going down.

- Super 6-1 is going down. 6-1 going down.

6-1 is going down.

I repeat, 6-1 is going down.

Hold on!

We got a Black Hawk down. We got a Black Hawk down.

Super 6-1 is down. We got a bird down in the city.

Super 6-1 is on the deck now.

Get an MH-6 on site. Check for survivors.

Send in the S.A.R. Bird.

I want ground forces to move and secure a new perimeter around that crash site.

Can you guide the convoy in there?

- Roger that. - Well, move quick.

The whole damn city will be coming down on top of them.

Star 4-1, come inbound and see if you can land at the crash site.

Roger that. Star 4-1 inbound.

We just lost the initiative.

- 2-5, this is 6-4. Over. - This is 2-5. Over.

2-5, Chalk Four is closest to the crash site. Over.

6-4, I can't see the crash site. Over.

2-5, it's due east of you. You will find it.

Leave a security element in place.

Take the rest of your chalk on foot to the crash.

Check for survivors. Secure the area. All other chalks will follow. Over.

- 2-5, do you read me? Over. - Roger that.

Galentine! Schmid!

Go get Yurek. Get Twombly.

Hey, there's a Black Hawk down.

Twombly, Nelson, you're gonna stay here. You're gonna hold this corner

and then exfil with the humvees.

Galentine, Schmid, you're coming with me. All right? Let's go. Hoo-ah?

Hoo-ah! - How come I gotta stay back here?

Because you're dependable.

All right.

Let's go!

I hate being dependable, man.

Juliet 2-5, hostiles advancing parallel west to your position.

Be advised, women and children among them. Over.

Hit the wall.

Incoming!

Grenade!

Go!

We still got guys inside.

All right, all right. I'm gonna go to the crash.

You take the rest of the team.

- I'll finish loading the prisoners. - Negative!

You'll proceed to the crash site together.

Secure the perimeter, wait for the humvees. Roger, sir?

- Roger that. - Follow my lead.

Sarge, are you receiving me?

Yeah, I heard you. We should be leaving, sir.

All right, we need to move out now!

I'll finish loading the prisoners

and pick you up at the crash site. All right.

Let's move out! Move it out! Go!

Get in! Get in the truck! Go! Move!

In there! Move it!

Grimes!

Eight o'clock!

Hey, Grimes, stay away from the walls.

Hey, Grimes.

- You okay? - Yeah!

Let's go, Maddox.

- C-2 convoy moving out. - Roger that.

Maddox, look at these jerks, these idiots!

Go, go! Right, Maddox, right!

Twombly, the convoy's leaving!

- Hey, Twombly! - What?

- I think they've forgotten us. - What?

Doesn't matter.

6-3 confirm. We got skinnies moving in from all directions.

We need to get them help now.

Indigenous personnel advancing to Wolcott crash site.

- Say again. Over. - A lot of people closing in.

How far is Chalk Four from the crash site?

- Six blocks, sir. - Well, they need to haul ass.

Get down! Get down!

Scotty, are you okay?

No, don't go back!

Get down! Get down!

- Technicals! - Got them!

Six o'clock! Move, move!

Go! Go, go, go!

Go, go!

Come on!

Yurek, leaving!

Yurek! Come on!

Shh.

Uniform 6-4, left turn, left turn.

Romeo 6-4, I need to know before I get to the goddamn street!

You have to slow down. There's a delay

from the time directions are relayed

from surveillance to J.O.C., then to me.

We can't slow down! We're taking heavy enemy fire! We can't slow down!

Danny, I'm getting information from Orion surveillance above.

McKNIGHT: So get me my fucking directions to the crash site!

Danny, hold on. I no longer have the best view of your route.

McKNIGHT: Then get your ass in the right place, goddamn it!

What in the hell is the status of Struecker's humvees?

Colonel Harrell, E.T.A. to base, Struecker's column.

E.T.A. base momentarily.

Open the gate.

Get him out! Let's go! Let's go!

Come on!

Watch his head. Easy.

Blackburn, can you hear me?

Star 4-1 is at the crash site to evacuate the injured.

- Over. - Roger that.

I got you. Easy, easy.

Galentine, you all right? Galentine, Kurth, with me!

- Cover fire now. - Full cover!

Hey, Jones! How many are in there?

Two pilots are dead. Two crew chiefs are wounded.

This guy's hurt bad. We gotta get out of here now.

All right, go ahead!

2-6, 2-6, this is 2-5. Is that you shooting up the technicals? Over.

This is 2-6. Roger that.

DiTomasso, take the southeast corner.

We're setting up a perimeter. Over.

This is 2-6. Roger that. Moving there now. Move out!

Captain Steele, Captain Steele, come in.

Go ahead, 2-5. This is 6-4.

We got two wounded and we got both the pilots dead in the chopper.

We need a medivac over here now!

2-5, they're telling me it's too hot to land the bird.

You got to secure the perimeter first. Over.

Where are the humvees?

Be advised, 2-5, the convoy will be there.

They're encountering a lot of resistance. 6-4 out.

Get the 50 up!

You should see the crash directly ahead.

McKNIGHT: All I see is a roadblock!

All right. I'll have to figure out another way.

Give me a defensive perimeter so we can load the wounded.

Fire your weapon, Othic!

Tell my girls I'll be okay.

Othic!

Medic!

Hoo-ah!

Medic! Medic!

Joyce! Joyce!

Come on, help me pick him up!

McKNIGHT: Get us off this fucking street! Where's the crash site? Say again!

- Keep going straight 200 metres. - Roger that.

Let's go! Let's go, goddamn it! Let's go!

- Hey, Twombles. Come here. - What?

The humvees ain't coming back, dude.

What?

Were we supposed to go to them?

I thought they were supposed to come to us.

Shit. Shit, I think we're supposed to go to them.

Shit.

Okay.

- Let's go to the crash site. - Okay.

Just don't fire that thing so close to my head. I can barely hear as it is.

Okay, move out.

Shit! Get down!

What'd I just tell you?

I swear to God, you do that again...

You okay?

Nelson, you all right?

What?

Search and rescue bird on station, inserting medics.

Go, go!

Son of a bitch. C-2, this is 6-8. We've been hit.

Super 6-8, there is smoke coming from the top of your rotor.

Advise you to come out now. Roger. Dropping last man.

Art, I've got skinnies with R. P.G.'s at 12:00.

- Go! Go! - Can you see them?

- Got them. - Give me 90 degrees left.

6-8 coming out.

Super 6-8 is out. Over.

Hey, Wilkie, what's the situation in there?

Both pilots are dead.

2-5, we can't move these guys, Matty.

We'll kill them just carrying them.

- Stabilize in here? - Roger.

Stabilize in the bird. Repeat, stabilize in here. Over.

Understood, Wilkie. We got you covered. Over.

Super 6-4, come inbound and take Wolcott's position.

Roger. 6-4 is inbound.

Super 6-4, you all right?

This is Super 6-4. We're good.

You sure? You look like you got clipped pretty good.

Instrument panels are okay. No, we're good.

Got a slight vibration in the pedals, but we're good.

All right, put her down on the airfield, Super 6-4. Have it checked out to be safe.

Roger.

I'm getting a lot of movement in these pedals. Check the systems again.

We lost the tail rotor. It's gone.

6-4 is going down! 6-4 is going in hard!

6-4 going down.

We're going down. Wait!

Get Struecker's column back out there.

They need to get to Durant's crash site fast.

We got another bird down.

I want them out of there. All of them.

Captain Steele, we gotta move or we're gonna get pinned down!

We're moving just as fast as we can.

You let me do my job and you do yours. Over.

Fuck! Fuck! Ruiz, stay down! Medic!

Fuck this! Captain Steele, I'll take out the threat in the window.

We'll rally point at the grey building. Coming through, Captain.

- Sergeant! - All right, let's move!

- Move! Let's move now! - McKNIGHT: Move!

Cover me!

Let's go, let's move! Move out!

Friendly! Friendlies coming through!

Let's go, let's go, let's go! Move up!

Come on, come on, come on, come on!

Move it out! Move up! Go! Go! Go! Move up!

What the fuck are you doing out there?

I'm doing my job! We got to get to that crash site!

We got to get out on that street, and we got to move!

You have got to keep up, sir!

Don't you ever give me orders, sergeant.

We are combat ineffective, you understand me? We got too many damn wounded to move!

Then give me some of your shooters, and I'll circle us to the bird.

Grimes! You're with Chalk Four?

- Yes, sir! - All right, hook up with Delta!

Rejoin with Sergeant Eversmann.

The rest of you men secure this position, treat the wounded.

We'll wait for the convoy, then we'll rally at the crash site. Roger!

My guys, let's go!

C-2, I have two Delta snipers,

Shughart and Gordon, volunteering to secure crash site two. Over.

No, Super 6-2. Negative that request.

Can't risk another bird.

We don't see anything moving down there now.

We don't even know if anyone's alive.

A ground team is being organized to go in now.

- E.T.A. on ground team. Over. - Unknown, not long.

Do what you can from the air.

All right, gather around! Durant's 6-4 is down.

- We're going back in to get him. - That's crazy.

- Is there anyone alive on that? - Doesn't matter.

No one gets left behind. You know that.

- We're wasting time here. - All right.

Refit and max out ammo and grenades. You got five.

Sizemore, where the hell you think you're going?

- With you guys. - Not with that cast on, you're not.

All right, all right, all right.

Go get your K-pot. Hey.

- Talk to me. - I can't go back out there.

Thomas, everyone feels the same way you do, all right?

It's what you do right now that makes a difference.

It's your call. Hoo-ah?

Hoo-ah.

It'll probably help to wash the blood out of the humvees.

Sergeant Struecker!

Sergeant Struecker! Can I go, sarge?

- You got some ammo? - Roger that, Sarge!

Hop in!

Wait!

Let's go, Thomas. Get in!

Which way?

That way, I think!

Don't talk so fucking loud!

Nice donkey.

Rangers?

- Who? - It's Yurek, you fucking assholes!

- Fuck! - Dude, we almost fucking killed you!

- Well, come to us! - Fuck you! Come to me!

Sorry, Sarge!

Dude, where the fuck have you been?

Never mind. You brought NOD, right?

No. No, I didn't bring it.

You wanna know why? You said, "You're not gonna need that. We'll be back in a half hour."

I wasn't saying it to you.

- Aaugh! - Nelson, cover this way.

- We're gonna need night vision. - What's the matter with you?

- Huh? - Oh, he's deaf.

It's my fault. I... We need to get out of here.

That way. We can't be far from the crash.

Which way?

I thought you might know.

Let's move out.

Nelson, Twombly? Come in. Over.

Nelson, Twombly, come in. This is Galentine.

We need a position of the convoy. Over.

I can't raise them, sergeant. I can't raise them.

Sir, let's get the fuck out of here and evac!

- Let's move out! - All right!

Back to the stronghold! Come on!

Ground forces have occupied several buildings along Marehan Road,

but they're all spread out.

Eversmann's Chalk Four has set up a perimeter around Wolcott's crash site here.

DiTomasso is in the adjacent structure.

Captain Steele and about 40 men, Rangers, are here.

A couple blocks away. They're banged up pretty bad.

He set up a casualty collection point.

I don't think they're gonna be able to move.

Sergeant Sanderson and a small Delta team

are moving from Steele's position to the crash site as we speak.

Draw off fire! When this asshole stops to reload, cover me!

Go! Sir!

Again!

Loading!

Keep going! Keep going! I'm jammed!

I got it!

Ah, shit!

R. P.G.!

You all right?

- You okay? - Yeah.

I can hear bells ringing.

Come on!

Come on! Go!

There's a crowd advancing six, seven blocks from the crash.

Shughart and Gordon again request permission to secure until convoy arrives.

Over.

General, crowd's in the hundreds now.

From where they are, they can see things clearer than any of us.

They know what they're asking.

Let me talk to them. This is Garrison.

I want to make sure that y'all understand what you're asking for,

so say it out loud and clear.

We're asking to go in and set up a perimeter until ground support arrives.

And you realize that I cannot tell you when that might be.

- It could take quite a while. - Roger that.

- And you still want to go in there? - Yes, sir.

- Harrell? - Yes, general.

It's your call.

Roger that.

Goffena, put them in.

R. P.G.!

McKNIGHT: Set up your perimeter!

There's a fucking rocket in him, sir!

Othic, calm down, goddamn it! That's live ordnance! Now get out! Get out!

Son of a bitch.

All right, lift him up! Lift him up!

Easy, easy! All right, get him in there!

Good, good! Easy, easy!

Get in that truck and drive. But I'm shot, colonel.

Everybody's shot! We need the prisoners! Let's go!

Surveillance says to take Hawlwadig, then go straight.

McKnight, we need you to turn around and head back to Hawlwadig.

You're shitting me! We just came through there!

There's gotta be a better route!

That's the info I'm getting from J.O.C.

You need to turn around and head back.

Roger that, roger that.

I cannot believe this shit! Turn us around, Maddox.

They're trying to get us all fucking killed!

- Just get it over with! Drive! - Goddamn!

Get us out of here! Goddamn it, drive!

Keep your foot on the gas!

Keep your foot on the...

Fuck!

Shit.

C-2, Shughart and Gordon are on the deck. Over.

Roger.

Friendlies!

God, it's good to see you!

- It's good to see you. How bad? - My leg's broken

and my back feels kind of weird.

We've got to get you out of here, buddy. Pulling him out! Cover!

Wait. I... Aah!

Put you down.

C-2, we're at the 6-4 crash site, securing perimeter.

Roger that.

- You all right? - Yeah, I'm good.

You're locked and loaded. Any skinnies come around these corners,

you watch our backs. Hey, where's the rescue squad?

We're it.

McKNIGHT: All right, stop, stop, stop, stop. Maddox, stop.

Son of a bitch. Romeo 6-4, we're back where we started.

I'm running low on ammo, I got many wounded, including me,

vehicles that are barely running.

Okay, Danny, I need a no-B.S. assessment here.

Can you get to the crash site?

Colonel, I can't see shit.

Negative. With the amount of wounded we have, we'd do more harm than good.

We need to come back to base, rearm and regroup,

-...and then we can go back out. - Roger.

C-2, bring them back. Get them out of there.

Roger. Return to base.

We're going home! Let's go. Left.

Roger that. Understand. Convoy returning to base.

- What's up? - They're sending them back.

The convoy's headed back to base camp.

That makes sense, don't it? We need to exfil the wounded now

and get out of here before it's too late!

If Colonel McKnight went back to base, then he had a good reason.

- It changes nothing. - All right, listen up.

We're gonna hold the perimeter, and we're gonna hold the strongpoint. Hoo-ah?

Hoo-ah!

Conserve your ammo. Only shoot at what you can hit.

Hoo-ah.

The convoy's gonna come. We're gonna get home.

Loading!

Loading!

Randy, I need a pistol mag!

Loading!

Randy, last mag!

Gordy!

Fuck!

Gordy's gone, man. I'll be outside.

Good luck.

We need the 10th Mountain in there. Everything they got.

Pakistanis, Malays. I want their tanks and A.P.C.'s.

They still don't know we've gone in.

Look, we have stirred up the hornet's nest here. We're fighting the entire city.

I want every vehicle possible that's got four wheels and armour. Get it.

Get everything. Once they've assembled,

we're gonna move our men out of the hostile area and back to the Pakistani stadium.

The safe zone. Let's go.

Roger that, boss.

On your knees! Get down! Get down!

Stay with me. You just got a bullet in the leg.

See where those tires are burning? All that black smoke?

Roger. I can see it, but I can't get there. Over.

Go 100 metres past it. That's the crash.

Negative. You don't understand.

It's roadblock after roadblock. You have to find us another route. Over.

There ain't one. The only other route is all the way around the city.

Roger that. Kilo 6-4, this is Kilo 1 -1.

Request permission to move to crash site number two on foot. Over.

Green light, Kilo 1 -1 . Green light.

Stop the vehicle. Let me out.

After I'm finished with this, I'll whip you boys up some margaritas.

The usual. Blended, no salt.

This is Kilo 1 -2. We've got to change our position. Over.

Eversmann, come in. Eversmann.

Roger, who is this? Sanderson. Do not...

I say again, do not fire to the east. We are coming to you.

Understood. DiTomasso and his men are on the southeast corner.

We need you on the northeast building.

Roger. We'll take it.

Hey, watch out for skinnies. They're all over the rooftops.

They're in prayer, but not for much longer.

Hold your fire to the east.

Eversmann? It's Yurek.

I got Nelson and Twombly with me.

We got the chopper in sight. Where are you?

We're on the southwest corner.

Where the hell have you been? Are you okay?

Yeah.

Hold your fire. We're coming in.

We got to go.

Shawn, listen! Yurek's gonna run first.

When he gets across the street, he's gonna turn around and cover you as you run.

When you get there, you're gonna turn around and you're gonna cover me, okay?

You're not just gonna run to Eversmann's position.

You're gonna stop, you're gonna turn around, and you are going to cover me.

It's important you understand that.

Okay, you ready?

Yeah, I guess.

Hey! Don't forget.

- What? - Don't forget.

I got them in my sight. They're coming up on the west gate.

I see them.

Let's move out.

- Can you cover us, sergeant? - We got you.

Nelson!

Fuck!

Twombly!

Smith! No! You all right?

Get it off of me! Get it off!

Come on, man! Come on!

Doc! Give me some help with Smith here!

My leg! My leg!

Come on, Jamie, I got you!

Up, one, two, three. You're all right. You're all right.

All right. I need pressure on this wound.

My right thigh! Pressure, okay?

Are my balls okay?

You still have your balls. I need more men in here.

Twombly! Nelson!

Put him down. Oh, man, that really...

I need that chair. It really hurts!

Pressure. Direct pressure on that.

- Let me see it! - All right.

Let me get a look at that.

Oh, fuck!

What the fuck was that? It's all right.

Hold that down. I need a medivac now.

Galentine!

Galentine! Get me Captain Steele!

Sergeant? Sergeant Ruiz, how you doing?

They're not gonna come and get us.

They're not gonna come for us.

I need you to suck it up, sergeant. I need you to focus for me.

Can you do that?

Come on, 6-4! Come in. Over.

- Can you hold your weapon? - Yes, sir.

Anybody comes through that door, you give him two in the chest and one in the head.

- You understand? - I'm still in the fight, sir.

Captain Steele! Captain Steele, I need a medivac in here now! Corporal Smith's been hit!

- Hold on, 2-5. - Still in the fight.

He's hurt pretty bad. 2-5, we got wounded too.

You're just gonna have to maintain your situation. Over.

If he doesn't get to a hospital in a half hour, he's in trouble.

C-2, this is 6-4. I'm requesting an immediate medivac

for a critically wounded at Chalk Four's location. Over.

Command, Chalk Four is requesting medivac.

Can't risk it. It's still too hot.

Captain, we cannot send in medivac at this time. Sit tight. Over.

C-5, this is 6-4. Negative on the medivac. It's not possible.

J.O.C. cannot risk another bird.

You're just gonna have to hold on.

All right. I got him.

I want direct pressure on the wound. Yeah.

It's gonna be all right. It's gonna be okay.

This is Kilo 1 -1. I'm at the Durant crash site.

Roger that.

Crash site two secured.

Lieutenant Colonel Cribbs for you, sir.

Cribbs?

Sir, they're still debating the route.

How long?

At least a couple hours. We haven't got that long, Joe.

Pakistani general says since we didn't deign to inform him of the raid,

it's gonna take some time to mobilize the 10th Mountain and a hundred vehicles.

You tell the general this.

I understand, but it is my duty to remind him

that my men are surrounded by thousands of armed Somali militia.

It is imperative that we move them out of the hostile area

and into the safe zone.

I need his help now.

Yes, sir.

Durant.

- Michael Durant. - Yes.

You are the Ranger who kills my people?

I'm not a Ranger. I'm a pilot.

That's right.

None of you Americans smoke anymore.

You all live long,

dull, uninteresting lives.

What do you want with me?

You have taken hostages.

We have you.

My government will never negotiate for me.

Then perhaps you and I can negotiate, huh?

Soldier to soldier.

Hm?

I'm not in charge.

Course not. You have the power to kill, but not negotiate.

In Somalia, killing is negotiation.

Do you really think if you get General Aidid,

we will simply put down our weapons

and adopt American democracy?

That the killing will stop?

We know this. Without victory, there can be no peace.

There will always be killing, you see?

This is how things are in our world.

Mike Durant, we won't leave you behind.

Mike Durant, we won't leave you behind.

You got to take over for me. Both hands.

It's the femoral artery, but I can't see it,

which means that it's retracted up into the pelvis,

which means that I have to find it and clamp it.

It's the only way to stop the bleeding. I got no more IVs,

so I'm gonna need you to assist, okay?

Yeah, yeah.

Now, listen, Jamie. I gotta do something. It's gonna hurt.

Okay? I gotta cause you more pain,

but I have to do it to help you, you understand?

- Morphine. - I can't.

It'll lower your heart rate too far. I'm sorry.

Twombly, why don't you take his hands there.

I need you to hold the wound open. Keep pressure on the top of the leg.

Yurek, you're gonna take the feet and a flashlight.

On my count. All right, Jamie. All right.

One, two, three.

Wait, wait, wait. Okay. I feel it. I feel the pulse.

I got it. I got it. I got it, yeah. I got it. I got it.

- You got it? Good. - I got it. Clamp.

I got it clamped. Hold it. Got it.

Here, grab it.

It's tearing. I got it.

- Doc, it's going back in. - Hold it! Hold it!

It's tearing!

Okay, get out. Hold the wound. Okay, I'm holding.

Move your hand.

What?

Fix it?

Yeah, yeah. We got it.

What the hell are you doing?

It's all in the grind, sarge.

Can't be too fine. Can't be too coarse.

Grimesy, you are squared away.

Sarge, how'd you like a nice hot cup of joe?

- Gold Coast blend. - Sit down.

Let me take a look at that foot.

No, it's not a problem. Come on, come on.

- Where the hell did they find you? - Behind a desk.

No, really. Do you think I'm kidding?

- Anybody hit? - We're good!

- You all right? - Yeah!

Is everybody all right?

Yeah!

Incoming!

DiTomosso's hit. Pull him out!

Ranger here. This is Kilo 1-1.

This is Chalk Four. We're at the southeast corner of the crash site. Who's this? Over.

This is Hoot. I'm coming in with three friendlies.

I need some covering fire. Over.

Roger that, Kilo 1-1. Hold your fire!

Deltas coming in. Hold your fire.

Ground personnel will have to mark target positions with infrared strobes.

Get Little Birds on strafing runs and keep them going all night long.

If we don't hold back this city,

we're gonna have a hundred caskets to fill by morning.

Yes, sir. Colonel Harrell, ground personnel at crash site one

will have to mark the target with infrared strobes in preparation for air strike.

McKnight.

Between the 10th Mountain and U. N., we got enough personnel, okay?

Danny, you guys do not have to go back out again.

I can't die here, man.

You're not gonna die, all right? You're not gonna die.

I'm sorry.

You don't have anything to be sorry for.

You saved Twombly. You did perfect.

Yeah.

You okay, Twombs?

Yeah, I'm okay, Jamie.

You did what you were trained to do.

You should be proud of that.

Be proud of that.

Ev?

Yeah.

Do me a favour.

Yeah?

You tell my parents that I fought well today.

And that I...

That I...

That I fought hard.

You're gonna tell them yourself, okay?

Do you hear me?

All right?

Are the humvees here? They're coming, Jamie.

They're coming.

You just gotta hang in there a little bit. Hold on for just a little bit.

I can. I can.

It's nothing.

It's nothing. It's nothing.

It's nothing. Nothing.

Oh, shit. Hold the wound.

Doc.

Doc.

It's okay.

What are you doing?

We need the ammo.

You did all you could here.

They should've sent a medivac.

Right now we'd be out there defending another crashed chopper.

More men would get torn up.

- Maybe. - See, you're thinking. Don't.

Because, sergeant, you can't control who gets hit or who doesn't,

who falls out of a chopper or why.

It ain't up to you. It's just war.

Yeah, well, Smith's still dead.

Blackburn wouldn't have fallen, none of this would've happened.

Should have or could have, it don't matter.

You'll get plenty of time to think about all that later. Believe me.

Sergeant, you got your men this far.

You did it right today.

You need to start thinking about getting these men out of here.

Well, shall we?

I need four guns in this corner now!

R.P.G.!

This is Barber 5-2 in position for gun run.

Jesus Christ. Look at that.

This is 2-5! I can see you. You're right above me.

Eversmann, I can't tell who's who down there. Too much activity.

I'll mark the target with a strobe. Over.

Roger that.

You see it?

Nah. I can't see shit.

I'm putting it on the roof.

- You're gonna need some help! - Cover me.

Okay, guys, we're gonna lay down some cover fire for him! On three! Ready?

One, two, three! Go!

I got your position. I got the target. We re inbound and hot.

C-2, mini-guns dry. Request permission to return to base. Rearm. Over.

Roger that. Second team inbound.

Your station. On your location, four minutes.

All right, they're here. Get the wounded ready to move.

Move, move!

Lay down some cover fire!

I thought I heard a noise out here!

Get your men loaded up. We're getting out of here.

Yes, sir.

2-5, this is 6-4. Rescue column has arrived. We'll be at your location in about 5 minutes.

Prepare your men for exfil.

Yeah, roger that, sir! Roger that!

Five minutes! The convoy's gonna be here in five minutes!

I need a mag! Eversmann, I'm out!

Kurth, my last one!

The convoy's here!

Sergeant Eversmann.

I heard you guys needed a lift!

Yes, sir!

Bring your wounded right over there and start loading them up!

I got you, I got you.

It's okay. I want to walk.

Yeah, I would too. Let's go!

Move, move!

We get the pilots' bodies out, then we go to the stadium.

We're running out of room around here.

Just gonna have to cram into every possible space.

Okay, 10th Mountain provides security for armour, walks us out of the hot zone.

10th Mountain? No. Sir, with respect, my Rangers can provide rear security.

We'll walk you out of the hot zone, then jump on the last few vehicles.

Okay, let's get out of here. Let's go.

- All right, you got him? - Yeah, come on.

Come on!

These things are fucking bullet magnets. Come on, let's go!

We go when I'm ordered to, soldier!

Careful.

Easy, easy.

Colonel, what is going on down there?

They're dismantling the entire cockpit around the body.

How long's it gonna take? I need an honest, no-shit assessment.

I can't say.

Danny? No one gets left behind.

You understand me, son?

Yes, General.

Do what you have to do.

Roger.

All right, come on. Bring him through.

I got him.

Get all of his gear. Get the wounded out of here.

Got you, sir!

Go! Move, go, move!

Move out! Move out! Let's go!

Fuck!

Fire in the hole! Let's go! Move!

Let's go! Move out! Come on!

Open up the hatch! We got men back here!

- No room! - Go on the roof!

What's going on? The roof?

I'm not getting on no fucking roof!

- Sir... - No, no, it's full!

We're running out. Keep moving. Use the vehicles as cover.

Move it! Let's go!

All right, hold it up. Hold it up.

Let's go! Move, move!

Get down! Get down!

Get down, lady!

I'm out of ammo! Sanderson, I'm out of ammo!

Don't you do it.

What are you doing? Don't you damn do it.

Kurth, let's go!

Easy. Easy.

Ah, shit.

Bullet missed your jugular by about three millimetres. Don't move!

All right.

Hurry up, hurry up.

Grimes?

Little short on coffee, but I got you some tea.

How you doing, soldier?

Can't feel a thing.

Ruiz.

Hey, Sergeant. Hey.

- Captain. - Lorenzo.

How you doing?

It went in and out, so the medic said I should be okay, a couple of days.

- That's great news. - We going after them?

You bet your ass we will. We got to regroup.

Don't go out without me.

Don't go back out there without me.

I can still do my job.

You get some rest now, okay?

You going back in?

There's still men out there.

Goddamn.

When I go home,

people ask me, "Hey, Hoot,"

"why do you do it, man?"

"Why? You some kind of war junkie?"

I won't say a goddamn word.

Why?

They won't understand.

They won't understand why we do it.

They won't understand it's about the men next to you.

And that's it.

That's all it is.

Hey, don't even think about it, all right?

I'm better on my own.

Hey, we started a whole new week. It's Monday.

I was talking to Blackburn the other day and he asked me,

"What changed? Why are we going home?"

And I said, "Nothing."

But that's not true, you know. I think everything's changed.

I know I've changed.

A friend of mine asked me before I got here...

When we were all shipping out.

He asked me,

"Why are you going to fight somebody else's war?"

"What do y'all think, you're heroes?"

I didn't know what to say at the time, but...

if he asked me again, I'd say no.

I'd say there's no way in hell.

Nobody asks to be a hero.

It just sometimes turns out that way.

I'll talk to your ma and pa when I get home, okay?

"My love,"

"you're strong and you'll do well in life."

"I love you and my children deeply."

"Today and tomorrow, let each day grow and grow."

"Keep smiling and never give up, even when things get you down."

"So, in closing, my love,"

"tonight, tuck my children in bed warmly."

"Tell them I love them,"

"then hug them for me and give them both a kiss good night for Daddy."