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Watch: Special Operations veterans recount experiences during the Battle of the Black Sea

(Photo courtesy of the Modern War Institute)

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Col. Larry Perino, Col. Lee VanArsdale, and Command Sgt. Maj. Kyle Lamb recently sat down with the Modern War Institute at West Point to discuss the Battle of the Black Sea. They participated in Operation Gothic Serpent which the public is largely familiar with through the book and film “Black Hawk Down.” The interview contains a terrific overview of what happened in the lead-up to October 3rd, 1993, when Delta Force operators and Rangers were pinned down and engaged in a massive firefight with militias in Mogadishu. Also in the interview are some outstanding notes from Sergeant Major Lamb and Colonel Collins (the moderator) about tactical planning, manifesting troops, how over-planning for operations can slow things down on target, and comparing missions in Mogadishu to later missions in Iraq.

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  • Brandon M

    Began watching this and caught the line from COL Collins, something to the affect what remains true is that the best team in C Squadron isn’t as good as the worst team in B Squadron. Then SGM Lamb said something about it standing for “C you when we get back.” George was in C wasn’t he? I know they came in a few days after the battle.
    During and after my time in the service I’ve had the occasion to meet some interesting people, Larry Perino was one of those people I met briefly in a professional setting after my time in the service. In my hometown I had gotten to know a grandmother of one of the Rangers killed in Somalia. When I met (at the time) LTC Perino I asked if he’d been the Ranger’s PL to which he responded that soldier had been in DiTassmo’s platoon and he talked about when CPL Smith had been shot.
    I’ve always said the world is a small place, in the military it is infinitely smaller where periods of service overlap. I’d worked under a COL at one point that prior to that had been LTC Perino’s BN commander when he was a CPT.
    The video was interesting and informative to watch. Nothing really beats hearing the story from primary sources who can give details not found in books or movies. It is something I continue to enjoy as a fan of history, particularly military history, being able to read autobiographical stories on here and see the videotaped interviews of primary sources.

  • Jim J

    An excellent presentation. Many honest lessons learned from all the participants. Forgive me if I don’t cry crocodile tears as the rep from Minnesota appears to be doing.