"The world's most elite fighting force launches a bold rescue." "Within the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, hundreds seek safe haven." "Outside, a civil war erupts." "The Navy SEALs race into a nation in collapse... to save civilians and diplomats from certain death." "ln 1961, an elite team of special forces was created for covert operations on the sea, air, and land." "Their missions have been kept secret for national security reasons." "Who they are, what they do, has remained shrouded in secrecy." "Now, based on first hand accounts of classified operations, these are the untold stories of the Navy SEALs." "January 1991." "Civil war had erupted in the African country of Somalia..." "Rebel factions were fighting in the streets of the capital city, Mogadishu." "Standing in the midst of it all was the last safe haven of western democracy:" "The United States Embassy." "Not again." "Amy McCaffy, the Ambassador's assistant, had left the compound earlier in the day to evacuate her house." "Hold on!" "Upon her return she discovered a faulty gate was keeping her prisoner in the escalating pandemonium." "McCaffy had been in the foreign service for seven years, even taken the terrorist response course mandated for state department employees, but nothing prepared her for this." "There was anarchy in the streets." "The few marines assigned to the Embassy were outgunned and unprepared." "Widespread looting had broken out." "The situation was quickly becoming desperate." "I'll try it, it worked last time." "Teenage boys high on a drug named "kah", became armed terrorists." "Driving what they called "technicals", or pick up trucks mounted with machine guns, they would kill at random." "McCaffy finally made it inside the compound." "How long it would remain a sanctuary was not clear." "It was time to evacuate Mogadishu... but how?" "The U.S. Embassy was surrounded by the chaos in the streets." "Over a dozen armed factions were fighting the Somalian government troops for control of the country." "Lines of command were breaking down." "There were police assassinations..." "Civilians were terrorized..." "Government troops turned on their officers because they were from a different tribe..." "Ancient boundaries and loyalties were fast becoming the order of the day." "I need a secure line." "U.S. Ambassador, Frank James, a veteran diplomat had seen this coming." "Twenty-three years in foreign service had taught him one thing:" "diplomacy is the first thing to be sacrificed during a civil war." "Survival was the only law." "The ambassador and his staff had rehearsed for emergencies." "However they had not anticipated the failure of the telephones." "You'd better patch us through on the radio, State Department." "I'll need a little time for that." "I'm afraid we don't have time." "The Ambassador needed to get a message through to the State Department." "Hello, this is Ambassador James, US Embassy, Mogadishu." "K7 area overrun with government factions." "We've retreated to the embassy compound." "Transmitting by radio, he had no way of confirming that his message was received." "Two weeks earlier, as a precaution," "James had ordered all embassy families to be sent home." "At least they were safe." "With the rebel factions pressing in, he wasn't sure if he and his staff would ever see them again." "ln January 1991 the focus of America's military attention was in the Gulf preparing to oust Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait." "The world watched as military leaders mobilized a massive joint task force to invade Iraq." "War was imminent." "Pentagon officials were caught off guard by the crisis in Somalia." "It's from the State Department..." "Ambassador James." "The Pentagon war planners listened to Ambassador James' urgent message and call for help." "The embassy was surrounded and there was no way out." "The time for diplomatic solutions was long past." "Sir, the Ambassador says and I quote," ""There doesn't seem to be any government"." "The command staff quickly assessed their options." "Ambassador James had asked for paratroopers to be sent in from Saudi Arabia." "But paratroopers would be easy targets with so many Somalis on the ground wielding weapons." "Their only hope was a SEAL Team on board the USS Guam in the North Arabian Sea" " just the force needed for a complex evacuation." "The flag officers quickly devised a bold plan." "They'd have to send in the SEALs by helicopter under the cover of darkness, if there was any chance of rescuing the embassy staff." "Word had spread that the American Embassy was the last safe haven in the city." "Diplomats from every nation were asking for refuge." "Head of Security, Bob Gorman, realized the only way to silence the rebels' guns was to let money talk." "He had learned during his stint in Mogadishu that anything could be bought for a price," "especially now under mob rule." "The chief instigator of this practice was a man who dubbed himself Major Sayed." "Though he was only a local police official he ran his own protection racket and reign of terror." "He was an opportunist and quickly realized he could profit from the current chaos." "Desperate people will pay anything for even a small measure of security and the ragtag police force he controlled could offer just that." "Growing up in the inner city," "Gorman had witnessed local gangs intimidate their rivals." "He understood Sayed's methods and motives." "It was evening when Admiral Larry Walker got his orders to rescue the embassy." "Although his men were well trained, they had little time and information." "Walker needed both for a successful mission." "If there was one man he could trust to think on his feet, it was Lt. Commander Mike Dillon." "A veteran SEAL, Dillon had proven himself in several conflicts." "C'mon in, get yourself situated." "Beyond his tactical proficiency," "Dillon was politically savvy as well." "The admiral considered him perfect for the job." "But the mission would still be extremely difficult." "Getting there was the first hurdle." "The SEALs, along with a back up squad of Marines, would fly hundreds of miles by helicopter." "Using night vision goggles, the pilots would navigate through the darkness." "Your job is to get in there and make sure that the ambassador is secured and kept safe." "Any questions?" "Admiral, any idea what kind of firepower we're going to see when we're on the ground?" "Most likely there will be Ak-47s and..." "Once inside the embassy compound, they would reinforce and hold a perimeter tentatively held by the U.S. Embassy Marines on the ground." "The SEALs were to ensure the safety of the ambassador and to hold off any advancing forces until the ship could steam closer." "Then they could carry out a full scale evacuation." "Sir...we're receiving an unsecured message from Ambassador James." "Put it on speaker." "Hello, this is Ambassador James, U.S. Embassy, Mogadishu." "K7 area overrun with government factions." "Request you send rescue operation with all possible haste." "Let's go, gentlemen." "The SEAL Team left the deck of the Guam that night uncertain of what lay ahead." "They only knew that innocent people were trapped and needed to be rescued." "As the Americans waited for help to arrive..." "The embassy was overflowing with non-American diplomats seeking rescue." "The helicopter was nearing the African coast, as Dillon briefed his troops." "We haven't had a chance to discuss, let alone rehearse this scenario." "We got to get it right the first time." "Anybody been to Somalia?" "No, never." "Anyone can be an enemy or a friend." "Just remember to use your first weapon up here." "Let's be vigilant and professional, gentlemen." "Each man checked and rechecked his equipment." "Though they were safe for now, waiting and wondering seemed worse than any potential conflict that lay before them." "Tensions continued to escalate at the embassy." "Every life was bartered for... and the price continued to climb." "The payoffs to Sayed made the other rebel groups want a piece of the action as well." "Gorman was keeping Sayed at bay, but he couldn't begin to manage the volatility of the other groups." "It was only a matter of time until they initiated an assault." "Based on my calculations we're only a few minutes out." "We're going to be inserting from the south here, heading up over the airport." "Most of the fighting is in the northern section." "Boss, this map is outdated." "It's all they had on board." "Their information was obsolete." "Their intelligence data virtually non-existent." "They couldn't afford to reconnoiter the city looking for their touch down point." "They'd be the only chopper in flight around Mogadishu, making them an easy target." "There was heavy fighting in the north of the city." "The pilot took a low level insertion profile from the south hoping to dodge enemy radar." "Flying in at 150 knots and only 100 feet off the deck made for a rough ride." "But it was about to get rougher." "Hold on, we've been painted!" "The enemy radar found them and locked onto the chopper." "They dropped even lower and avoided enemy fire, screaming in at 75 feet above the ground." "It says the compound is surrounded by a large white wall." "There were no ground beacons for the aircraft to lock onto." "Negative, sir!" "Their maps were outdated." "The pilots navigated through the area using known visual reference points." "Damn it, where is this place?" "Every minute the chopper remained airborne, it was an open target." "Sayed was content with the money he had extracted from the Americans." "But word soon traveled like wild fire about cash reserves at the United States Embassy." "Determined to get their share, other Somali factions began storming the embassy." "They're coming over the walls." "The fighting in the street was spilling over into the embassy compound." "Amy, hit those lights." "Over a dozen rebels wielding AK-47s were seconds away from ransacking the embassy compound, and there was no way to stop them." "The six marines stationed at the embassy were no match for the attacking rebels." "When the SEAL Rescue Team finally saw the gleaming white walls of the Embassy, the situation was critical." "The Somali soldiers began their assault on the embassy." "Hold on, boys, while I thin 'em out." "The pilot banked the helicopter." "The 100 mile per hour downdraft blew the Somali looters off the wall like paper." "The SEALs were unaware that a few rebels had fallen inside the compound." "Once on the ground, first priority was to secure the embassy grounds." "Even one well placed bullet from close range could disable the helicopter." "You, you, check the rear grounds." "The rest of you, with me." "Contact left!" "Suddenly they were confronted by the rebels who had scaled the wall." "Extend the perimeter around that wall." "I don't want anyone within twenty yards." "Use whatever force is necessary." "Get inside!" "Tell them not to shoot!" "What?" "Who the hell are you?" "Ambassador James." "James recognized that no matter how dire the situation, diplomacy still must supersede military action." "...we don't want to be responsible for this situation escalating into a full scale conflict." "The order was clear." "They could not fire on any Somalis unless they were actually inside the walls of the compound." "Okay,...rules of engagement... take your positions and no shots fired... if a tango sets a foot over that wall, pop him." "Yes, sir." "Not returning fire placed them at a disadvantage." "But the SEALs followed orders, though it put their lives in danger." "Members of the SEAL Team took to the rooftops to gain better vantage points." "Word of the SEALs' arrival spread quickly through the streets." "The havoc outside the walls died down." "The soldiers and cruising technicals had disappeared... at least for now." "If you are ready to load the chopper now, we can take at least 60 people." "Excellent." "That'll cover... most non-embassy Americans and nonessentials." "They're ready now." "Though James and Gorman were anxious to evacuate, they worried about the helicopters drawing enemy fire." "Dillon insisted if they left immediately the Somalis would still be in disarray." "If we leave now, they won't be ready." "Dillon was finally able to convince the Ambassador." "We're wasting valuable time." "Dillon and his men would have to load the chopper quickly before the Somalis could respond." "The chopper could only hold 60 passengers." "But there were at least three times that many at the embassy." "The others would have to wait until the Guam got in closer." "Have a safe trip." "Go!" "Dillon got the first wave of evacuees onto the chopper." "But they weren't safe yet." "The chopper would be most vulnerable those first few seconds after liftoff, when a rocket propelled grenade could bring it down." "There she goes." "Thank you for flying U.S. Navy, ladies and gentlemen." "Sayed was furious that the helicopter had escaped." "Every departing American meant thousands of lost protection dollars." "The Major concluded that the Americans couldn't fit everyone inside the embassy on one helicopter." "As long as people remained in the embassy, he could exploit the situation for his personal gain." "An eerie calm descended over the embassy which only served to heighten the SEAL team's concern." "Were the rebels going to leave them alone or were they simply maneuvering into position for another assault?" "There was no time to wait." "The Ambassador's staff hurriedly prepared for evacuation." "Admiral, we've cleared the chopper." "We're not out of the woods yet." "Can you hold the compound until we return?" "We'll do our best, sir." "Admiral, we, I may be sending you some strange bedfellows." "James warned the Admiral that he'd be sending diplomats from over 30 countries." "Bringing "unfriendlies" on board a U.S. war ship could pose a security risk and Walker would have to prepare." "The Admiral was aware that the Guam was making good time toward Somalia." "But they had over 200 more people to evacuate before dawn." "Refugees still tried to make their way to the embassy... but that was becoming increasingly difficult... if not impossible." "We have a situation." "Three American citizens are stranded in the K7 area." "Husband, wife and child." "Why didn't they come when I sent out the warning three days ago?" "Their electricity's been out." "How far is it?" "Where did you say it was?" "K7." "About six blocks." "Six blocks through a shooting gallery of rebel forces." "It could be a suicide mission for the SEALs despite its noble objective." "Because of his extensive experience," "Dillon would have to lead the team, leaving a few of his men behind under Gorman's command." "Let's go." "The embassy still had two of its light armor utility vehicles that hadn't been destroyed or lost to extortionists." "An embassy marine would serve as navigator." "He was familiar with the streets, but negotiating the surrounding chaos was anyone's game." "SEALs are trained to think clearly in the midst of uncertainty." "And Dillon was determined to assess and respond without distraction." "Go left, we'll dogleg over." "James could not officially authorize the use of weapons outside the compound." "However, it was understood that the SEALs would use whatever force necessary to rescue the stranded Americans." "Commander Dillon wasn't going to provoke an incident." "If he could avoid using his weapons, he would." "Something's up, watch your six." "Copy that." "Nothing back here." "Training had taught Dillon to not to let the opposition eliminate one's options." "Correction, sir." "We have a little traffic behind us." "Looks like a technical..." "Thanks, I see it." "I'm giving these ace mechanics up here another second." "It's a trap." "Back up!" "Back up!" "Back up!" "We're boxed in, Sir." "We're boxed in!" "Follow my lead." "Stay close." "The rescue party reached their destination but the family wasn't at the rendezvous point." "Where are they?" "They were supposed to be right in the doorway." "Alright...plan B." "Stay with the Sergeant and guard the vehicles." "You two are with me... we're going in." "Though the building was quiet, the SEALs remained vigilant." "Searching for the family endangered his team as well as the primary mission objective:" "evacuating the embassy." "Yet Dillon proceeded." "Drop you weapons!" "Drop your weapons!" "Now!" "Now!" "Drop your weapons!" "..." "Let them go!" "Let them go!" "..." "Dillon kept to his objective." "They had to find the family..." "and they had to find them soon." "They thought they had found the right place... but what greeted them certainly didn't sound friendly." "Drop your weapons." "Now!" "Now!" "Drop your weapons." "Drop your weapon!" "Drop your weapon!" "Now!" "Now!" "Don't shoot." "Put it on the ground, sir." "Put it on the ground, sir, slowly." "slowly." "Now step away from the weapon." "Let me see some identification, please, slowly." "Very slowly, sir." "You could have gotten yourself killed, sir." "Alright, let's get out of here." "Follow me." "Back at the embassy the sentries waited for the return of the rescue team." "It was quiet...maybe too quiet." "Hey, guys, what's going on at the front gate?" "Over." "Not sure yet, but it looks like we've got company." "lncoming!" "The rebels had launched another attack." "What the hell is happening?" "Damn, that was close." "As they stopped to reload, the Rescue Team returned to the embassy." "Outflanked, the rebel soldiers fled." "Situation diffused." "We see you, the gates opening." "The Guam continued toward the East African coast at flank speed." "Admiral Walker had calculated the number of helicopter trips." "He'd need to evacuate the embassy." "They could do it, but there could be no delay." "They unloaded the first evacuees and immediately turned the helicopter around." "Unbeknownst to Walker, diplomats from other countries were pouring into the embassy looking for safe passage out of Somalia." "Ambassador James and his staff were faced with the most difficult decisions." "Only American citizens and those with proper passports could be evacuated without violating international law." "Even Somali nationals that had worked at the embassy for years had to be left behind." "It was diplomatic triage and James certainly didn't relish the task." "The streets outside the embassy remained a powder keg ready to explode." "But the SEALs would not be provoked." "They're back." "Here's the chopper." "They landed safely again." "However, with the rebels now aware of the helicopter, the second trip back to the ship could be even more dangerous than the first." "The Somali's could lock onto their flight path and possibly bring the aircraft down." "One o'clock, I've got five, that's nine..." "Boss, looks like we've got visitors at the gate." "On my way." "Friendlies?" "That's a negative, boss man." "Not unless the Welcome Wagon is driving around with anti-tank guns." "Major Sayed had returned." "His arrival threatened the evacuation effort." "What do you think, boss?" "I don't know." "Let's take a look." "Take my left." "Request permission to speak to Ambassador James." "ldentify yourself." "I am Major Sayed." "You got him covered?" "Like a fly on sugar." "Just hold him. I'll be back." "He's got an anti-tank gun on his truck, 10 men, and a grenade in his hand." "Ambassador James and Gorman explained to Commander Dillon that Sayed had been soliciting bribes for safe passage." "But Dillon saw a way to turn the tables on Sayed." "If Sayed were brought onto the compound and isolated from his men, he'd be powerless." "And we can evacuate everyone without a firefight." "I think it might just be the breakthrough we need." "Ambassador, I have to insist that you wear this." "The meeting was risky." "But they counted on the one thing that would distract Sayed... money." "One wrong move by Sayed and we take him out." "He's on embassy grounds." "I won't hold fire on this." "Absolutely." "The boarding evacuees would have to wait for James and the SEALs to deal with Sayed." "You'll hear us each step of the way in the earpiece." "My snipers will be covering you from up top." "We'll say "clear" on your every step." "If you hear "left", you immediately drop to your left." "Alright?" "Cough if you understand." "Good luck, sir." "Major Sayed." "Ambassador." "What can we do for this evening?" "Dillon demanded that the Major hand over his grenade." "He had to disarm Sayed if he was going to achieve his objective." "If you wish to continue to speak with the Ambassador we're going to have to insist..." "Sayed reluctantly agreed to give up his weapons." "And the radio." "But the Major wouldn't relinquish his radio." "If their plan was to be successful, they had to get the radio." "You on him?" "Counting his breaths, sir." "Dillon had emphasized to the Ambassador that he was about to enter the diplomatic negotiation of his life." "One wrong move on his part and they would all pay a price." "Come in, Major." "Please, Major, have a seat." "The Ambassador's first task was to put the Major at ease." "Though Sayed was there to negotiate," "Dillon had an alternative purpose... to buy time until the helicopters could leave." "To ease tensions." "Their every move was being watched by the SEALs just outside." "Sayed probed to find every opportunity he could to profit from the American's predicament." "He even offered to protect them during their evacuation." "Ambassador James downplayed the evacuation saying they were simply relocating staff until things settled down." "Start loading them up." "With Sayed distracted, they could now continue with the evacuation." "But before they could fly, they'd still need to get that radio." "The chopper is loaded and ready to take off, sir." "Then my men can help..." "We can't let him talk to his men." "We need to get that radio." "I think we understand one other, Major." "Amy, would you bring the keys to the cash box please." "Thank you." "If you would follow me, Major." "The ploy worked." "Sayed had left his radio." "The helicopter made a run for it." "Sayed's men didn't fire." "If they did, the Americans might kill Sayed." "Sixty more evacuees were on their way to the ship." "But there were still many left to go." "It would take only ten minutes for the next helicopter to arrive." "The "negotiations" continued without a hitch." "Would you consider this an adequate down payment?" "The sound of the music blocked out the helicopter's departure and the money placated Sayed." "As soon as the next helicopter arrived, another group of evacuees moved to the landing area." "Dillon's plan was working like clockwork." "Cigar, Major?" "The Ambassador continued to play the generous host, buying precious time." "Another drink?" "One by one the choppers came and left with their cargo." "Sayed was playing right into their hands." "The plan was on track." "By now, the Guam was just off the Somali coast." "The choppers were turning around in minutes." "The Somali soldiers were becoming alarmed." "Sayed might be held prisoner." "ls that the last of them?" "One more group, sir." "How's the Ambassador holding up?" "Like long lost friends." "Aged...aged in oak." "Dawn was minutes away." "This was the last time the chopper could safely land under the cover of darkness." "Everyone leaving the embassy had to be on this last helicopter... including the SEALs." "That's the last of them, sir." "We've got an empty house." "Round up the men. I'll get James." "The Somali soldiers could wait no longer." "They began their assault." "We're ready to go, sir." "What?" "My radio!" "You lied!" "Major..." "Major, the United States likes to keep its friends riding in style." "James offered the embassy's Mercedes if the Major would insure safe passage." "Sir, it's time." "But before the helicopter was fully loaded, the Major's men forced their way into the compound." "The Ambassador and Dillon didn't know if Sayed would take their final bribe, or retaliate and shoot down the last helicopter." "They're breaching the perimeter." "They're coming through the front gate." "They've breached the compound." "They've breached the perimeter." "Let's go, let's go, let's go." "But leaving now was a gamble they'd have to take." "There was no time to lose." "The embassy was under attack." "Everyone present and accounted for?" "Yes, Sir." "Let's go." "Let's out of here." "The Major, it seemed, had kept his word." "The last of the evacuees safely cleared the compound." "But the celebration was short lived..." "An evasive move by the pilot barely dodged an incoming missile." "Commander." "My men and I need a lift to the Trenton." "Can we get a chopper?" "Not yet." "The Admiral wants a debriefing with you and your SEAL team immediately, down in the conference room." "So much for rack time." "Later they would learn from news reports that the entire embassy was overrun and ransacked by the rebels." "They had just made it out." "The fate of Major Sayed and the other Somali soldiers is unknown." "Overall, it was a mission executed flawlessly." "281 people rescued:" "including 8 ambassadors, 4 charge d'affaires and 41 children." "When people look back on the Somalia embassy rescue some might say they made it look easy... but for Dillon, James and the others, they knew..." "the only easy day is yesterday." "Thank for your watching."