Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War

Air Force parajumper Tim Wilkinson climbs into Wolcott’s wrecked helicopter. He sees that pilot Ray Dowdy is still alive but is not fully conscious. Sergeant Mabry comes in to help him free Dowdy. Somalis fire on the helicopter, wounding Mabry and Wilkinson with shrapnel and shooting off the tips of two of Wilkinson’s fingers. 

Howe approaches Nelson’s position near Wolcott’s Black Hawk. After knocking down the gate to a residence, he leads his men into a courtyard, getting them off the street. They secure and explore the house, which will be their command post for the rest of the night. Captain Miller tells Howe to go back to the street and help the team. Howe, a Delta man, resents the order. It seems to him that “most of the men failed to grasp how desperate their situation had become” (207).

Outside, Howe sees Nelson across the street shooting at one of the windows in the building Howe has just cleared for use as their post. Nelson does not know Delta has occupied the building. Howe is furious when he sees Rangers selectively shooting armed Somalis, and he begins throwing grenades wherever he sees people, just to clear space. He does not believe that they can afford to adhere to the rules of engagement if they are to survive.