Memories of Black Hawk Down

STERLING – Every soldier who served during the Somalian conflict deserves a chance to tell their story, retired U.S. Army E4 Chris Dever said Saturday.

In front of a large group at the Latin American Social Club, Dever and six other men did just that.

The seven men – four of whom served with the 10th Mountain Division QRF based in Fort Drum, N.Y., and three Army Rangers – shared their stories Saturday during “Operation Christmas in Kuwait,” a fundraiser to send Christmas gifts to the Rock Falls-based 1644th National Guard unit deployed in Kuwait. The transportation company known as “Rolling Thunder” left the Sauk Valley in July. It’s hauling cargo throughout Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn. The deployment is expected to last about 400 days.

Saturday’s event was sponsored by Amazing Grace Church of Sterling.

Dever, a church member and event organizer, said the church wants to send TVs, video games, sporting equipment, and board games to the men and women of the 1644th.

Before the event, the church raised about $1,500 through donations and various raffles. In the end, Dever said the church hopes to raise $5,000.

The outpouring of support from the community during Saturday’s fundraiser was “amazing,” Dever said.

He added that the church hopes to do the fundraiser again next year.

Speaking on a panel, Dever was joined Saturday by Joe Holcomb, Avery Ivey, and Scott Davis, all who served with the 10th Mountain Division; and Army Rangers John Collett, Dale Sizemore, and Brad Paulsen.

In the 1990s, Americans led a U.N. force that intervened in Somalia in an effort to fight famine. The mission led to clashes between the U.N. forces and Somali warlords, and during the operation, two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were shot down.

The operation led to the Battle of Mogadishu, more commonly known as Black Hawk Down, on Oct. 3-4, 1993.

Some of the wounded survivors were trapped near the crash site; a battle ensued overnight and early the next morning, a task force of soldiers from the Pakistan and Malaysian armies and the 10th Mountain Division was sent to rescue the trapped soldiers.

The operation is depicted in the 2001 movie “Black Hawk Down.”

Dever, who served in the Army from 1990 to 1994, deployed to Somalia just after the Black Hawk Down incident.

During one mission, his unit was attacked while searching a vacant apartment complex. During the attack, Dever was shot in the stomach.

Many years later, Dever was searching Facebook to track down the men he served with and stumbled upon the “Black Hawk Down Diaries,” a project that aims to tell the stories of American, Pakistani, and Malaysian soldiers who served during the conflict.

“It’s a way for the younger generations to know the stories of the individuals who were there,” Dever said.

Several local officials attended Saturday’s fundraiser, including U.S. Congressman Bobby Schilling, R-Colona.

Addressing the crowd, Schilling said it was an “honor for me to be up on the stage with a group of heroes.”

Schilling, who sits on the House’s Armed Services Committee, also praised soldiers in the 1644th.

“They understand that what their cause is, and what they’re fighting for, is bigger than each and every one of us,” Schilling told the crowd.

During the event, Dever, Schilling, and Amazing Grace Pastor Loren Schlomer presented the men with a plaque to honor their service during Somalia. They also presented a plaque to three members of the 1644th who attended Saturday’s event.

To help

To donate, or for more information, call Amazing Grace Church, 815-625-9300, or go to Facebook and search for “Operation Christmas in Kuwait.”