In late August of 1993, an elite special operations force called Task Force Ranger (TFR) was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia to find and capture a criminal warlord named Muhammed Farrah Aideed. TFR was un-precedented and formidable fighting force made up of the US Army’s Delta Force Commandos, US Army Rangers from the 3rd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Air Force Operators, Navy SEALS and the Nightstalker helicopter crews of the US Army’s 160th Special Operations Air Regiment. On the 3rd of Oct, TFR launched a daring daylight raid into downtown Mogadishu where 21 Aideed's top officials were meeting in secret. While the initial raid was a success two Blackhawk helicopters would be shot down while the assault force, with its prisoners, were waiting for extraction! The mission now changed from a find and capture mission to a rescue mission for the downed members of the two crashed Blackhawks. This rescue would turn into the 18 hour Battle of Mogadishu or as Somalia’s were to name it! The Day of the Ranger. The heroics of the men in TFR both from the air and on the ground, fighting to save each other, is an extraordinary story of courage, perseverance and commitment and this event will commemorate the bravery of those both fallen and living who took part in this battle.
You must complete both Tough events to earn the coveted Day of the Ranger patch.
Gregg retired after faithfully serving this Great Nation for over 42 years. Those 42 years are compiled of 20 years military service, 5 years as a Department of Defense Contactor and my final seventeen years as a Government Civilian Program Manager developing capabilities to keep the Nation safe from Weapons of mass destruction. Gregg joined the Army in 1985, went to the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1988 and successfully donned my Green Beret in December of 1988 whereupon he joined 10th Special Forces Group in Germany. During Gregg’s Army career he deployed to Desert Storm, Provide Comfort and more importantly to Operation Gothic Serpent where he earned a Silver Star for his actions on the Ground in Mogadishu Somalia on 3/4 October 1993 as part of Task force Ranger. Gregg has fully retired from the Federal Government in October of 2022. Gregg is a father of 5 wonderful adult children and the joy of my life is my two beautiful Granddaughters.