Shawn Nelson (Ranger)

Shawn Nelson (b. Atlanta, Georgia) was a United States Army Ranger who served in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Battle of Mogadishu

During the Battle of Mogadishu, Nelson was a M60 gunner. Most notably, he was the first soldier to see Cliff Wolcott's Black Hawk crash. After trying repeatedly to be heard over the crowded command radio channel, he decided to push out to the crash site to help rescue the Black Hawk crew. Seconds after he made his decision, Captain Michael D. Steele gave permission and he was joined by First Lieutenant Tom DiTomasso and another eight Rangers from Chalk Two.

Black Hawk Down film

In the movie Black Hawk Down, Nelson is treated partially as comic relief. Specialist Lance Twombly and he are left behind when the "Lost Convoy" leaves the Olympic Hotel. After a lull in combat, they realize that they have been left and fight through the city towards Wolcott's Black Hawk. In the process, Nelson is deafened when Twombly fires his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon close to his head (which also happened during the actual battle).

After the Rangers

After the battle, Nelson left the Rangers and worked as a trail guide in the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, until he re-enlisted into the Navy in 1997, hoping to become a SEAL.

External links and references

http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/dec14/wherenow.asp (Inquirer Black Hawk Down)

*Bowden, Mark. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, 1999, Bantam.