BY Justin Walker
Sunday October 2, 2022
GEORGETOWN, Ky (WTVQ)- A competition in Georgetown Saturday
paid tribute to fallen American heroes. The Mogadishu Mile Team Fitness
Competition honored 19 men who died in Somalia 1993- while fighting for our
country. Their deaths nearly thirty years ago still has an impact on those who
serve today.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the sacrifice that
rangers have made before. Not just rangers, but everybody that was there on
that fateful day,” said Jack Baker of the 3rd Battalion in the 75th Ranger
Regiment.
Held at Queenslake Farm, the event is organized by the
Kentucky Wounded Heroes organization.
“You’ve got 19 stations. And that number 19 that is in
remembrance of the 19 that were killed. At each station we have a picture and
some information on one of the 19 that lost their lives in Somalia,” said Chuck
Reed, the director of the program.
Teams of four from colleges, high schools, and current
servicemen and women compete, doing all kinds of exercises. This year, dozens
of teams showed up to compete.
“To me personally, it’s heartwarming. Folks come out and
they wanna be reminded. They wanna remember the cost of freedom,” said Reed.
Current members from the same regiment the 19 served in were
also invited this year to take part.
“It makes it a little more personal at that point,” said
Baker.
The group was honored to be in the Commonwealth.
“It’s great to see good people here, supporting the
military, supporting the cause. And its great to get together and remember a
day like this. We’re honored to be invited, and honored to be here,” said
specialist Sam Trama.
As they honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“They laid the groundwork and its talked about all the time.
Those men really became the tradition, and like you said, the legacy that is
the 75th regiment,” said Baker.
To learn more about the Kentucky Wounded Heroes, click here.