Former U.S. Army Ranger and country music artist Keni Thomas reflects on the battle that inspired the book and film Black Hawk Down while encouraging convention attendees to lead by example.
The 104th National Convention of The American Legion in Charlotte, N.C., officially kicked off Tuesday morning at the Charlotte Convention Center with a story of heroism, inspiration to Be the One, and music of honor to all who have served.
Former U.S. Army Ranger and country music artist Keni Thomas served as master of ceremonies and opened the convention floor by sharing the story of his fellow brothers that was recounted in the book and Hollywood film “Black Hawk Down” and encouraged American Legion attendees to lead by example.
Thomas was a member of Bravo Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion that deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, to find and capture warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid. On Oct. 3, 1993, the men of the Task Force Ranger were in an 18-hour firefight, outnumbered 10 to 1 – 19 Americans died and 78 were wounded. Thomas received the Bronze Star for Valor for his bravery in combat.
“There’s so many stories I can tell you from this battle, but there’s one I think makes the point about Be the One,” Thomas said, referencing The American Legion’s suicide prevention initiative. “That person who can set the example for others to follow.”
Following his military service, Thomas founded the band Cornbread and is a motivational speaker and leadership coach at the Downrange Leadership Development Course. Leadership was the emphasis of his remarks, knowing that those in the audience understood what it means to be a leader. When Thomas came into the Ranger Regiment, “they were very clear about what leadership is. It is the example we set for the people we serve.”
In sharing about the Battle of Mogadishu, Thomas wanted Legionnaires to think about “What example am I setting? And who are the people on my left and my right? Because there’s always someone on your left and your right. The story earns the right to say is when we need you to do that for each other is when it’s hard. We don’t need you when it’s easy. We can do it ourselves.”
The service to others was visible on the battlefield Oct. 3, 1993. Thomas said the mission of capturing the wanted warlords “went down flawlessly … 35 minutes from start to finish we wrapped this thing up. Then everything changed and that’s when the first helicopter got shot down. The mission has now changed.”
Watching the Black Hawk helicopter go down, “I can’t believe it’s happening,” Thomas added. “And then we have a choice to make. And that choice is who do we want to be in that moment?
“I always thought do the right thing but if I asked you what the right thing is, I would get different answers … unless every single morning you stood shoulder to shoulder and you recited your Ranger Creed. Every single morning, we stood there in formation, and we said the Ranger Creed. We said things like I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemies. When you say something over and over again you begin to believe it. If you believe something you will live it. Instead of me telling you to do the right thing, what I ask you is who do you want to be in that moment? Because who we want to be will always dictate what we do. When someone else is in trouble, you will move to help.”
But moving to help other isn’t something everyone does as most people have been told all their life to watch out for themselves, Thomas said. “The problem with that way of thinking is that it doesn’t work. Nobody takes the hill alone.
“The voice on my shoulder says I have to do something I didn’t want to do. I have to step out of my comfort zone and go do something that’s hard. Nobody wants to go do something that’s hard, but you will when it’s in the service of others.”
Thomas took the Legionnaires back to the mission when the Rangers were moving to the crash site and being fired at. “The volume of gunfire is crazy over the top. Long before they ever made a movie, we called that moment Hollywood because I’d never seen anything like it.”
Within minutes of the crash the men were told they were outnumbered.
“Because we were so outnumbered, when one goes down, you got two or three guys that move to help him, you’ve got gaps in the line. The gaps start getting wider and wider and it starts becoming a little bit overwhelming. This is when I saw people doing things that were incredible. Everyone in this room would agree that just because we wore the uniform doesn’t make us a hero. But what I saw on that battlefield when guys started getting hurt was nothing short of acts of valor. If you asked the guys why they did what they did it would be the same answer you would give, ‘You would have done it for me.’
“Remember that day you raised your hand … what you learned in basic training and what you learned at your unit and what you learned on the battlefield and what you learned in your time in service is that I am here in the service of others. Can you imagine if we can turn that mindset around to this way of thinking in our nation? Instead of it being me, me, me and we start thinking about how do I serve others so that we as a country can do better. Who are you leading? Who are you following? What example are you setting?”
Thomas reflected on wars back to Gettysburg and why men and women raise their hand to serve and sacrifice for their country. If you ask Afghanistan veterans, “We weren’t fighting Isis. We were not fighting the spread of global war on terrorism. The only thing that you fight for is each other. That’s it. Each other is enough if you told yourself every day that I am here in the service of others. That my calling is to be here for my comrades.”
In closing, Thomas performed his song “The Last Band of Brothers” inspired by a World War II veteran visiting the gravesites of his battle buddies at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Convention