Unbreakable Bonds | No Man Left Behind
I think if you want to know the story of Blackhawk Down, then go look it up on the internet. Go watch the movie; read Mark Ball's book. You'll get a great historic version of what happened, and you'll get a bit of a human perspective. I'm sure Ridley Scott set out to tell a human story.
I've got no desire to tell you the history of Blackhawk Down. What I want you to know is about the example that these guys set, and I hope that that inspires you. 'Cause I know what people are capable of doing, and I would love it if you would go out there and live up to what you're capable of doing.
I just think it's better for all of us if you were to hear this story. If you were to sit down with Randy or me, or you were to sit down with Mike and hear his story about all those days in captivity, it would be personal to you. You would have a whole different perspective. It's not just a historic event, you know? Eima isn't just something that happened in a history book. Normandy was not just a big event; there were people, and these were stories.
Every bomber that ever flew over Europe had guys in it, and they all had a story. They had a life. Why did they do what they did? At the end, when it comes down to it, they did what they did for each other. And again, I think it's a shame that out here in the real world, it takes something like somebody dying and us making it out of something where others didn't for us to realize that that's what it's about. That's why we're on this planet, is to take care of each other.
You're not put here to take care of yourself, and that was not the point. You've been given all kinds of gifts and tools and weapons and skill sets. What are those for? They're not for you to go—there's nothing wrong with having a big bank account, but that's not why you have those. Your gifts are given to you only to the extent of how you help others.
I really think that you learn that in an environment where it's as close to tight-knit as, you know, the Rangers or the SAS or the Marine Corps or the Delta Teams and SEAL Teams. I think you learn that when you know how much you have to count on each other and you want it back. I think that's like—we none of us missed the job, but we all miss each other.