On October 3rd, 1993, U.S. Forces were ordered to capture Somali warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid and high-ranking members of his faction as a part of Operation Gothic Serpent. A force of fewer than 200 Rangers held off thousands of Somali militiamen who flooded the streets of Mogadishu. Intended to be a mission lasting no more than an hour, the Battle of Mogadishu turned into the most intense combat operation that U.S. troops have engaged in since the Vietnam War. By the end of the 18-hour firefight, U.S. Forces lost two Black Hawk helicopters, 70 soldiers were wounded, and 19 men gave the ultimate sacrifice.