THE BATTLE OF MOGADISHU & THE "MILE"
The Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, represents one of the most intense urban combat operations involving United States Special Operations forces since the Vietnam War. Task Force Ranger—comprising U.S. Army Rangers, Delta Force operators, and Special Operations Aviation personnel—deployed to capture high-value targets under the command of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
During the engagement, two U.S. MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenades. A fierce, 15-hour defense of the crash sites ensued under relentless militia fire. In the final phases, nineteen American soldiers lost their lives, and dozens were wounded.
The historic "Mogadishu Mile" refers to the tactical egress executed on foot by Special Operations operators from a secondary crash site. Lacking seats in the limited armored rescue vehicles, these men ran under heavy small-arms and rocket fire along a dangerous urban route to reach an extraction point managed by UN forces.
THE FALLEN NINETEEN
Dedicated to the nineteen heroes who fell during the Battle of Mogadishu (October 3–4, 1993).
MSG Gary Gordon
Medal of Honor Recipient
SFC Randy Shughart
Medal of Honor Recipient
SSG Daniel Busch
Delta Force
SFC Earl Fillmore Jr.
Delta Force
MSG Timothy Martin
Delta Force
SFC Matthew Rierson
Delta Force
CPL James Smith
75th Ranger Regiment
SPC James Cavaco
75th Ranger Regiment
SGT Casey Joyce
75th Ranger Regiment
CPL R. Kowalewski
75th Ranger Regiment
SGT Dominick Pilla
75th Ranger Regiment
SGT Lorenzo Ruiz
75th Ranger Regiment
SSG Wm. Cleveland
160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
SSG Thomas Field
160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
CW4 Raymond Frank
160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
CW3 Clifton Wolcott
160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
CW3 Donovan Briley
160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
SGT Cornell Houston
41st Engineer Battalion
PFC James Martin Jr.
10th Mountain Division
THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE MOGADISHU MILE KENTUCKY
Kentucky’s First, Longest-Running, and Continuous Host
"There is a saying in the military community that a soldier dies twice: once on the battlefield, and a second time when people stop speaking their name. To ward off that second death, our ultimate hope is that one day there will be dozens of Mogadishu Mile events across Kentucky—and we genuinely support every effort that honors our nation's fallen heroes."
Patriarch Bill Chmela (Age 92, USAF Veteran 1956–1959) and Founder John Chmela at Queenslake Horse Farm — Kentucky's Founding & Continuous Host.
When honoring warriors who gave everything in service to our nation, the setting matters. Sacrifices of this magnitude demand grounds that are reverent, majestic, and truly worthy of their memory. Queenslake was chosen not merely as a venue, but as a permanent sanctuary—an extraordinary 140-acre working horse farm framed by a pristine 40-acre lake, dozens of magnificent horses, rolling Bluegrass pastures, and sacred woodland trails. There is simply no other location in the Commonwealth that offers the vast scale, grandeur, and safety required to host hundreds of athletes, Gold Star families, and patriotic citizens without compromise.
In 2021, Queenslake set out with a clear, solemn purpose: to honor the fallen nineteen of Task Force Ranger and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. Grounded in the lifelong dedication of the Chmela family—inspired by patriarch Bill Chmela, a 92-year-old United States Air Force veteran—Queenslake permanently dedicated these grounds to our nation's military heroes. We are proud to serve as Kentucky’s original, longest-running, and premier annual Mogadishu Mile Kentucky tribute as we prepare for our 6th consecutive gathering at Queenslake Horse Farm on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
We acknowledge and welcome the growing interest in new Mogadishu Mile events across the Commonwealth. It is gratifying to see our operational blueprint and Queenslake event photography serving as a foundation for other organizers in Kentucky. We fully support every race taking up the mantle, and we consider each new tribute a major success for the cause.
Our core commitment remains unchanged: to keep the names of our nineteen fallen heroes alive. To anyone stepping up to organize a new event, we stand ready to help promote your efforts and share the operational standards Queenslake has developed over the past six years.
Let's work together to make Kentucky the premier state for honoring our veterans—spanning from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and when it comes to honoring our fallen, expanding these tributes is a powerful way to ensure they are never forgotten.
6 Years • Family Legacy
Founded at Queenslake by the Chmela family in 2021 as Kentucky's first and sole continuous annual tribute, holding an unbroken 6-year operational legacy.
140 Acres, 40-Acre Lake & 60+ Horses
A professionally managed, safe 140-acre working horse farm featuring a 40-acre lake, 60+ horses, and dedicated on-site EMS throughout the course.
Three Rangers & Night Stalkers
Kentucky's authorized Battalion Sponsor of the Three Rangers Foundation (holders of the official Mogadishu Mile emblem) alongside our dedicated support for the Night Stalkers Foundation.
19 Permanent Memorials
Exclusive home of the permanent 19-station steel & limestone memorial trail, the Friesian horse caisson procession, and the annual Guitars For Vets Music Festival.
HISTORICAL PORTAL & EVOLUTION
Explore the historical evolution of the Mogadishu Mile. Click on any card below to view its official tribute poster, operational highlights, and professional action galleries. (Requested downloads will be delivered in full high-res without watermark. To purchase directly from photographer, call Rebecca Dimon 502.403.7671).
2021 Event
Inception of the memorial event at Queenslake. Localized team fitness run with initial temporary trail markers.
2022 Event
Formalized team fitness competition. Expansion of physical obstacles, trail networks, and spectator areas.
2023 Event
4-person team outdoor challenge. Features professional skydiving exhibition by Team FASTRAX and live concert.
2024 Event
Expanded course layout. Installation of permanent steel memorial markers along the farm's limestone walls.
2025 Event
Transition to two-day event. Silent horse-drawn caisson funeral procession, live bands, finish-line tattoos & massages.
2026 Event
Free entry race + Guitars For Vets Festival. Adds replica combat service rifles to squad gear, BeaverFit Station #1 "PAIN", Mogadishu Cup, and Epic Fury Monument.
1993 Battle
Combat action photos of Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, honoring the courage and sacrifice of the Fallen 19.
Patriarch Bill Chmela (Age 92, USAF Veteran) with family at Queenslake Horse Farm
THE CHMELA FAMILY LEGACY
The Mogadishu Mile Kentucky is hosted and managed by the Chmela family on their 140-acre estate, Queenslake Horse Farm. Founded by John Chmela, the tribute was established with a profound conviction: honoring warriors who gave everything demands a setting that is reverent, majestic, and truly worthy of their sacrifice. John and his wife, Claire Chmela, direct farm operations, hospitality, and bed & breakfast services alongside their daughters, Hunter and Aspen.
The core inspiration behind Queenslake's veteran advocacy is John's father, Bill Chmela, a 92-year-old United States Air Force veteran (1956–1959). His legacy of service forms the bedrock of the family's dedication, transforming their private 140-acre sanctuary—with its 40-acre lake, 60+ horses, and sacred trails—into a permanent home of remembrance, community support, and equine rehabilitation for our nation's heroes.
QUEENSLAKE VETERANS INITIATIVE
The Queenslake Veterans Initiative is an in-house initiative operated year-round at Queenslake Horse Farm. Supported by donations from the Mogadishu Mile and farm events, the initiative funds programs designed to provide peace and restoration to former service members.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Your donations directly fund these free programs for local veterans.
MAKE A DONATION