To be trapped behind enemy lines is every soldier's worst nightmare: a situation all fighters train for, few experience and even fewer survive. From the producers of National Geographic Channel's critically acclaimed LOCKED UP ABROAD and Inside THE HUNT for the Boston Bombers, new series No Man Left Behind combines gripping personal testimony with vivid reenactments and archival footage to shed light on the stories of modern war heroes and special agents who overcame incredible odds in some of the most hostile environments on earth. Premiering in the U.S. tonight, June 28, at 9/8c, NO MAN LEFT BEHIND is produced by Raw TV and will premiere globally on National Geographic Channel in 171 countries in 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com or follow us on Twitter using @NGC_PR.
Pilots shot down in hostile territory, Army units who strayed into the kill zone and DEA special agents on covert operations that spiraled dramatically out of control - in their own words, these heroes share their incredible and deeply personal tales of valor and survival. Gritty and visceral dramatic scenes combine with archival footage to deliver an all-too-real perspective on some of the most memorable and tragic war stories of modern time. And, a glimpse into the survivors' current lives reveals how these battle stories stay with them forever, haunting their present and shaping their lives. Wherever these survivors are, moments in everyday life can trigger vivid memories and emotions from the past.
In the special premiere episode, No Man Left Behind: The Real Black Hawk Down tells the extraordinary true-life story of the downing of two Black Hawk helicopters during a deadly battle in Mogadishu between U.S. special forces and Somali militia that inspired a best-selling book and feature film. Reunited for the first time on camera, the pilot of the downed helicopter and two of the soldiers involved in the battle recount the intense details of one of the most horrific scenes in U.S. military history since the Vietnam War.
In powerful detail, former U.S. Ranger Randy Ramaglia, former U.S. Ranger Keni Thomas and former Black Hawk pilot Mike Durant describe their terrifying battle for life in the 1993 operation gone horribly wrong. The three men were among the 120 elite U.S. soldiers - made up of the Delta Force and U.S. Army Rangers - who came under unexpected attack by overwhelming Somali forces and had to fight for their lives.
Ramaglia and Thomas describe the terrifying, brutal night they spent combating enemy militia and contemplating their uncertain fate before making it to safety. Durant, who piloted one of the downed helicopters and was held captive for 11 torturous days, reveals the emotional, physical and psychological effects of the ordeal.
He recalls the moments after the crash: "It was just incredible intense pain coming ... I can't move, I can't run, I can't hide. I could hear the mob starting to overcome the site. And, it's hard to explain, but it felt like death approaching. And I knew that in all likelihood when they discovered me, they would kill me. And I distinctly recall the clouds going by overhead and believing that would be the last thing I would ever see."
Additional episodes in the six-part series include the story of Lt. Col. Dale Zelko, whose Nighthawk stealth fighter was shot down over Serbia during a NATO mission; British Special Air Services Operative Chris Ryan, who was separated from his squad and escaped Iraq after evading capture in the desert for seven days and eight nights; and DEA Special Agents Charlie Martinez and Kelley McCullough, whose intelligence mission in the war on drugs in Colombia ended in a bloodbath.
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