Contact: Kay F. Jones
In an April 25 public program at Mississippi State, a Clay County native will share his experiences as a United States Army helicopter pilot during the 1993 American military incident that inspired the book and motion picture, "Black Hawk Down."
Randy Jones of West Point will speak at 7 p.m. in the Colvard Union ballroom. An 8:30 p.m. screening of the 2002 Academy Award-winning movie will follow in the same location.
Jones' presentation is sponsored by the university's Campus Activities Board.
Now a special assistant to City of West Point mayor and board of selectmen, Jones was part of the planned 90-minute, Oct. 3 mission by Army Rangers and Delta Force members in the Somali capital that evolved into 17 hours of urban warfare now known as the "Battle of Mogadishu." The most violent U.S. combat firefight since Vietnam, the ambush by Somali men, women and children resulted in the deaths of 18 Americans and 350-1,000 followers of local warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid.
For more information, telephone the Campus Activities Board at (662) 325-2930.