One of the scariest modern battles in U.S. military history, the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu is shown in the 2025 Netflix documentary series Surviving Black Hawk Down, which was directed by Jack MacInnes and produced by Ridley Scott Associates. In this battle, which is also known as the “Black Hawk Down incident “ U.S. troops fought Somali fighters for almost two days after three Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. The operation, which started out as a U.N. mission to keep the peace, turned into a bloody battle in which 18 American soldiers and hundreds of Somalis died.
Former Army Ranger David Diemer is one of the people telling this unforgettable event in history. His story is one of grit, survival, and change. David has had an amazing journey. He went from living in the streets of Mogadishu to becoming a leader in the security business.
DAVID DIEMER’S LIFE IN THE MILITARY
David Diemer didn’t always look like he would be a great soldier. In his early years, he wasn’t very focused—he wasn’t interested in school or public service. But everything changed when the ‘Gulf War’ hit the news in the early 1990s. David decided to change the course of his life after seeing how well the U.S. military was doing. He gave up his carefree lifestyle to join the Army’s prestigious ‘75th Ranger Regiment’ and go through the tough Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP).
He did very well in his training and was sent to the 3rd Ranger Battalion, where he quickly started going on dangerous missions around the world. ‘Operation Gothic Serpent’ was one of these missions. Its goal was to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. For David, his part in this operation would be the most important event in his life.
Taking two of Aidid’s lieutenants was supposed to be a simple mission for David and his fellow Rangers, who set out on October 3, 1993. Instead, they were attacked in the streets of Mogadishu, which were very crowded. Things got worse and worse until there was an 18-hour battle that would be immortalized in Ridley Scott’s movie Black Hawk Down.
David has a clear memory of how intense that day was. He stayed calm even though there was gunfire and chaos around him. He thinks this helped him stay alive. He had to be able to think quickly and fight well as he moved through the dangerous Urban battlefield. David was always determined to keep fighting for his fallen friends, even when he was told to stop fighting.
THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE
David stayed in the military for a few more years after the Battle of Mogadishu and made it through it. He was honorably discharged in 1997 and was given many awards, such as the Airborne Wings and a Bronze Star with a “V” Device for Valor. But it wasn’t easy to go back to normal life. David had a hard time getting used to life after the military because it was so different from the structure and adrenaline of service.
David didn’t let his experiences make him who he was in a bad way, though. Instead, he found a new job in security, where he could use the skills he had learned in the military in the civilian world. In 2003—he started working in this field when he was hired by Blackwater Protection as a Security Specialist and Tactical Commander.
BUILDING A CAREER IN SECURITY
David quickly became one of the most sought-after security experts because of his skills and good name. Over the years, he did everything from protecting famous people to running security operations in places like ‘Iraq and Africa’ where there was fighting.
David became an Instructor and Deputy Program Manager at USIS in 2005. He taught others how to do operations to stop terrorism. After that, he worked for SAIC in Iraq as a Shift Leader, making sure that important people were safe in dangerous areas. In 2009, David got one of the most important jobs of his life: he became Chief of Security for a Forbes Top 5 principal and his family in New York City. He kept this job for almost ten years.
David’s next big step in his career came in 2011 when he started REACH 29, a security company owned by veterans that provides full-service protection and tactical solutions. As the CEO of REACH 29, David has grown the business into a world-class security service for clients all over the world. Presidents, ambassadors, dignitaries, celebrities and Fortune 500 executives are among his clients. His company specializes in a wide range of services, such as mission planning, close protection, and self-defense training.
WHERE IS DAVID DIEMER RIGHT NOW?
David Diemer now splits his time between New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida, where he still runs REACH 29. He went through one of the most dangerous battles in modern military history and now he is protecting some of the most important people in the world.
David is still very connected to his military roots—even though he has had a lot of success in the private sector. He still uses the things he learned in the ‘Rangers’ in his business and in his everyday life. His ability to stay calm—think strategically and lead under pressure make him an inspiration to both veterans and people who want to work in security.
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