On this episode of Veteran Et Cetera, Mike Kim discusses the overlooked aspects of the Battle of Mogadishu with Mike Kurth. Mike Kurth served as an Airborne Ranger with 3rd Ranger Battalion from 1991-1996. He is known for being a significant figure in the Battle of Mogadishu. Kurth has been portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down and wrote about his Mogadishu experience in the highly acclaimed book The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts from the Men of Taskforce Ranger (2005).
The award winning documentary show Frontline provides this biography of Mike Kurth during the Battle of Mogadishu: He was a Helicopter Radio Operator for Sgt. Watson, Chalk III - Super Six Six. Basic mission was to update the Commander on their position and situation and keep Sergeant Watson in contact. Physically stayed with Sergeant Watson on all the missions, except the October 3rd -- had to be pulled for security as well as do the radio communications. He was 24 at the time of the ambush.
Mike Kurth is an influencer to many veterans and civilians as a member of GoRuck and many other veteran organizations and causes. When he is not helping vets, he excels in management for the bar and restaurant industry. Kurth comes from a long line of family members who served in the military.
We are pleased to have Mike Kurth share his narrative on Veteran Et Cetera.
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Veteran Et Cetera
Veteran Et Cetera goes beyond the headlines and Hollywood tropes to unpack the depth and complexity of veteran life after service.
Hosted by Mike Kim, a war vet, ex-monk, seasoned trauma therapist, and longtime observer of veteran culture, this podcast takes a thoughtful, unfiltered look at what it means to transition from the battlefield to the homefront. Drawing on decades of experience, Mike explores the evolving stories, struggles, and perspectives that shape the lives of those who served.
Each episode tackles topics often left out of the conversation: identity shifts, media myths, moral injury, social disconnection, and the quiet work of healing. Mike also invites a mix of veterans and civilians who challenge conventional thinking and share personal insights from inside and outside the wire.
Forget the idea of a veteran-civilian divide, it’s really a gap in awareness. Veteran Et Cetera is here to close that gap, one conversation at a time.
Meet the Host
Mike Kim is a psychoanalyst, ex-monk, combat veteran and retired US Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center site director/lead war trauma readjustment counselor with more than 20,000 clinical hours in facilitating war trauma therapy. He has helped veterans, active/reserve military personnel and their families since the early 1990’s. Mike began his military service in 1986 and he has intermittently served in the U.S. military through 2009.
Mike is a graduate of Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont, Yale University, and the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma. He is passionate about his research in war trauma/readjustment and veteran/military culture from an interdisciplinary cultural studies approach at Teachers College, Columbia University as a doctoral candidate. Google “Mike Kim Veteran” to learn more about war and veteran culture.