military leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid, which was called a "personal vendetta." On July 12, 1993, Howe oversaw the event Somalis call Bloody Monday. According to American war correspondent Scott Peterson a group of Somali elders had gathered at a house to discuss a way to make peace to end the violence between Somali militias and the UN forces. The gathering had been publicized in Somali newspapers the day before the attack as a peace gathering. After being tipped off by an undercover operative, American Cobra attack helicopters launched TOW Missiles and 20 mm caliber cannon fire at the structure. According to a Somali survivor, American ground troops killed 15 survivors at close range with pistols, a charge American commanders deny. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross there were over 200 Somali casualties. Four Western journalists were killed at the scene by Somalis following the attacks. Howe claimed that the mission took out a "very key terrorist planning cell" and that no civilians were killed. He stated "we knew what we were hitting. It was well planned." The event is considered a turning point in the war as Somalis turned from wanting peace to wanting revenge, ultimately leading to the Black Hawk Down Incident. Human Rights Watch declared that the attack "looked like mass murder." Personal life Howe is author of the 1971 book Multicrises: Seapower and Global Politics in the Missile Age. Admiral Howe was married to Dr. Harriet Mangrum Howe, whom he met in high school; her father, Richard C. Mangrum, was a U.S. Marine Corps general and served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and his father, Hamilton W. Howe, was a Navy Admiral. She was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of North Florida. Admiral Howe has six grown children, and currently resides in Florida. Awards and decorations On January 13, 1993, after retirement, he received the National Security Medal. Navy Surface Warfare Officer insignia Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia with six gold stars Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with two award stars National Security Medal National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with service star Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Notes External links Interview with Admiral Howe about Somalia 1935