Georgetown Horse Farm Site of Mogadishu Mile Competition and Ongoing Veteran Support
Written by Kathy Witt
“A soldier dies two deaths—when he takes his final breath and the last time his name is said.”
If John Chmela had his way, no soldier would ever die that second death.
Chmela and his wife, Claire, own Queenslake, a 140-acre sport horse farm, bed and breakfast and wedding venue located in Georgetown in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. It is here, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5, 2024, that the Fourth Annual Mogadishu Mile Military Fitness Competition will take place. The event is a tribute to the bravery shown during Operation “Gothic Serpent” in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.
“This is an exhilarating obstacle course competition that pays tribute to the 19 American soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives during the infamous Battle of Mogadishu,” said Chmela.
The Chmelas have hosted the competition since 2021, but John Chmela has supported veteran causes for many years.
“For me to even have this farm wouldn’t be possible if not for the veterans who fought for our freedom—the freedom to pursue happiness and live the life we want,” said Chmela. “Because of that, we owe these guys.”
Chmela credits his father—a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War and who lives on the farm at Queenslake—for inspiring his work with veterans and for teaching him by example that the best way to live an abundant life was to find a way to serve people.
“Thank you for your service is a nice thing to say, but it’s not enough,” Chmela said. “We need to find a way to walk that talk and actually thank veterans for their service.”
The Mogadishu Mile, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident, was a special operations mission by U.S. troops to provide aid to Somalia that escalated into a fierce 18-hour urban battle when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by Somali troops, the surviving U.S. troops divided and trapped in the hostile city. Despite overwhelming odds, the soldiers demonstrated remarkable bravery, particularly during the evacuation known as “The Mogadishu Mile.”
The course for the competition is designed to simulate what those 19 soldiers went through. It involves teams navigating a rigorous obstacle course that concludes with a one-mile run while carrying 35-lb rucksacks.
“It promotes physical fitness, teamwork and meaningful connections among participants while honoring the memory of fallen heroes,” said Chmela. “This year we will have over 100 teams of four participating, including soldiers that fought in Mogadishu.
“It is a big deal that these guys are coming here,” he added.
Each station on the course is dedicated to one of the 19 soldiers who lost his life in the Battle of Mogadishu, ensuring his name and sacrifice are not forgotten. As participants echo the names of these fallen heroes, the event transcends physical endurance, becoming a living memorial. It serves to indefinitely postpone the “second death” of these soldiers, keeping their memories alive with each iteration of the race.
“We keep repeating these soldiers’ names, year after year, so they aren’t forgotten,” said Chmela.
The competition, which gets underway at 8 a.m. on Oct. 5, will be preceded by the Mogadishu Mile Appreciation Dinner on Oct. 4—a new special event designed to honor the organizations and individuals who have contributed to the success of this event over the last three years. The evening will feature a selection of food and drinks, entertainment and both silent and live auctions.
In addition to hosting the Mogadishu Mile Military Fitness Competition, John and Claire Chmela have an ongoing commitment to helping veterans through various outreach initiatives. The couple regularly hosts Veterans Fishing Retreats, gathering large groups of veterans several times each year for fellowship and fishing fun, and invites individual veterans to participate in fishing activities every Sunday.
“These therapeutic retreats and fishing outings serve as much-needed respites from isolation,” said Chmela.
Additionally, the Chmelas are planning the construction of a dedicated Veterans Fishing Lodge at Queenslake, which will allow veterans to visit anytime, engage in social activities and stay overnight at the farm.
For more information about this year’s Mogadishu Mile Military Fitness Competition and the Mogadishu Mile Appreciation Dinner at Queenslake Horse Farm, the Veterans Fishing Retreats and the Chmelas’ ongoing work with veterans, visit www.queenslake.com/helping-veterans.
To register for the Mogadishu Mile Military Fitness Competition and purchase tickets for the dinner, visit www.registermoga.com.
Author: Kathy Witt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
