Eversmann is the leader of Chalk Four. Put in charge of the 12 men by default, he is eager to prove himself in combat, like most of the men. By the mid-point of the battle, Eversmann is exhausted and frightened. He can no longer remember why he was so anxious to experience combat. His appetite for fighting changes so drastically during the 14 hours of fighting that he begins to question the purpose of being in Somalia. 

Howe is the leader of the Delta unit in the raid. He is a lethal fighter and is proud to be a Delta operator. Howe scorns lower-echelon military men and has little patience for the Rangers. He often feels as if he has to act as a babysitter for troops without Delta training. His attitude often puts him in conflict with other leaders, such as Mike Steele. Howe is an example of the friction that can exist even between groups and leaders who are committed to the same goals. Even among a group of brave, macho, skilled fighting men, he stands out as particularly aggressive and even arrogant. This creates morale and loyalty with his own men, but causes some of the Rangers, and other leaders, to feel disrespected.