(Photo Credit: US Army / Wikimedia Commons)Gordon wanted to assist the helicopter, but his request was denied. His request was denied twice before finally being approved on the third request. MSG Gary Gordon - Airborne Ranger in the Sky For their acts, they were awarded the highest military decoration, Medal of Honor, for the first time after the Vietnam War. They set up a defense perimeter and gave Durant a rifle to protect their rear, since he was the only one in condition to help them. At the same time, Gordon returned to Durant and calmly asked if there were more weapons (he was out of ammo) and then retrieved some from the down Blackhawk, and began to reengage the attackers. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. Entered service at: Born: Lincoln, Maine. Body recovery in Mogadishu? (1993) : r/Military - reddit.com [11], Herbert Shughart, Randall Shughart's father, attended the Medal of Honor presentation ceremony at the White House, where he refused to shake hands with U.S. President Bill Clinton. The next biggest part of the build, that is also the hardest part of the build, is to get a red dot on the rifle like Shugharts. 1st Class Randy Shughart, who gave their lives to save their fellow soldiers during the fierce Battle of Mogadishu, are the focus of the latest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army's series on recipients of the nation's highest award for valor. In 1996, the US Navy held a ceremony in Newport News, Virginia, during which it named the roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gordon. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. . The ship was the first "Large Medium Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) ship" to undergo conversion from a commercial container vessel to a sealift cargo ship.[14]. If youve never heard of this rifle or you dont understand the fascination with it, let me say that its not just the rifle its the story behind it. Were the bodies of Black Hawk Down recovered? - TimesMojo News outlets broadcasted searing images of mobs dragging the bodies of dead Army Special Operators and helicopter crewmen . Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. They risked their lives without hesitation.. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. The same honor was bestowed upon Randall Shughart a year later, when the roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Shughart was named in a ceremony at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego. "We've had a lot of people come forward wanting to help. Gary Gordon and Sgt. On October 3, 1993, during an assault mission to apprehend advisors to the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Black Hawk helicopter with the call sign Super Six-One was shot down in the city. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. While its believed Gordon was the first to die, the official version states it was Shughart. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. The story of both Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon during Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu is one of bravery and sacrifice. GunSpot was created to be the one spot for everything gun-related. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper. The initial insertion attempt failed and they had to insert about 100 meters away from the crash site. The events of this mission have been well documented in the book Blackhawk Down, and the movie of the same title that was based on the book. Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. On October 3, 1993, during an assault mission to apprehend advisors to the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Black Hawk helicopter with the call sign Super Six-One was shot down in the city. M14. His actions saved the pilots life. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to be brought home here," The New York Times previously reported. Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart were the only soldiers participating in Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu) to receive the military's highest honor and the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War. They were tasked to provide sniper support from the air during the battle, but things went wrong after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. "If our people had cleaned it, they might've done a light sand blast at best, but they would actually do the painting of the engraved parts by hand," he added. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. By this time, more Somali militiamen were arriving intent on either capturing or killing the American servicemen. Who was the real hoot in Black Hawk Down? Gary Gordon. Did the two delta snipers that defended the Super Six Four - Quora Stay up to date with what you want to know. Police officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Shughart and Gordon are dropped 100 meters from the site and the two men held off a horde of Somali attackers and ultimately saved the life of the lone survivor of the crash, Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant. He joined the Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. On a new IBD podcast, Jon Najarian explains 0DTE options and their unintended impact. It was intended to last an hour, but ended up extending into the next day. They did that, even though large numbers of armed Somali militia were converging the area. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordons carbine. He chose to be a husband and father and never wavered in those roles. Its on GunSpots YouTube channel right now. Designed to support up to a battalion-level assault, this . Though Delta Force generally chooses its candidates from within the Armymost Delta operators come from the 75th Ranger Regiment or the Special Forcesthe group also selects individuals from other branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, National Guard and even Navy SEALs. The only way to rescue survivors was for the Gordon-Shughart-Hallings copter to go in. When superiors reluctantly approved the mission, Gordon grinned and gave a thumbs up, but Hallings had to stay behind to man the minigun because its operator was wounded. The men wanted to get on the ground, check for survivors and defend the crash of Six-Four. Armed with their sniper rifles and sidearms, Shughart and Gordon were inserted approximately 100 metres (330 ft) from the crash site and made their way to the downed Black Hawk. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. I have the utmost respect for the two men and, as a gun enthusiast and creator, I wanted to do a project that could honor their memory. Gary I. Gordon, for their actions on Oct. 3, 1993. He initially served with the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Special Forces, then became a sniper for the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, better known as Delta Force an elite Army anti-terror unit. Did we just find them one day? On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. Gary Gordon wouldn't give up while aiming to rescue fellow soldiers trapped in Somalia in 1993. The information and content are subject to change without notice. Before painting, I took the gun out of the stock and the handguard off as well as the rubber buttpad. Both operators died in the battle. Shughart-Gordon Urban Operations Training Center ("MOUT Site"), US Army Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana. In the movie, which was released in 2001, it looks as if the rifle has a split rail mount. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Were the bodies of the American soldiers/pilots killed in - Quora How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? Ridley Scott directed the movie. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. The pair landed 100 meters south of the crashsite and, armed with sniper rifles and pistols, fought their way to the downed Black Hawk. It was later reported Durant initially misidentified who was killed first, but did not wish to change the official record. Aidid suffered a gunshot wound in the ensuing battle. 1st Class Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions to secure the site of one of the Black Hawk crashes to recover survivors. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. Guns like an M16A1, a Rhodesian baby poop camo-painted FAL, the FNC, the M1 Garand, etc., are all guns I hope to add to my gun safe one day. A California-based mortuary service said it was highly unusual to conduct repairs or work on gravestones without notifying the family: "We don't do it unless the family requests it," the 30-year mortician said to Insider, adding that he did not want to be identified. Gordon, 33, was a sniper team leader with the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, otherwise known as "Delta Force.". Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. After putting the gun back together, I ended up putting on a National Match leather sling to get the same look from the film. Like I said earlier, I didnt do anything that wasnt strictly aesthetic. At about 16:20, one of the Black Hawks, Super 61, piloted by CW3 Cliff Elvis Wolcott and CW3 Donovan Bull Briley, was shot down by an RPG-7. As such, the US Army sent in its Special Forces to protect the humanitarian efforts and prevent the continued rise of the warlords. Shughart went back around the helicopter's nose and held off the mob for about 10 more minutes before he was killed. On October 3, 1993, during Operation Gothic Serpent, an assault mission to apprehend advisers to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the Black Hawk helicopter with the call sign Super Six-One was shot down in the city. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted 25 of their own men dead with many more severely wounded. Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? At the time, MSG Gordon was Sniper Team Leader during a joint-force assault mission to apprehend key advisers to Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and the warlord himself if possible. Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordans Seriously Mysterious podcast. Incredible Stories of US Servicemen Who Received the Medal of Honor Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. . In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. Both men's bodies were recovered. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. On May 23, 1994, Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor under . Deadly Price. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. Following the announcement, the Lincoln Police Department received an outpouring of support for repairing the gravestone. As they monitored the downing of the 2nd Blackhawk it was evident that ground forces would not be available anytime soon to secure the crash site and protect the crew of four, whom all survived the crash. The Commands position was that three of them could be of more assistance by providing air cover. 12 'Dirt Cheap' Stocks Are Due For A Rally, Analysts Say, Top Funds Shovel Billions Into These Five Sectors, Tech Stock In Buy Zone As It Joins Sector Leaders' Final Four, "For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart,". Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. From the start of the mission up until nightfall, the movie sticks close to the book. Randy Shughart | Detailed Pedia One was us and the other was his comrades. Shughart deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger operations. If they had not come in, I wouldnt have survived. For their bravery and actions beyond the call of duty, the United States government awarded both Shugart and Gordon the Medal of Honor, the only snipers to have ever received the MOH. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? "This was an example of direct, honest communication and extremely high trust between a team leader and higher command," said Clayton Chun, author of "Gothic Serpent" and chairman of the Department of Distance Education at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. "The snipers' training, adaptive thinking, values and commander's confidence in them allowed them to unequivocally accept the very high risk and take action.". Gary Gordon and Sgt. ". The thoroughness of the pages after the story in the book all seem to indicate that Mark Bowden wrote it very, very diligently. After completing basic training, he successfully finished infantry advanced individual training (AIT). When they reached the downed Super 64, Gordon and Shughart extracted the pilot, Chief Warrant OfficerMichael Mike Durant, and the other crew members from the aircraft. The story and the iconic look of Shugharts M14 make it one of the most famous military firearms in cinematic history as well as military history. Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Learn all the ways IBDs top investing tools can help you succeed in the market! The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. As a Delta operator, he advanced to Team Sergeant. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart and Master Sgt. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. While providing critical suppressive fire at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. *Real-time prices by Nasdaq Last Sale. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crews weapons and ammunition. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. For the sling, I actually got an older used sling so that it had that worn aesthetic to make the rifle look like its seen some hard use. As a person with an interest in guns, movies and military history, its rewarding to take on projects where all those line up. Gordon wanted to be inserted to secure the crash site as hostile Somalis were converging on the area. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. The showdown pitted 160 special operations soldiers arriving in 19 helicopters and 12 vehicles against 3,000 Aidid men. Medal of Honor recipients For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. The critical lesson is to never underestimate your enemy. Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . Where is Randy Shughart buried? Master SergeantGary Ivan Gordon was born on August 30, 1960, and died on October 3, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia. He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. He then drew his pistol and held off the attackers as long as possible, eventually being mortally wounded. As militants swarmed closer to the crash site, finally they were allowed to get on the ground. Your email address will not be published. Shortly after, Shughart was killed, the site was overrun and Durant was taken hostage. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Kings University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. Two Delta snipers fought and died in the Battle of Mogadishu. The story of Black Hawk Down began when Delta Force arrested 20 Somalis. During the mission, a Black Hawk helicopter (Super Six-One) providing air support was shot down. I tried looking it up and all it said was that the bodies were dragged through the streets and I couldn't find anything about how the US eventually got the bodies back. Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant was already defending the aircraft with an MP5 but was unable to move from his chair due to a crushed vertebra in his back and a comminuted fracture of his left femur. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. Gordon and Shughart were deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. Please re-read the annotations in Black Hawk Down (book) Mcase07 ( talk) 20:28, 14 April 2008 (UTC) [ reply] Of the four man crew, only Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant survived, suffering a crushed vertebra and comminuted fracture to his left femur. Then a second Black Hawk was shot down, and militia members and an armed mob converged on the site. "Gordon was the epitome of the dependable individual who so believes in taking responsibility that he gives his life to protect his fellow men," Fred Borch, author of "For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart," told IBD. Eighteen Americans were killed. In the ensuing battle two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. What happened to the pilot in Black Hawk Down? Both Gordon and Shughart laid down their lives to save their brothers in arms. Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. Gary Gordon, a Special Forces soldier was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. During the assault, a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down and the rescuers were ambushed. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. "I don't know if someone was trying to clean it or [refresh] it. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Then, a second Black Hawk helicopter, call sign Super Six-Four, was shot down. He enlisted in the U.S. Army the same year at age 18, and after serving with the 2nd Battalion of the10th Special Forces Group, he was chosen to join the 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) as a sniper. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. He was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, amid its civil war in 1993, where he and Sergeant 1st Class Randy Shughart both volunteered to protect the survivors of a helicopter crash during a difficult mission to apprehend a Somali warlord. MOGADISHU (Reuters) Somali insurgents dragged soldiers bodies through the streets of Mogadishu before burning them on Wednesday in heavy fighting that killed at least 16 people and injured scores more, witnesses said. Next, I picked up some Krylon Black Camo spray paint from the store and painted some stripes on it to have a camo that matched the movie. Eversmann is the clearest example of this. The Army task force did capture Aidid's advisers, but at high cost. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. The Battle of Mogadishu resulted in 18 soldiers killed five from Delta Force and 73 wounded. Shughart was buried in Carlilse, Pennsylvania and Gordon in Penobscot County, Maine. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. Mission commanders felt it too dangerous and believed the snipers would be of more assistance in the air. So now, lets talk about the build. After completing basic training, he successfully completed infantry AIT (advanced individual training), Airborne School, and in 1978 was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Battle of Mogadishu | ASOMF Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. Shell also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance. Their 'Go bag'. Some of the things happening in convoy getting lost seem to be consolidated onto McKnight. His rifle was never recovered, so we dont know exactly what his was like although there are people who have done a lot of digging to give us a pretty good idea. They become legends. Or was he Master Sgt. Available Ranger forces on the ground could not assist the downed helicopter crew of the second crash site as they were already engaged in heavy combat with Somalis militia and making their way to the first crash site. The information has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable; however no guarantee is made or implied with respect to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. The pilot of their helicopter said that anyone in their right mind would never have gone in, but they insisted on it because they were comrades in danger, because they believed passionately in the creed that says, I will not fail those with whom I serve., Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart died in the most courageous and selfless way any human being can act, he concluded. Gary Gordon and Sgt. ", The police department said that while it may have been a case of vandalism that it could have also been a "work in progress" with gold lettering on the engravings. Gary I. Gordon was born in Lincoln, Maine, and graduated from Mattanawcook Academy in 1978. Was he Sgt. Realtime quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab.

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