shughart and gordon bodies shughart and gordon bodies

I never saw or heard from him again.". 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. While he entered into the Army Reserve in 1980, he returned to active duty in December 1983. Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Ownership data provided by Refinitiv and Estimates data provided by FactSet. While providing critical suppressive fires 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. His request was denied twice before finally being approved on the third request. . The M14 rifle is used by Delta Force Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong), most notably when he and MSG Gary Gordon (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) are covering the second crash site. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. To me, it looks like he had thinner stripes on the gun than I usually paint, so I held the can closer to get the paint strip narrower. Where is Randy Shughart buried? Upon his third request, he and Shughart were inserted, armed with rifles and pistols. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Randall David Shughart (August 13, 1958 October 3, 1993) was a United States Army Delta Force operator who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu, during Operation Gothic Serpent in October 1993. During Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia, Durant was the pilot of helicopter Super Six Four. His was the second MH-60L of two Black Hawk helicopters to crash during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. The term M1A is a proprietary title for Springfield Armorys M14-pattern rifle. [1], Shughart joined the United States Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. In reality, the helicopter was not evading RPG fire, as portrayed in the movie. After their wedding came a son, Ian, then a daughter, Brittany. His teammate Randy Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Michael Durant to use. [5], There was some confusion in the aftermath of the action as to who had been killed first. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. He was awarded the Medal of Honor with Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart for heroic actions he performed during Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu) in October 1993. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. I purchased an M1A with the sole purpose of creating a clone look-a-like rifle that matched the visual appearance of the M14 from the movie Black Hawk Down that was carried by the actor Johnny Strong as he played the role of Randy Shughart on screen. 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. . Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. [6] Shughart's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Godron, 33, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. 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. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. The pilot of Gordon and Shughart's Black Hawk first attempted to land right next to the crash site of Super Six-Four, but the LZ was too hot - a flood of small arms fire, RPGs, and an excess of ground debris and fire made insertion impossible.So instead of putting down in the middle of the action, Gordon and Shughart jumped from the hovering helicopter 100 meters from the crash site, getting . Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. They did that, even though large numbers of armed Somali militia were converging the area. Mogadishu is a typical third . The Somalis claimed 315 of their own died and 812 were wounded. As a result, Ive found myself increasingly interested in recreations of famous guns used around the world. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. Please re-read the annotations in Black Hawk Down (book) Mcase07 ( talk) 20:28, 14 April 2008 (UTC) [ reply] 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. Both Shughart and Gordon were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their selfless sacrifice, the first time it had been awarded since the Vietnam war. [3] It is believed that Gordon was the first of the two to be killed by the surrounding mob. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. It is unknown why he missed the rope. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordon's carbine. On a new IBD podcast, Jon Najarian explains 0DTE options and their unintended impact. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). "When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the crash site, he and another sniper 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," his medal citation reads. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. It wasn't a scream or a plea, just a statement of fact, like someone who'd nicked himself with a vegetable knife. 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 1993, Gordons body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. With the ARMS #18 mount and the Aimpoint PRO installed, we are now about 90% of the way to the finished product. Live The Armory Life. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. Notice: Information contained herein is not and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Durant is left sitting in a bunker without ammunition. Gary Gordon, a Special Forces soldier was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. [8], SFC Shughart's awards and decorations include:[9][10], On May 23, 1994, Shughart and Gordon were posthumously decorated with the Medal of Honor for protecting the crew of Super Six Four. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. All rights reserved. Both pilots were killed in the resulting crash and two of the crew chiefs, Staff Sgt. Your email address will not be published. He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. His actions saved the pilots life. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? Sergeant First ClassRandall David Shughart was born on August 13, 1958, and died on October 3, 1993. Positioned approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Self Airfield, Shughart-Gordon is the largest of the three sites. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. 1st Class Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions to secure the site of one of . Two years later, the government of Somalia was overthrown and a civil war erupted. Entered service at: Born: Lincoln, Maine. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. Michael Durant Below is a excerpt of American Valor's interview with Michael Durant whose life was saved by Medal of Honor recipients Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart. 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. Shughart was buried in Carlilse, Pennsylvania and Gordon in Penobscot County, Maine. In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. During the assault, one of the Army's Black Hawk helicopters was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. The next thing you need to pull off the look is, of course, a 20-round magazine. Background. 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. Who fell out of the helicopter in Black Hawk Down? Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. [2] Several months later, he completed a pre-ranger course (currently known as SURT, Small Unit Ranger Tactics), was granted a slot to attend Ranger School, graduated, and earned the Ranger Tab. Editors Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. I made a video about cloning the Gordon Carbine, too. 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. They were the only service members participating in Operation Gothic Serpent to receive the award, and were its first recipients since the Vietnam War. 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? Trained as a combat engineer, he became a Special Forces engineer with the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. 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. You are not fit to command."[13]. Before deploying with his unit to Somalia, he married his wife Carmen, and together they had two children. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper. Gordon's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. One result was disruption of the African country's agriculture, resulting in 300,000 people dying of starvation. 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. A CSRT (Combat Search and Rescue team) was dispatched to the first crash site to secure it, and a short time later, another Black Hawk, Super 64 (Super Six Four), was shot down as well. The optic is sitting right on top of the action. A smoke grenade gave Gordon and Shughart some cover as they fought their way 100 yards through a shantytown to the downed craft. They risked their lives without hesitation.. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant, one of the Black Hawk pilots, was captured. The story of both Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon during Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu is one of bravery and sacrifice. Live The Armory Life. 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 weapon fire and numerous rocket propelled grenades. Honours and Awards. Combat Infantryman Badge with Star . Stay up to date with what you want to know. When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. As he was preparing to fast rope from Super 67, Blackburn missed the rope, falling between 60-90 feet ( 18.29m-27.43m). The battle was a disaster for coalition troops and resulted in a major strategic victory for Somali National Alliance forces, with American, Malaysian and Pakistani forces suffering heavy losses. Randy and the Delta Force Team were assisting Army Rangers on Operation Gothic Serpent in October 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia. The mission was an assault mission to apprehend advisors to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it was to be a short operation. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. A Black Hawk helicopter with the call sign Super Six-One was shot down first, and later that day the Black Hawk helicopter Super Six-Four was shot down. I used an Aimpoint PRO for the optic and I kept the original mount on the Aimpoint PRO; I just removed the spacer to make it sit lower. Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? After completing the introductory training courses, Shughart completed AIT (advanced individual training), Airborne School, and in 1978 assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Lewis, Washington. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart and Master Sgt. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. After putting the gun back together, I ended up putting on a National Match leather sling to get the same look from the film. The scenario-based is on Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. His actions saved the pilots life. Gordon, however, repeated his request until he got permission. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. 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. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 rifle and gave it to Durant to use. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. Just know that my build is like the movie version but in aesthetics only. Randy Shughart would have been 60 years old today. Shughart went back around the helicopter's nose and held off the mob for about 10 more minutes before he was killed. [2][3], Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. 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. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. The views Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. TRENDING: Tech Stock In Buy Zone As It Joins Sector Leaders' Final Four. When they reached Super Six-Four, they extracted Durant and the other crew from the helicopter and defended the aircraft. Gordon wanted to be inserted to secure the crash site as hostile Somalis were converging on the area. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. Both mens bodies were recovered. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. In 1996 the US Navy named two ships after Shughart and Gordon in honor of their heroic actions. At one point, MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart requested permission to land near the second helicopter crash site and defend the crash site and four critically wounded helicopter crew members. Its also not forward of the action like scout optics. At the time, the United States was leading a UN mission to end the civil war and famine in Somalia. Shughart's body was recovered after several days. Then there is Chief Instructor Grant LaVelle, who has decades of experience training Marines, police officers and citizens alike. Master Sergeant Gordons extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army. Gordon, 33, was a sniper team leader with the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, otherwise known as "Delta Force.". After all that is said and done, the build is complete. For more information, please see our How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? 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. In 1993, Somalia was ravaged by civil war, which destroyed the countrys agriculture. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. 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. 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. The story of Black Hawk Down began when Delta Force arrested 20 Somalis. Mission commanders denied their request; in fact, they said that the situation was already too dangerous for the three Delta snipers to effectively protect the Blackhawk crew from the ground because overwhelming Somali militias outnumbered them. The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. They established a defensive perimeter around the crash site. Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. 17:40 Snipers Shughart and Gordon are killed: Somali crowds overrun Durant's crash site, killing Shughart, Gordon, and every member of the crew, except Durant, who is carried off by militia through the city. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. ", Suddenly Durant heard Gordon say, "Damn. On October 3, 1993 members of the elite US Army rangers and SOCOMs Delta Force executed a mission to attempt the capture of Gen. Mohammed Farah Aidid. The sniper team began to engage, the attacking Somalis from the opposite side of the wreckage. First, let's give them their due. Then, a second Black Hawk helicopter, call sign Super Six-Four, was shot down. Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . M14. Or was he Master Sgt. Of the four man crew, only Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant survived, suffering a crushed vertebra and comminuted fracture to his left femur. They could have taken a belt of 7.62 ammo from the door gunner and delinked it. In total 50 Somalian bodies were found at the location. Your email address will not be published. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordons carbine. "It almost looks like somebody did a bad job trying to clean it," he added. "We've had a lot of people come forward wanting to help. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper 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. As the second Blackhawk, containing Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant, was hit and crashed, Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart, were in a nearby Blackhawk monitoring radio traffic. Carmen Gordon wrote a letter to their children and had it published to help others coping with similar loss: "Your father had two families. The blame for my son's death rests with the White House and with you. "Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army," Gordon's citation says. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. Upon reaching the downed Blackhawk, which was under intense fire, Gordon and Shughart pulled the crew from the wreckage and proceeded to setup a defensive parameter. By the fall of 1992, the nation of Somalia was war-torn and ravaged by famine. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was the first to be killed. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. The infamous picture of the US Soldier being dragged shirtless through the street was not either of the CAG Snipers. Randall Shughart was a US Army Delta Force soldier. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. Master Sergeant Gordons sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. Shughart's dead body is torn from the Black Hawk: the mob tears the top of his uniform off and carries him through the street with his bare chest facing up. Deadly Price. Ridley Scott directed the movie. 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. Eighteen Americans were killed. The official citation states that Shughart had been killed first but Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, relates an account by Sergeant Paul Howe who heard Shughart call for help on the radio and noted that the weapon handed to Durant was not the distinctive M14 rifle that Shughart used. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. 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. On Oct. 3, Gordon was the sniper team leader during Operation Gothic Serpent, an American operation that targeted Aidid's key advisers in the slums of Mogadishu. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. However, beyond that, it wasn't likely. Gary Gordon wouldn't give up while aiming to rescue fellow soldiers trapped in Somalia in 1993. They become legends. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. 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. United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (19581993), Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, List of post-Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients, "Randall D. Shughart, Sergeant First Class", United States Army Center of Military History, "For 8 Years, a Strained Relationship With the Military", "Cargo Ship Shughart (T-AKR 295) Named After Medal of Honor recipient", "Carlisle Barracks to dedicate Shughart Hall", "JFK Special Warfare Museum: Medal of Honor recipients", "Remarks by the President at Medal of Honor ceremony", "U.S. Army Infantry Homepage: National Infantry Museum Operation Restore Hope", "Naming of Randall D. Shughart United States Post Office Building in Newville, Pennsylvania", "Special Forces Association Chapter LXIV, SFC Randall Shughart Memorial Chapter, Carlisle, PA", "Veterans Memorial Grove and The Battle of Mogadishu Monument", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randy_Shughart&oldid=1130617837, People from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Members of the United States Army Special Forces, American military personnel killed in action, United States Army Medal of Honor recipients, Battle of Mogadishu (1993) recipients of the Medal of Honor, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.