Archived post. JRTC commemorates 25 years since actions of Shughart, Gordon This page was last edited on 31 December 2022, at 02:43. . This rifle is a fantastic foundation for a project like this. 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. [5], There was some confusion in the aftermath of the action as to who had been killed first. 1 Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? Randy Shughart | Detailed Pedia Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. HD-Black Hawk Down - Shugart And Gordon FULL - YouTube Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger. However, beyond that, it wasn't likely. Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon fought their way to the downed Blackhawk. It also should be noted that Shughart would have had an older Aimpoint, probably the Aimpoint 2000 according to my findings. ", The pilot wrote: "He sounded almost irritated, like this was just going to make things harder for him. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durant's life. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. Like I said earlier, I didnt do anything that wasnt strictly aesthetic. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. [2][3], Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. The MSG Gary Gordon and hisDelta Forcesniper teammatesSFC Randall Shughartand SFC Brad Hallings, who were providing sniper cover from the air, wanted to be dropped at the second crash site to protect the four critically wounded crew. Ray Dowdy and Staff Sgt. Gary Gordon joined the US Army in December 1978. Vehicles roll out of the city. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? The award read in part: "Master Sergeant Gordon's . Durant is left sitting in a bunker without ammunition. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He was a soldier in the United States Army special operations unit, the 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). . Notice: Information contained herein is not and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell securities. 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. Howe said that Gordon would not have given his weapon to someone while he could still fight. 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. 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. Gary Gordon and Sgt. A smoke grenade gave Gordon and Shughart some cover as they fought their way 100 yards through a shantytown to the downed craft. 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. Master Sergeant Gary Ivan Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall David Shughart, both members of the 1st SFOD-D, were part of the Task Force engaged in Operation Gothic Serpent (later known as Battle of Mogadishu) during the U.S. intervention in Somalia on October 3, 1993. The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. Overhead, other Army helicopters came under fire from RPGs and had to withdraw. While its believed Gordon was the first to die, the official version states it was Shughart. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. The aftermath of this confrontation shifted American foreign policy and led to an eventual termination of the United Nations mission in Somalia in 1995. [6] Shughart's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. and our 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. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. 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. Did we just find them one day? ", 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. Law enforcement officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. They were only armed with their sniper rifles and pistols. What happened to the pilot in Black Hawk Down? Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. Gordon and two sergeant first class subordinates, Shughart and Brad Hallings, had been providing fire cover from another helicopter, but they knew this wasn't enough if the crew of the second downed chopper was to be saved. (from the Bowdens notes: this is because he was at most liberty to talk about the events). Thanks. The mission was an assault mission to apprehend advisors to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it was to be a short operation. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. In attendance were a number of Navy officials and politicians, including Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John W. Douglass. Michael Durant, the pilot of the second downed chopper, wrote in "In the Company of Heroes": "To me, they were like Batman and Robin, only much better, and they just walked up to my aircraft like they were out for a stroll in the park. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. After putting the gun back together, I ended up putting on a National Match leather sling to get the same look from the film. Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart fallen heroes of Mogadishu - 23 years The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. The only way to rescue survivors was for the Gordon-Shughart-Hallings copter to go in. SFC Brad Hallings assumed a miniguns control after a crew chief was injured and was not inserted with Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon. [1] According to Durant's book In the Company of Heroes, the Somalis counted 25 of their militia dead after the firefight. Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. The story of Black Hawk Down began when Delta Force arrested 20 Somalis. Before we find you.". 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. 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. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. I will not fail those with whom I serve.. 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,". With all of the ground forces still trying to help Super Six-One, there was no one left to help at the crash site of Super Six-Four. 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. Atto was a former supporter and financier of Aidid, and of the same subclan. The U.N. declared an end to the mission in April 1994. You are not fit to command."[13]. 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. He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. Gary Gordon, however, concluded that there was no way the downed Black Hawk crew could survive on their own because they were outnumbered and critically wounded. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. 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-Gordon". "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. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. It was intended to last an hour, but ended up extending into the next day. 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. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Reel American History - Films - List - Lehigh University Let me say when it came to my build, I made it match the M14 seen in the film the best I could, rather than what Shugharts rifle would have actually been like. 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. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. Their 'Go bag'. Gordon (1960-93) was born in Lincoln, Maine, a mill town of 5,000 nestled in the northern forests. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Raid: How Delta Force Took Out Notorious Terrorist? Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. Shughart was born August 13, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska, into a United States Air Force family of German descent. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was the first to be killed. 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. "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. He was not there at night since he was on the convoy that finally returned to base after failing to reach the crash site. Both operators died in the battle. 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. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. 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. One result was disruption of the African country's agriculture, resulting in 300,000 people dying of starvation. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordons carbine. The mob finds him, and they start to beat him until one of Aidid's lieutenant's stops them and claims Durant as a hostage for the warlord. ", Suddenly Durant heard Gordon say, "Damn. Gary I Gordon Tales of Honor Podcast 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. 2023 Springfield Armory. They become legends. American Valor . Stories of Valor . Michael Durant . Interview | PBS Its not high like normal optic mounts for the M14 platform. Entered service at: Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. Positioned approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Self Airfield, Shughart-Gordon is the largest of the three sites. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, good luck. Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight . Shughart went back around the helicopter's nose and held off the mob for about 10 more minutes before he was killed. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. 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. 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. "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.". Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. In reality, the helicopter was not evading RPG fire, as portrayed in the movie. 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. They did that, even though large numbers of armed Somali militia were converging the area. An estimated half million Somalis were already dead, and hundreds of thousands more were facing possible starvation. The information and content are subject to change without notice. The Aimpoint PRO has a nearly identical aesthetic to the CompM and can still be put in a singular scope ring should you desire that. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? They volunteered for sniper cover for Super 6-4 - the second downed Black Hawk MH-60L - during the [] Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. So, feel free to visit and check it out. On a new IBD podcast, Jon Najarian explains 0DTE options and their unintended impact. I never saw or heard from him again.". Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Writing Portfolio His actions saved the pilots life. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. During the assault, one of the Army's Black Hawk helicopters was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? Shughart's body was recovered after several days. Shortly after, Shughart was killed, the site was overrun and Durant was taken hostage. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Charlie Warren, were severely wounded. Carmen Gordon wrote a letter to their children and had it published to help others coping with similar loss: "Your father had two families. Atto is alleged to have masterminded the defeat of Aidid. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart and Master Sgt. One was us and the other was his comrades. The pair landed 100 meters south of the crashsite and, armed with sniper rifles and pistols, fought their way to the downed Black Hawk. Meaning the part over the action is open but there are some Picatinny slots at the rear and front of the receiver. 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. The scenario-based is on Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. 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. Were the bodies of Black Hawk Down recovered? - TimesMojo I recently watched Black Hawk Down and I was wondering how the military goes about recovering the bodies of those involved in the last helicopter crash? I'm hit. 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. Gary Gordon, A Hero Who Died In The Heat Of Somalia It wasn't a scream or a plea, just a statement of fact, like someone who'd nicked himself with a vegetable knife. 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. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. Or was he Master Sgt. . At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. Stories of the Unsolved. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. It is unknown why he missed the rope. 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. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant, one of the Black Hawk pilots, was captured. Gary Gordon - Wikipedia The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durants life. Did the two delta snipers that defended the Super Six Four - Quora 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. 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. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. Shughart-Gordon Urban Operations Training Center ("MOUT Site"), US Army Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana. 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. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. He and his future wife, Carmen, met when she was visiting her grandparents, and they engaged in a three-year correspondence after he joined the Army. TRENDING: Tech Stock In Buy Zone As It Joins Sector Leaders' Final Four. 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. It was of crew chief Cleveland. Gary Gordon and Sgt. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. 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. [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. The Battle of Mogadishu | ASOMF Again, out of ammo, he was only able to retrieve one weapon and five rounds, which he gave to Durant and said Good Luck. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. 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. Gary Gordon and Sgt. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening.". "MSG Gary Gordon is not only a hometown hero for Lincoln, he's an American Hero," the police department said on social media. Randall Shughart was a US Army Delta Force soldier. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crews weapons and ammunition. What is the white stuff in my gas fireplace? As such, the US Army sent in its Special Forces to protect the humanitarian efforts and prevent the continued rise of the warlords. Oops, there's been an error. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. The Somalis claimed 315 of their own died and 812 were wounded. Gordon, however, repeated his request until he got permission. On that day, October 3, 1993, two American heroes Master Sgt. [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. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart - Military Veterans of Disqus Gary I. Gordon, for their actions on Oct. 3, 1993. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. Shughart and Gordon were inserted approximately 100 metres (330 ft) from the crash site, armed with their sniper rifles and sidearms, and made their way to the downed Blackhawk. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. Gordon, 33, was a sniper team leader with the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, otherwise known as "Delta Force.". 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. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. In total 50 Somalian bodies were found at the location. ", Chun said, "One removed the three other severely injured crew members, while the other provided covering fire and then they quickly assessed their situation. As he was preparing to fast rope from Super 67, Blackburn missed the rope, falling between 60-90 feet ( 18.29m-27.43m). Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart's Heroic Efforts During the Battle of Two years later, the government of Somalia was overthrown and a civil war erupted. . Nearby operational command sent a ground team with chopper support to rescue the men, but it made slow progress in heavy fighting with Aidid's militia. Incredible Stories of US Servicemen Who Received the Medal of Honor 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. Learn how you can make more money with IBD's investing tools, top-performing stock lists, and educational content. Mike Durant survived and is alive today. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. By this time, more Somali militiamen were arriving intent on either capturing or killing the American servicemen.