He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. 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. 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. We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durant's life. 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. [3], Shughart, Gary Gordon, and Sergeant First Class Brad Halling had been providing sniper cover from the air from Black Hawk Super Six-Two. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening.". Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was the first to be killed. . The Army task force did capture Aidid's advisers, but at high cost. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted at least 25 of their men dead, with much more severely wounded. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. "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. Gordons body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . Shughart's body was recovered after several days. 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? Gordon's lesson is that when something is crucial, push hard. ", The pilot wrote: "He sounded almost irritated, like this was just going to make things harder for him. 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. So now, lets talk about the build. . I chose to get the FDE stock Standard Issue M1A from Springfield Armory. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. The full "rescue scene" with Shugart and Gordon in HQ. The two sergeants were part of a sniper team aboard another Blackhawk, hovering. In December 1992, the United States began Operation Restore Hope. Gary Gordon is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Penobscot . Atto was a former supporter and financier of Aidid, and of the same subclan. Now, the optic rail used in the movie is super low, like really, really low. It also should be noted that Shughart would have had an older Aimpoint, probably the Aimpoint 2000 according to my findings. 1st Class Randy Shughart provided precision sniper fire from the lead helicopter during a building assault and at two helicopter crash sites. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. 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. 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. First, let's give them their due. 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. A smoke grenade gave Gordon and Shughart some cover as they fought their way 100 yards through a shantytown to the downed craft. Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 rifle and gave it to Durant to use. Scan this QR code to download the app now. In 1992, a cease-fire opened the way for the United Nations to deliver food, protected by a coalition that included U.S. troops. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. After Aidid's forces killed 24 Pakistani soldiers that were part of the United Nations, the U.N. Security Council called for the militia leaders to be arrested or killed. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? [4], Armed with their sniper rifles and sidearms, Shughart and Gordon were inserted approximately 100 metres (330ft) from the crash site and made their way to the downed Black Hawk. Shughart-Gordon Urban Operations Training Center ("MOUT Site"), US Army Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. With the ARMS #18 mount and the Aimpoint PRO installed, we are now about 90% of the way to the finished product. Your email address will not be published. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. Master SergeantGary Ivan Gordon was born on August 30, 1960, and died on October 3, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia. When Gordon was eventually killed, Shughart picked up Gordon's weapon and gave it to Durant. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted 25 of their own men dead with many more severely wounded. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. The critical lesson is to never underestimate your enemy. 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. In 1996, the US Navy held a ceremony in Newport News, Virginia, during which it named the roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gordon. The opposition was much larger and better organized then originally thought and the mission began to take a turn for the worse. Shughart (1958-93) was buried in Carlisle. 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. 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 until he was fatally wounded. While their heroic actions during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia resulted in their deaths, they efforts allowed for the rescue of a fellow soldier. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the (from the Bowdens notes: this is because he was at most liberty to talk about the events). Trained as a combat engineer, he became a Special Forces engineer with the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group. 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. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. Shughart deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger operations. Bush authorized the dispatch of U.S. troops to Somalia to assist with famine relief as part of the larger United Nations effort. 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. Was he Sgt. Live The Armory Life. Sergeant First Class Shugharts 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. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening. 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. Concerning Shughart and Gordan, Durant made the comment Without a doubt, I owe my life to these two men and their braveryThose guys came in when they had to know it was a losing battle, There was nobody else left to back them up. Your email address will not be published. Godron, 33, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. 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. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Gary Gordon and Sgt. "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. Charlie Warren, were severely wounded. Shughart was assigned to 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in June 1986. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. As a person with an interest in guns, movies and military history, its rewarding to take on projects where all those line up. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Carmen Gordon wrote a letter to their children and had it published to help others coping with similar loss: "Your father had two families. Without a doubt, they saved my life. He kept repeating his request twice until he finally received permission to engage. 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. The only way to rescue survivors was for the Gordon-Shughart-Hallings copter to go in. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. On October 3, 1993, they engaged in Operation Gothic Serpent, a joint-force assault mission to apprehend key advisers to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Somali warlord. Aidid was fatally wounded in a battle with a rival militia two years later. 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. Positioned approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Self Airfield, Shughart-Gordon is the largest of the three sites. Not a surprise, since the Vietnam War was on TV every night. He was not there at night since he was on the convoy that finally returned to base after failing to reach the crash site. 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 Lincoln Police Department said that while it may have been a case of vandalism, it also could have also been a "work in progress" with gold lettering on the engravings. 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. He joined the Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. 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. 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. 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. 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. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. 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. "Many believed that it would not last long and would encounter little opposition.". In the ensuing battle two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. Writing Portfolio Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. 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. 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. Like I said earlier, I didnt do anything that wasnt strictly aesthetic.