shughart and gordon bodies

Randy Shughart would have been 60 years old today. Now, the optic rail used in the movie is super low, like really, really low. Gary Gordon and Sgt. It was second ship to undergo conversion from a commercial container vessel to a Large Medium Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) sealift ship. Eighteen Americans were killed. Its not high like normal optic mounts for the M14 platform. Both Delta snipers, Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, are portrayed in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Hawk Down. It was later reported Durant initially misidentified who was killed first, but did not wish to change the official record. Sergeant First ClassRandall David Shughart was born on August 13, 1958, and died on October 3, 1993. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! Aidid was fatally wounded in a battle with a rival militia two years later. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. The information and content are subject to change without notice. [4] Command's position was that the snipers could be of more assistance by providing air cover. 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. For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. Both operators died in the battle. The Battle of Mogadishu resulted in 18 soldiers killed five from Delta Force and 73 wounded. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. 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. 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 . In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. Were they given back along with the surviving pilot? It wasn't a scream or a plea, just a statement of fact, like someone who'd nicked himself with a vegetable knife. Their 'Go bag'. Combat Infantryman Badge with Star . All rights reserved. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. 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. 1st Class Randy Shughart provided precision sniper fire from the lead helicopter during a building assault and at two helicopter crash sites. News outlets broadcasted searing images of mobs dragging the bodies of dead Army Special Operators and helicopter crewmen . "We've had a lot of people come forward wanting to help. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Gordons body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. The first phase of the assault went well, but shortly after an initial step, one of the Armys Black Hawk helicopters providing insertion and air support to the assault team, was shot down and crashed the downtown in the hostile controlled area. The Lincoln Police Department on Tuesday announced it was "with an extremely heavy heart" to report that the gravestone of Gordon, a native of the city, may have been vandalized within the last two weeks. Live The Armory Life. 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. "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.". 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. The story of both Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon during Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu is one of bravery and sacrifice. SFC Brad Hallings assumed a miniguns control after a crew chief was injured and was not inserted with Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. 1st Class Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions to secure the site of one of . After completing Special Forces training, Shughart was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and assigned to Delta Force. 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. He chose the military and 'I shall not fail those with whom I serve' became his simple religion. 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. Or was he Master Sgt. Durant suffered a crushed vertebra in his back and a compound fracture of his left femur. When they reached Super Six-Four, they extracted Durant and the other crew from the helicopter and defended the aircraft. One result was disruption of the African country's agriculture, resulting in 300,000 people dying of starvation. Shughart was assigned to Delta Force and was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in June 1986. An estimated half million Somalis were already dead, and hundreds of thousands more were facing possible starvation. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. I chose to get the FDE stock Standard Issue M1A from Springfield Armory. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. I'm hit. As a Delta operator, he advanced to Team Sergeant. SHUGHART-GORDON VILLAGE. 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. Today, the CompM is not easily attainable, and I couldnt find a split mount like that either. Shughart and Gary Gordon, both Delta Force operators and snipers died in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1993 after being inserted alone into a crash site for a Blackhawk helicopter which had been shot down while raiding a headquarters of Somali militiamen headed by Mohamed . We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. . Shughart went back around the helicopter's nose and held off the mob for about 10 more minutes before he was killed. The ceremony was attended by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) and Carmen Gordon, the master sergeants widow. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. 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. Gary Gordon and Sgt. They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). 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. Two Delta snipers fought and died in the Battle of Mogadishu. Archived post. Charlie Warren, were severely wounded. Before painting, I took the gun out of the stock and the handguard off as well as the rubber buttpad. Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. [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. Ridley Scott directed the movie. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. Shughart (1958-93) was buried in Carlisle. Both mens bodies were recovered. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. Gordon, however, repeated his request until he got permission. The Americans' "overconfidence played a part in the problems during the raid," wrote Chun. We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". They were the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War. No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. Entered service at: Born: Lincoln, Maine. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Gary Gordon, a Special Forces soldier was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. While he entered into the Army Reserve in 1980, he returned to active duty in December 1983. The award read in part: "Master Sergeant Gordon's . [3], Mission commanders denied Gordon's request twice,[1] saying that the situation was too dangerous for the snipers to protect the crew from the ground. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. 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. He was a soldier in the United States Army special operations unit, the 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in . as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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. Shughart and Gordon were both awarded purple hearts and medals of honor for their bravery and sacrifice. In 1993, Somalia was ravaged by civil war, which destroyed the countrys agriculture. Master Sgt. Background. Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. Atto was a former supporter and financier of Aidid, and of the same subclan. 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. 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. 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. One was us and the other was his comrades. 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. Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. Randall D. Shughart posthumously received the Medal of Honor and Gary I. Gordon for their heroic actions during the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993. He was not there at night since he was on the convoy that finally returned to base after failing to reach the crash site. 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. Positioned approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Self Airfield, Shughart-Gordon is the largest of the three sites. 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 heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durant's life. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. In 1993, Gordon's body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. and our Randall Shughart was a US Army Delta Force soldier. [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. 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. 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. "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. M14. Mike Durant survived and is alive today. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Please re-read the annotations in Black Hawk Down (book) Mcase07 ( talk) 20:28, 14 April 2008 (UTC) [ reply] Stay up to date with what you want to know. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart and Master Sgt. The two sergeants were part of a sniper team aboard another Blackhawk, hovering. After putting the gun back together, I ended up putting on a National Match leather sling to get the same look from the film. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. 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. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? 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. Make more money in stocks with 2 months of access to IBD Digital for only $20! Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. Grant served with and taught marksmanship for the United States Marine Corps. Your email address will not be published. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. 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. 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. Randy Shughart/Place of burial. Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. Shugart was the first one to be mortally wounded at about the same time he ran out of ammo. 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. Their request was denied by command twice, but the men persisted. 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. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him-self, his unit and the United States Army. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordons carbine. Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved In reality, the helicopter was not evading RPG fire, as portrayed in the movie. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durants life. Delta Force operatives dont typically wear a uniform and, even when they do, the nature of that uniform is classified and no one outside of the Unit would be able to recognize it. 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. 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. The Somalis claimed 315 of their own died and 812 were wounded. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. 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. *Real-time prices by Nasdaq Last Sale. Aidid suffered a gunshot wound in the ensuing battle. Today we remember one of our most famous Special Operations warriors. Shell also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance. ", Suddenly Durant heard Gordon say, "Damn. The ceremony was attended by a number of officers and politicians including Shughart's commanding officer at the time of his death; John W. Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Senator Bob Kerrey; and others. 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. Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. When his other family needed him, he did not hesitate, as he would not have hesitated for us.". The Shughart-Gordon MOUT site was named for Medal of Honor recipients Sgt. 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. Ownership data provided by Refinitiv and Estimates data provided by FactSet. In the movie, which was released in 2001, it looks as if the rifle has a split rail mount. 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. 1 Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? The men wanted to get on the ground, check for survivors and defend the crash of Six-Four. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab. "The support, people coming forward financially to repair and things like that has been amazing to see," a Lincoln Police Department officer said to Insider.

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