Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. Shortly after, Shughart was killed, the site was overrun and Durant was taken hostage. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. [55] The award read in part: "Master Sergeant Gordon's . Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon fought their way to the downed Blackhawk. 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. How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? 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. [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. Unlike other members of the armed forces, the Delta Force is granted a lot of freedom in how they live and what they look like. 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. 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. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. The scenario-based is on Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. The Army master sergeant's third request to commanders was approved with this warning: Undaunted, Gordon and Randy Shughart a fellow Delta Force sniper went into the Mogadishu maze with guns blazing and took down a slew of terrorists. Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted at least 25 of their men dead, with much more severely wounded. . Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. Did we just find them one day? By this time, more Somali militiamen were arriving intent on either capturing or killing the American servicemen. [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. 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. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. ". Both pilots were killed in the resulting crash and two of the crew chiefs, Staff Sgt. Durant is left sitting in a bunker without ammunition. In 1993, Somalia was ravaged by civil war, which destroyed the countrys agriculture. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Stories can drive us, inspire us, and we retell them for generations. In our content, you will see two faces regularly. 1st Class Randy Shughart provided precision sniper fire from the lead helicopter during a building assault and at two helicopter crash sites. Thanks. Live The Armory Life. 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. . 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. Oops, there's been an error. Charlie Warren, were severely wounded. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. Required fields are marked *, Visit our friends and partners at Nortrack for tracking and other tactical training. Master Sergeant Gordons 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, Gordons citation says. By the fall of 1992, the nation of Somalia was war-torn and ravaged by famine. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. If you feel like I left out Gary Gordon, fret not. The story of courage and self-sacrifice is best portrayed in the heroic story of MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart. During the assault, one of the Army's Black Hawk helicopters was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Vehicles roll out of the city. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. Learn all the ways IBDs top investing tools can help you succeed in the market! Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart - Military Veterans of Disqus Two years later, the government of Somalia was overthrown and a civil war erupted. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. [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. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab. Randy Shughart - Wikipedia Without a doubt, they saved my life. In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Where is Randy Shughart buried? Building the Black Hawk Down M14 - The Armory Life We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". 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. Gary Gordon, a Special Forces soldier was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. However, large numbers of armed, hostile Somalis were converging on the area. 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 showdown pitted 160 special operations soldiers arriving in 19 helicopters and 12 vehicles against 3,000 Aidid men. 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. 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. Scan this QR code to download the app now. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. (Photo Credit: US Army / Wikimedia Commons)Gordon wanted to assist the helicopter, but his request was denied. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. President George H.W. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crews weapons and ammunition. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. 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 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. Did the two delta snipers that defended the Super Six Four - Quora The critical lesson is to never underestimate your enemy. They did that, even though large numbers of armed Somali militia were converging the area. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? 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. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. At the time, the United States was leading a UN mission to end the civil war and famine in Somalia. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. Shugart was the first one to be mortally wounded at about the same time he ran out of ammo. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. [4] Command's position was that the snipers could be of more assistance by providing air cover. 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 joined the Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. Shughart's body was recovered after several days. The aftermath of this confrontation shifted American foreign policy and led to an eventual termination of the United Nations mission in Somalia in 1995. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. They established a defensive perimeter around the crash site. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Gary Gordon and Sgt. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. 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. The U.N. declared an end to the mission in April 1994. He chose to be a husband and father and never wavered in those roles. Sergeant First Class Randall David Shughart, 2nd Battalion of the10th Special Forces Group, Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, Rob Guzzo: The Tragic Story of a Dedicated Navy SEAL, The Day of the Rangers: An unforgettable moment in military history. I chose to get the FDE stock Standard Issue M1A from Springfield Armory. Gary Gordon joined the US Army in December 1978. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). *Real-time prices by Nasdaq Last Sale. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. After their wedding came a son, Ian, then a daughter, Brittany. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. He kept repeating his request twice until he finally received permission to engage. 1st Class Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions to secure the site of one of . The information and content are subject to change without notice. Randy Shughart would have been 60 years old today. Godron, 33, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. [6] Shughart's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 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 teammate Randy Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Michael Durant to use. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. MSG Gary Gordon - Airborne Ranger in the Sky Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. 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. 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. 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 optic is sitting right on top of the action. On May 23, 1994, Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor under . 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. Master SergeantGary Ivan Gordon was born on August 30, 1960, and died on October 3, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. Some of the things happening in convoy getting lost seem to be consolidated onto McKnight. 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. 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. 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. 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. 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. As such, the US Army sent in its Special Forces to protect the humanitarian efforts and prevent the continued rise of the warlords. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper. [1] According to Durant's book In the Company of Heroes, the Somalis counted 25 of their militia dead after the firefight. In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. "MSG Gary Gordon is not only a hometown hero for Lincoln, he's an American Hero," the police department said on social media. Gary. Gary Gordon and Sgt. In the ensuing battle two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. On Oct. 14, 1993, in rain as the population of Lincoln stood by in honor, Gordon was buried in his uniform in a flag-filled cemetery. There are few military servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor and had their actions portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was the first to be killed. 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. Gordon's request was twice rejected by higher command due to the danger from the number of militants converging on the crash site. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . All rights reserved. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. 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. Im drawn to all the obvious ones that most people with the same interests are. When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. Ridley Scott directed the movie. I will not fail those with whom I serve.. 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. Today, the CompM is not easily attainable, and I couldnt find a split mount like that either. ", Chun said, "One removed the three other severely injured crew members, while the other provided covering fire and then they quickly assessed their situation. Operation Gothic Serpent was a military operation conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia, by an American-led coalition during the Somali Civil War in 1993. What happened to the pilot in Black Hawk Down? They volunteered for sniper cover for Super 6-4 - the second downed Black Hawk MH-60L - during the [] Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. The initial insertion attempt failed and they had to insert about 100 meters away from the crash site. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart: The real heroes of the Battle of Mogadishu 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. 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. Talk:Randy Shughart - Wikipedia HD-Black Hawk Down - Shugart And Gordon FULL - YouTube 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. The fourth pilot was captured and later released. The Somalis claimed 315 of their own died and 812 were wounded. They were only armed with their sniper rifles and pistols. The term M1A is a proprietary title for Springfield Armorys M14-pattern rifle. 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. Its also not forward of the action like scout optics. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. Incredible Stories of US Servicemen Who Received the Medal of Honor The story of Black Hawk Down began when Delta Force arrested 20 Somalis. Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. The mission was an assault mission to apprehend advisors to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it was to be a short operation. Overhead, other Army helicopters came under fire from RPGs and had to withdraw. 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. Just know that my build is like the movie version but in aesthetics only. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. Shughart was born August 13, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska, into a United States Air Force family of German descent. Gordon (1960-93) was born in Lincoln, Maine, a mill town of 5,000 nestled in the northern forests. Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. 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. Gary I Gordon Tales of Honor Podcast 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. Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Raid: How Delta Force Took Out Notorious Terrorist? The bodies were returned in poor condition, one with a severed head. 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. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was first to be killed. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durants life. On the first call, mission commanders denied their request to go there and protect the site of the downed helicopter until reinforcements arrived. Westminster Cemetery, Pennsylvania, United States 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. 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. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. Gary Gordon wouldn't give up while aiming to rescue fellow soldiers trapped in Somalia in 1993. (from the Bowdens notes: this is because he was at most liberty to talk about the events). 1st Class Randall D. Shughart and Master Sgt. Durant acknowledged that he might have been wrong in his identification but was reluctant to push for the record to be changed since he was not sure. In 1996 the US Navy named two ships after Shughart and Gordon in honor of their heroic actions. In 1978, he was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. 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. JRTC commemorates 25 years since actions of Shughart, Gordon No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. During his service, he participated in such missions as Operation Just Cause and the Persian Gulf War. Its not high like normal optic mounts for the M14 platform. 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 . The Americans' "overconfidence played a part in the problems during the raid," wrote Chun. In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. 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. Authors may own the stocks they discuss. The blame for my son's death rests with the White House and with you. Gary Gordon is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Penobscot . Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilots life. 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.