certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 rifle and gave it to Durant to use. The Army task force did capture Aidid's advisers, but at high cost. Mission commanders felt it too dangerous and believed the snipers would be of more assistance in the air. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. Its also not forward of the action like scout optics. 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. Randall (Randy) David Shughart held the rank of Seargent First Class in the United States Army and served in the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. On that day, October 3, 1993, two American heroes Master Sgt. Eighteen American troops died in the ensuing 18-hour battle, including three of the four pilots in the downed Black Hawk. Shughart [L] and Gordon [R]. The peacekeepers then faced the task of overcoming the decades-long intertribal conflicts within the war-torn nation. The Commands position was that three of them could be of more assistance by providing air cover. Deadly Price. Randall Shughart was a US Army Delta Force soldier. Shugart was the first one to be mortally wounded at about the same time he ran out of ammo. They volunteered for sniper cover for Super 6-4 - the second downed Black Hawk MH-60L - during the [] Their names were MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randal (Randy) Shughart. Shughart was assigned to Delta Force and was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in June 1986. [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. Randy Shughart/Place of burial. 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. In December 1992, the United States began Operation Restore Hope. The mission was an assault mission to apprehend advisors to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it was to be a short operation. Entered service at: Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. The full "rescue scene" with Shugart and Gordon in HQ. Gary Gordon joined the US Army in December 1978. The ceremony was attended by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) and Carmen Gordon, the master sergeants widow. Some of the things happening in convoy getting lost seem to be consolidated onto McKnight. 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 continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. 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. After completing basic training, he successfully finished infantry advanced individual training (AIT). Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . "I don't know if someone was trying to clean it or [refresh] it. The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. During the assault, one of the Army's Black Hawk helicopters was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Both Gordon and Shughart laid down their lives to save their brothers in arms. The lowest optic mount I could find to give us that look is the ARMS #18 mount. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. 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. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. In spite of these deficiencies, however, Black Hawk Down is a very realistic, historically accurate portrayal of modern war and tells a relevant and powerful story in an almost flawless example of an American war movie. 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. Writing Portfolio The sniper team began to engage, the attacking Somalis from the opposite side of the wreckage. Bush authorized the dispatch of U.S. troops to Somalia to assist with famine relief as part of the larger United Nations effort. 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. [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. They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). At the time, the United States was leading a UN mission to end the civil war and famine in Somalia. Durant suffered a crushed vertebra in his back and a compound fracture of his left femur. 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. Both Delta snipers, Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, are portrayed in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Hawk Down. Gordon's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. Howe said that Gordon would not have given his weapon to someone while he could still fight. One result was disruption of the African country's agriculture, resulting in 300,000 people dying of starvation. Shughart's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His actions saved the pilots life. Randy Shughart was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, into an Air Force family. Authors may own the stocks they discuss. Two Delta snipers fought and died in the Battle of Mogadishu. and our After his father, Herbert Shughart, left the Air Force, the Shugharts moved to Newville, Pennsylvania, to live and work on a dairy farm. In the ensuing battle two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. He then drew his pistol and held off the attackers as long as possible, eventually being mortally wounded. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted at least 25 of their men dead, with much more severely wounded. ". Learn how you can make more money with IBD's investing tools, top-performing stock lists, and educational content. His teammate Randy Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Michael Durant to use. Without a doubt, they saved my life. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. 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. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening. In the movie, which was released in 2001, it looks as if the rifle has a split rail mount. For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. News outlets broadcasted searing images of mobs dragging the bodies of dead Army Special Operators and helicopter crewmen . 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. 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. Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. 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. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, 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. 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. On 24 July 1996, Aidid and his men clashed with the forces of former allies Ali Mahdi Muhammad and Osman Ali Atto. [3], Shughart, Gary Gordon, and Sergeant First Class Brad Halling had been providing sniper cover from the air from Black Hawk Super Six-Two. 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. In 1996 the US Navy named two ships after Shughart and Gordon in honor of their heroic actions. The optic is sitting right on top of the action. 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? Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine. Gary I. Gordon and Randall D. Shughart were true warriors and the finest American heroes. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more! 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. 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. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart had crept up along the side of the helicopter and poked their heads into the cockpit. Their request was denied by command twice, but the men persisted. In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. Realtime quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. In the end, 19 American soldiers were killed, including six Delta Force operators, and 73 were wounded. The initial insertion attempt failed and they had to insert about 100 meters away from the crash site. Godron, 33, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. In 1993, Gordon's body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. Ridley Scott directed the movie. So now, lets talk about the build. 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. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. 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. What is the most elite unit in the military? 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 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. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. After his father, Herbert Shughart, left the Air Force, the Shugharts moved to Newville, Pennsylvania, to live and work on a dairy farm. Brad Halling, a master sergeant in the U.S. Army special forces, or Green Beret, was part of a U.S. Blackhawk helicopter team that rapelled onto the Olympic Hotel in Mogadishu with the aim of capturing some top aides to fugitive warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. During the assault, a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down and the rescuers were ambushed. Wolcott's body is finally recovered. Through negotiation and threats to the Habr Gidr clan leaders by ambassador Robert B. Oakley, all the bodies were eventually recovered. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! [1], Shughart joined the United States Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. As a person with an interest in guns, movies and military history, its rewarding to take on projects where all those line up. 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. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. The award read in part: "Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.". 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. 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. 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. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. You are not fit to command."[13]. Armed with their sniper rifles and sidearms, Shughart and Gordon were inserted approximately 100 metres (330 ft) from the crash site and made their way to the downed Black Hawk. (Photo Credit: US Army / Wikimedia Commons)Gordon wanted to assist the helicopter, but his request was denied. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Aidid suffered a gunshot wound in the ensuing battle. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. (from the Bowdens notes: this is because he was at most liberty to talk about the events). Mike Durant survived and is alive today. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. A smoke grenade gave Gordon and Shughart some cover as they fought their way 100 yards through a shantytown to the downed craft. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. Shughart was buried in Carlilse, Pennsylvania and Gordon in Penobscot County, Maine. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Raid: How Delta Force Took Out Notorious Terrorist? 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. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab. One gun on the list that I have been fortunate to add is the M1A, a semi-automatic version of the M14. Make more money in stocks with 2 months of access to IBD Digital for only $20! Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. Cookie Notice The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. Now, the optic rail used in the movie is super low, like really, really low. 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. 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. They acted as if they were in no particular rush, and they raised me up gently and carried me to an open spot on the ground to the right of the cockpit and set me down carefully in the dust. "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.". Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Wikipedia says this: "Aftermath After the battle, the bodies of several of the conflict's U.S. casualties (Black Hawk Super 64's crewmembers and their defenders, Delta Force soldiers MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart) were dragged through Mogadishu's streets by crowds of local civilians and SNA forces. How often do you need to soak a kokedama? When the site was overrun by the Somali militia, Durant was the only survivor and was held hostage for 11 days until he was released to the Red Cross. 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. 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? 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. The information and content are subject to change without notice. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilots life. Combat Infantryman Badge with Star . Master Sergeant Gordon immediately 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. 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 . Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon fought their way to the downed Blackhawk. Much of the food was hijacked by Mohamed Aidid's militia, and suddenly hundreds of thousands more Somalians were at risk of dying. Again, out of ammo, he was only able to retrieve one weapon and five rounds, which he gave to Durant and said Good Luck. 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. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. 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. Gordon's request was twice rejected by higher command due to the danger from the number of militants converging on the crash site. When Gordon was eventually killed, Shughart picked up Gordon's weapon and gave it to Durant. Overhead, other Army helicopters came under fire from RPGs and had to withdraw. Delta Force. Both are elite, super soldiers held in the highest regard for their specially-trained combat skills and endurance on and off the battlefield; they are the best of the . They were tasked to provide sniper support from the air during the battle, but things went wrong after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. 2023 Springfield Armory. 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. 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. 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. Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. 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. Who fell out of the helicopter in Black Hawk Down? One was us and the other was his comrades. Law enforcement officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. Gary Gordon, a Special Forces soldier was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu. Deadly Price The Army task force did capture Aidid's advisers, but at high cost. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart and Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, were two Delta Force snipers who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. They were the only service members participating in Operation Gothic Serpent to receive the award, and were its first recipients since the Vietnam War. SHUGHART-GORDON VILLAGE. 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. M14. Gordon rarely talked about the details of his military career. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. In our content, you will see two faces regularly. Sergeant First ClassRandall David Shughart was born on August 13, 1958, and died on October 3, 1993. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. As a Delta operator, he advanced to Team Sergeant. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. 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. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. Archived post. 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. Gordon, however, repeated his request until he got permission.