She knew her sons stepmother had told a Virginia newspaper she recognized David as the man in the AP photograph, but Morford immediately protested, saying it was not her son. They established a defensive perimeter around the crash site. She went to the town library to make photocopies of pictures in a Time magazine article. Gary I. Gordon was born in Lincoln, Maine, and graduated from Mattanawcook Academy in 1978. I want him to rest in peace and let him go, she said then. Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. Overhead, other Army helicopters came under fire from RPGs and had to withdraw. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. What is the most elite unit in the military? He enlisted in the U.S. Army the same year at age 18, and after serving with the 2nd Battalion of the10th Special Forces Group, he was chosen to join the 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) as a sniper. M14. In attendance were a number of Navy officials and politicians, including Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John W. Douglass. 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. Stories can drive us, inspire us, and we retell them for generations. Randy Shughart was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, into an Air Force family. 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 . 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. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. 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. 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. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. Shughart (1958-93) was buried in Carlisle. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. Gradisher said he did not know if the Pentagon had even identified the soldier in that indelible photograph--taken by Toronto Star reporter Paul Watson and distributed worldwide by the Associated Press--or other bodies shown in television footage. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in . Then a second Black Hawk was shot down, and militia members and an armed mob converged on the site. 1st Class Randall Shughart, a 35-year-old from Newville, Pa., who so loved the military that he made his wife, Stephanie, promise never to ask him to quit? The bodies were returned in poor condition, one with a severed head. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. Gary Gordon, 33, whose funeral in Lincoln, Me., the papermaking town he left 15 years ago, drew hundreds of mourners? The story of courage and self-sacrifice is best portrayed in the heroic story of MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. . The Medal of Honor award on May 23, 1994, made Gordon and Shughart the only snipers to receive the high honor and the first since the Vietnam War, said retired Brig. 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? The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. 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. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. His actions saved the pilots life. First, let's give them their due. The thoroughness of the pages after the story in the book all seem to indicate that Mark Bowden wrote it very, very diligently. The USNS Shughart is currently the lead ship in her class, and is capable of carrying 48 track vehicles, 58 tanks, and over 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. Some could barely speak for weeping; others said they found little relief in knowing the soldier in the picture was someone elses husband or son. Mike Durant survived and is alive today. 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. How Will You Trade the Next Stock Market Swoon? 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. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a 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. Gary Ivan Gordon (August 30, 1960-October 3, 1993), posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Where is Randy Shughart buried? M14. They set up a defense perimeter and gave Durant a rifle to protect their rear, since he was the only one in condition to help them. The lowest optic mount I could find to give us that look is the ARMS #18 mount. Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. 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. 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. "Many believed that it would not last long and would encounter little opposition.". Shughart was assigned to 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in June 1986. Ridley Scott directed the movie. Gary Gordon wouldn't give up while aiming to rescue fellow soldiers trapped in Somalia in 1993. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. [3], Shughart, Gary Gordon, and Sergeant First Class Brad Halling had been providing sniper cover from the air from Black Hawk Super Six-Two. Your email address will not be published. I'm hit. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. Or was he Master Sgt. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. I never saw or heard from him again.". Im drawn to all the obvious ones that most people with the same interests are. The information and content are subject to change without notice. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. President George H.W. Gordon rarely talked about the details of his military career. During the assault, a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down and the rescuers were ambushed. They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. She studied CNNs continuous reports, mesmerized, sure each time she could pinpoint that achingly familiar indent of Rays back surgery scar, the particular way he wore his short, graying hair. Yes, according to some people stationed there at the time, all 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. I picked out the one that I hoped was him, because it looked like it had been the least mistreated.. Gordon (1960-93) was born in Lincoln, Maine, a mill town of 5,000 nestled in the northern forests. Sergeant First Class Randall David Shughart, 2nd Battalion of the10th Special Forces Group, Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. 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. The showdown pitted 160 special operations soldiers arriving in 19 helicopters and 12 vehicles against 3,000 Aidid men. Did we just find them one day? 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. It also should be noted that Shughart would have had an older Aimpoint, probably the Aimpoint 2000 according to my findings. At about 16:20, one of the Black Hawks, Super 61, piloted by CW3 Cliff Elvis Wolcott and CW3 Donovan Bull Briley, was shot down by an RPG-7. Gordon's was the most mutilated out of all of the dead American's The awful events of that day changed everything. In 1993, Gordons body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. Writing Portfolio Operation Gothic Serpent was a military operation conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia, by an American-led coalition during the Somali Civil War in 1993. With the ARMS #18 mount and the Aimpoint PRO installed, we are now about 90% of the way to the finished product. ", Chun said, "One removed the three other severely injured crew members, while the other provided covering fire and then they quickly assessed their situation. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. The APs effort to determine their identities required calls to relatives and others who knew the 18 men before the list could be narrowed to the five, whose names the Pentagon then confirmed. 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. The views Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. Out of all the bodies, Gary The Commands position was that three of them could be of more assistance by providing air cover. Many among the families of the 18 dead told of trying to learn whether the unknown soldier was theirs, of quizzing the battle survivors at the funerals. But, as you will see, this setup is very close to the one in the movie. Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. The fourth pilot was captured and later released. They were the only ones that could have been in that photograph, said Navy Cmdr. No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. Aidid suffered a gunshot wound in the ensuing battle. Thanks for the reply. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? Once he committed to something, the way was clear. Eighteen Americans were killed. Medal of Honor recipients For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Both Gordon and Shughart laid down their lives to save their brothers in arms. Gary Gordon joined the US Army in December 1978. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was the first to be killed. Was Gary Gordon's body ever retrieved from Somalia. Later investigation and reconstruction concluded that Gordon was first to be killed. Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. My two sons and myself was all looking. The men wanted to get on the ground, check for survivors and defend the crash of Six-Four. James E. Smith. I'll definitely look into that! William Cleveland, 34, whose military heritage dated back to a soldier who died fighting on the Union side in the Civil War, and whose ambition since childhood was a life in uniform, like his father? The only way to rescue survivors was for the Gordon-Shughart-Hallings copter to go in. Medal of Honour. But Durant will not publicly even attempt to put a name on the face in the photograph. 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. Both men's bodies were recovered. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. 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. The mission ultimately culminated in what became known as the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. Carmen Gordon wrote a letter to their children and had it published to help others coping with similar loss: "Your father had two families.

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