The ship was the first "Large Medium Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) ship" to undergo conversion from a commercial container vessel to a sealift cargo ship.[14]. 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. How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. Shughart deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger operations. Their 'Go bag'. I'm hit. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. 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. In our content, you will see two faces regularly. As a result, Ive found myself increasingly interested in recreations of famous guns used around the world. Today, the CompM is not easily attainable, and I couldnt find a split mount like that either. 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. "We've had a lot of people come forward wanting to help. In total 50 Somalian bodies were found at the location. Deadly Price. 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. 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. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Their names were MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randal (Randy) Shughart. Both Delta snipers, Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, are portrayed in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Hawk Down. He chose the military and 'I shall not fail those with whom I serve' became his simple religion. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "If our people had cleaned it, they might've done a light sand blast at best, but they would actually do the painting of the engraved parts by hand," he added. Two Delta snipers fought and died in the Battle of Mogadishu. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The men wanted to get on the ground, check for survivors and defend the crash of Six-Four. Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart were the only soldiers participating in Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu) to receive the militarys highest honor and the first Medal of Honor recipients since theVietnam War. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. 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. What is the white stuff in my gas fireplace? Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. 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. "What happens with these is that over time the paint will fade," the mortician said to Insider. 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. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. Thanks. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. 1st Class Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions to secure the site of one of . Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. Shell also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance. Shughart was assigned to Delta Force and was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in June 1986. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. 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. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. 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. I never saw or heard from him again.". Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. Stories of the Unsolved. Its also not forward of the action like scout optics. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durant's life. Shughart's body was recovered after several days. 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. When they reached Super Six-Four, they extracted Durant and the other crew from the helicopter and defended the aircraft. 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. 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. Again, out of ammo, he was only able to retrieve one weapon and five rounds, which he gave to Durant and said Good Luck. Eversmann is the clearest example of this. Gordon's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. Shugart was the first one to be mortally wounded at about the same time he ran out of ammo. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. *Real-time prices by Nasdaq Last Sale. It was intended to last an hour, but ended up extending into the next day. The Commands position was that three of them could be of more assistance by providing air cover. 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. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? Its on GunSpots YouTube channel right now. Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. They become legends. 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. The scenario-based is on Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. Gary Gordon. Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart were the only soldiers participating in Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu) to receive the military's highest honor and the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War. The optic is sitting right on top of the action. Gary Gordon and Sgt. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. Of the four man crew, only Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant survived, suffering a crushed vertebra and comminuted fracture to his left femur. They risked their lives without hesitation.. 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. So now, lets talk about the build. In attendance were a number of Navy officials and politicians, including Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John W. Douglass. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. The award read in part: "Master Sergeant Gordon's . 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. Gordon and two sergeant first class subordinates, Shughart and Brad Hallings, had been providing fire cover from another helicopter, but they knew this wasn't enough if the crew of the second downed chopper was to be saved. Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. He kept repeating his request twice until he finally received permission to engage. Once he committed to something, the way was clear. From the start of the mission up until nightfall, the movie sticks close to the book. 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. The information and content are subject to change without notice. His actions saved the pilots life. Before we find you.". Gary I. Gordon was born in Lincoln, Maine, and graduated from Mattanawcook Academy in 1978. 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. Its not high like normal optic mounts for the M14 platform. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine. They could have taken a belt of 7.62 ammo from the door gunner and delinked it. 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. Gary I. Gordon and Randall D. Shughart were true warriors and the finest American heroes. Archived post. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. These In 1992, a cease-fire opened the way for the United Nations to deliver food, protected by a coalition that included U.S. troops. 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. There are few military servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor and had their actions portrayed in a Hollywood movie. By the fall of 1992, the nation of Somalia was war-torn and ravaged by famine. First, let's give them their due. They likely had an extra bag with ammo that they would have taken with them. We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart had crept up along the side of the helicopter and poked their heads into the cockpit. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). Much of the food was hijacked by Mohamed Aidid's militia, and suddenly hundreds of thousands more Somalians were at risk of dying. We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. 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. The Shughart-Gordon MOUT site was named for Medal of Honor recipients Sgt. Charlie Warren, were severely wounded. The two sergeants were part of a sniper team aboard another Blackhawk, hovering. It wasn't a scream or a plea, just a statement of fact, like someone who'd nicked himself with a vegetable knife. Now, the optic rail used in the movie is super low, like really, really low. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved But, as you will see, this setup is very close to the one in the movie. Gordon, however, repeated his request until he got permission. So, feel free to visit and check it out. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. His teammate Randy Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Michael Durant to use. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. Mission commanders felt it too dangerous and believed the snipers would be of more assistance in the air. 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. ", Chun said, "One removed the three other severely injured crew members, while the other provided covering fire and then they quickly assessed their situation. How often do you need to soak a kokedama? All rights reserved. . TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. For more information, please see our Background: Shughart was born August . In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. To me, it looks like he had thinner stripes on the gun than I usually paint, so I held the can closer to get the paint strip narrower. Mogadishu is a typical third . Gary Gordon is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Penobscot . "It almost looks like somebody did a bad job trying to clean it," he added. They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). News outlets broadcasted searing images of mobs dragging the bodies of dead Army Special Operators and helicopter crewmen . Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. "If anyone has any information about who did this, maliciously or with honorable intent, please contact us," the department said, adding that, "if you are the person who did this and did it as purely an act of vandalism, do the right thing and turn yourself in. "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. It was later reported Durant initially misidentified who was killed first, but did not wish to change the official record. 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. 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. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. 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 aftermath of this confrontation shifted American foreign policy and led to an eventual termination of the United Nations mission in Somalia in 1995. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. In 1993, Gordon's body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. Westminster Cemetery, Pennsylvania, United States 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. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the 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. M14. Gordon and Shugart are among the Americans honored on Memorial Day, which remembers those who died serving in the military. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. The ceremony was presided over by President Bill Clinton and attended by the families. The Somalis claimed 315 of their own died and 812 were wounded. The pair landed 100 meters south of the crashsite and, armed with sniper rifles and pistols, fought their way to the downed Black Hawk.
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