Grant served with and taught marksmanship for the United States Marine Corps. One gun on the list that I have been fortunate to add is the M1A, a semi-automatic version of the M14. 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. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordon's carbine. Shughart's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. With the ARMS #18 mount and the Aimpoint PRO installed, we are now about 90% of the way to the finished product. . "He and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first Americans to receive our highest military decoration since the Vietnam War.". 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. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. They could have taken a belt of 7.62 ammo from the door gunner and delinked it. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. [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. Police officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second 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. The ceremony was attended by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) and Carmen Gordon, the master sergeants widow. Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. The bodies were returned in poor condition, one with a severed head. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. 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. 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. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine. "It almost looks like somebody did a bad job trying to clean it," he added. 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. But, as you will see, this setup is very close to the one in the movie. Elements of the Rangers are left to run to a rendez-vous point . Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. Mogadishu is a typical third . Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. 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. "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.". By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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 . Live The Armory Life. During the assault, a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down and the rescuers were ambushed. Their 'Go bag'. Shughart-Gordon Urban Operations Training Center ("MOUT Site"), US Army Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. Where is Randy Shughart buried? 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. The aftermath of this confrontation shifted American foreign policy and led to an eventual termination of the United Nations mission in Somalia in 1995. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. A CSRT (Combat Search and Rescue team) was dispatched to the first crash site to secure it, and a short time later, another Black Hawk, Super 64 (Super Six Four), was shot down as well. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team providing sniper cover from the air in helicopter Super Six-Two. [7], In the 2001 film Black Hawk Down, Shughart was portrayed by actor Johnny Strong. 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. 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. Eversmann is the clearest example of this. Thanks. TRENDING: Tech Stock In Buy Zone As It Joins Sector Leaders' Final Four. Following the announcement, the Lincoln Police Department received an outpouring of support for repairing the gravestone. 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. Without a doubt, they saved my life. In 1996, the US Navy held a ceremony in Newport News, Virginia, during which it named the roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gordon. Learn how you can make more money with IBD's investing tools, top-performing stock lists, and educational content. 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. They risked their lives without hesitation.. From the start of the mission up until nightfall, the movie sticks close to the book. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. After completing basic training, he successfully finished infantry advanced individual training (AIT). Did we just find them one day? Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. Just know that my build is like the movie version but in aesthetics only. Immediately after the battle, the Somalis counted at least 25 of their men dead, with much more severely wounded. As a result, Ive found myself increasingly interested in recreations of famous guns used around the world. SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the U.S. military. Learn all the ways IBDs top investing tools can help you succeed in the market! At his death, he was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Armys premier special operations unit, the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), also known as Delta Force. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? Your email address will not be published. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. Just as they fought and died together, the two operators were honored together as well. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 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. They were at the Black Hawk with the call sign Super 62 (Super Six Two). Gordon and Shugart are among the Americans honored on Memorial Day, which remembers those who died serving in the military. 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. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! However, large numbers of armed, hostile Somalis were converging on the area. (Photo Credit: US Army / Wikimedia Commons)Gordon wanted to assist the helicopter, but his request was denied. I pulled up a picture on Google of where the stripes were and attempted to match it. 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. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. Privacy Policy. Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. His teammate Randy Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Michael Durant to use. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. The infamous picture of the US Soldier being dragged shirtless through the street was not either of the CAG Snipers. 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. I'm hit. We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". During the mission, a Black Hawk helicopter (Super Six-One) providing air support was shot down. His actions saved the pilot's life. Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. While its believed Gordon was the first to die, the official version states it was Shughart. The Americans' "overconfidence played a part in the problems during the raid," wrote Chun. Ownership data provided by Refinitiv and Estimates data provided by FactSet. Shughart was assigned to 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in June 1986. Master Sergeant Gordon's 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. Im drawn to all the obvious ones that most people with the same interests are. While he entered into the Army Reserve in 1980, he returned to active duty in December 1983. If they had not come in, I wouldnt have survived. For their bravery and actions beyond the call of duty, the United States government awarded both Shugart and Gordon the Medal of Honor, the only snipers to have ever received the MOH. Gordon rarely talked about the details of his military career. After his father, Herbert Shughart, left the Air Force, the Shugharts moved to Newville, Pennsylvania, to live and work on a dairy farm. ", Chun said, "One removed the three other severely injured crew members, while the other provided covering fire and then they quickly assessed their situation. First, let's give them their due. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. The story of both Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon during Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu is one of bravery and sacrifice. For the sling, I actually got an older used sling so that it had that worn aesthetic to make the rifle look like its seen some hard use. They did that, even though large numbers of armed Somali militia were converging the area. 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. At the same time, Gordon returned to Durant and calmly asked if there were more weapons (he was out of ammo) and then retrieved some from the down Blackhawk, and began to reengage the attackers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Westminster Cemetery, Pennsylvania, United States They were the only service members participating in Operation Gothic Serpent to receive the award, and were its first recipients since the Vietnam War. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! 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. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. There are few military servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor and had their actions portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [1], Shughart joined the United States Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Raid: How Delta Force Took Out Notorious Terrorist? Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. . Your email address will not be published. When his other family needed him, he did not hesitate, as he would not have hesitated for us.". The opposition was much larger and better organized then originally thought and the mission began to take a turn for the worse. 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 . Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. In 1997, the Navy named roll-on/roll-off ship USNSShughart(T-AKR-295) in a ceremony at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego. In the end, 19 American soldiers were killed, including six Delta Force operators, and 73 were wounded. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. Mission commanders felt it too dangerous and believed the snipers would be of more assistance in the air. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 rifle and gave it to Durant to use. Background: Shughart was born August . Gary Gordon, however, concluded that there was no way the downed Black Hawk crew could survive on their own because they were outnumbered and critically wounded. Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! Randy Shughart/Place of burial. Were the bodies of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon recovered? In 1993, Gordons body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. "I don't know if someone was trying to clean it or [refresh] it. ", The pilot wrote: "He sounded almost irritated, like this was just going to make things harder for him. It is unknown why he missed the rope. M14. His teachers thought he was smart, but his grades drifted because he was obsessed doodling "anything and everything military-related," his mother told a reporter. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. Entered service at: Born: Lincoln, Maine. 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 . Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Both Gordon and Shughart laid down their lives to save their brothers in arms. Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the What happened to the pilot in Black Hawk Down? Shugart was the first one to be mortally wounded at about the same time he ran out of ammo. ", The police department said that while it may have been a case of vandalism that it could have also been a "work in progress" with gold lettering on the engravings. 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. 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].
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