It was of crew chief Cleveland. In attendance were a number of Navy officials and politicians, including Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John W. Douglass. 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. As he was preparing to fast rope from Super 67, Blackburn missed the rope, falling between 60-90 feet ( 18.29m-27.43m). The initial insertion attempt failed and they had to insert about 100 meters away from the crash site. And some, who did not want to be quoted, said it was better to leave the grieving alone. On Oct. 3, Gordon was the sniper team leader during Operation Gothic Serpent, an American operation that targeted Aidid's key advisers in the slums of Mogadishu. He was a soldier in the United States Army special operations unit, the 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). M14. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. recovered by the CIA who went in there after the Battle of No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. He was not there at night since he was on the convoy that finally returned to base after failing to reach the crash site. "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. What is the most elite unit in the military? SHUGHART-GORDON VILLAGE. It was second ship to undergo conversion from a commercial container vessel to a Large Medium Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) sealift ship. Today we remember one of our most famous Special Operations warriors. Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. By most accounts, Gordon was killed first, with Shughart returning to an injured Mike Durant to give him Gordon's carbine. 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. Was he Sgt. Several months later, he completed the pre-ranger course, obtained a spot at Ranger School and earned his Ranger Tab. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. Randy Shughart would have been 60 years old today. Only four days later, President Clinton announced troops would withdraw from their mercy mission within six months, by March 31, 1994. 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. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, NC (near Fort Bragg, the home of Delta) has the rotor hub form "Super 61", the first Blackhawk to be shot down. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper. Today, the CompM is not easily attainable, and I couldnt find a split mount like that either. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. It was intended to last an hour, but ended up extending into the next day. 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. 1st Class Randy Shughart provided precision sniper fire from the lead helicopter during a building assault and at two helicopter crash sites. 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. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. "Many believed that it would not last long and would encounter little opposition.". 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved So now, lets talk about the build. The day before, she had learned Ray was missing. I'll definitely look into that! 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. Ray Dowdy and Staff Sgt. 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. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. 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. Meaning the part over the action is open but there are some Picatinny slots at the rear and front of the receiver. 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. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. Much of the food was hijacked by Mohamed Aidid's militia, and suddenly hundreds of thousands more Somalians were at risk of dying. They become legends. They had a pair of boots with blood stains, powerfully moving looking at those and seeing what they mean. [12] He then proceeded to openly criticize the president, telling him, "You are not fit to be president of the United States. Learn how you can make more money with IBD's investing tools, top-performing stock lists, and educational content. Both Gordon and Shughart laid down their lives to save their brothers in arms. Shughart and Gordon were both awarded purple hearts and medals of honor for their bravery and sacrifice. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Were they given back along with the surviving pilot? One gun on the list that I have been fortunate to add is the M1A, a semi-automatic version of the M14. That in itself is jarring enough. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? 2000-2023 Investor's Business Daily, LLC. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Operation Gothic Serpent was a military operation conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia, by an American-led coalition during the Somali Civil War in 1993. They realized that reinforcements would most likely not arrive in time, but fought on against overwhelming odds, exhibiting selfless service and personal courage. the bodies including Gary Gordon's at the second crash site was The body of a baby has been found in a woodland area in southern England, close to where aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were arrested earlier this week over concerns for . Like I said earlier, I didnt do anything that wasnt strictly aesthetic. Shortly after, Shughart was killed, the site was overrun and Durant was taken hostage. 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. 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 . Grant served with and taught marksmanship for the United States Marine Corps. Available Ranger forces on the ground could not assist the downed helicopter crew of the second crash site as they were already engaged in heavy combat with Somalis militia and making their way to the first 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. 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. I highly recommend seeing this exhibit (and the rest of the museum). Sergeant First Class Randall David Shughart, 2nd Battalion of the10th Special Forces Group, Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. It also should be noted that Shughart would have had an older Aimpoint, probably the Aimpoint 2000 according to my findings. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. body was put in a trash bag and dumped at the US Mission. He and his future wife, Carmen, met when she was visiting her grandparents, and they engaged in a three-year correspondence after he joined the Army. Thomas Field, a skilled mechanic from a family of stock car racers whose father felt uneasy about his choice of an Army career? It was a horrible site. Gary Gordon is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Penobscot . Was he Chief Warrant Officer Raymond Frank, 45, a pilot for 27 years who dearly loved flying? 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. 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. Gordon's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. As a result, Ive found myself increasingly interested in recreations of famous guns used around the world. Without a doubt, they saved my life. 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. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. Gordon and Shughart were deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. The ceremony was attended by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) and Carmen Gordon, the master sergeants widow. Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. The information and content are subject to change without notice. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. It is believed that Gordon was the first to be killed. The two sergeants were part of a sniper team aboard another Blackhawk, hovering. Again, out of ammo, he was only able to retrieve one weapon and five rounds, which he gave to Durant and said Good Luck. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. Shell also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance. This rifle is a fantastic foundation for a project like this. The Shughart-Gordon MOUT site was named for Medal of Honor recipients Sgt. In 1993, Somalia was ravaged by civil war, which destroyed the countrys agriculture. The blame for my son's death rests with the White House and with you. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in . 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. How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? Randy Shugart put up during their last stand. By the fall of 1992, the nation of Somalia was war-torn and ravaged by famine. I'm not flying all the way to North Carolina just to see a rotor blade! Eversmann is the clearest example of this. 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. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. As militants swarmed closer to the crash site, finally they were allowed to get on the ground. 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. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Eighteen Americans were killed. They were the only ones that could have been in that photograph, said Navy Cmdr. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). First, let's give them their due. After completing basic training, he successfully finished infantry advanced individual training (AIT). Purple Heart. 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. The sniper team began to engage, the attacking Somalis from the opposite side of the wreckage. In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. Some of the things happening in convoy getting lost seem to be consolidated onto McKnight. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Positioned approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Self Airfield, Shughart-Gordon is the largest of the three sites. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. 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. As a Delta Force operator, he advanced to Assistant Team Sergeant. 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. ", Suddenly Durant heard Gordon say, "Damn. The Pentagons position is this: Naming the man in the picture serves no purpose, and would only pain those who loved and lost him. His actions saved the pilots life. I pulled up a picture on Google of where the stripes were and attempted to match 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. 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. Westminster Cemetery, Pennsylvania, United States Two years later, the government of Somalia was overthrown and a civil war erupted. Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart had crept up along the side of the helicopter and poked their heads into the cockpit. Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. The heroic actions of Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart on October 3 ultimately saved Michael Durants life. Where is Randy Shughart buried? My son had black eyebrows and eyelashes, Morford said. Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. 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. Its also not forward of the action like scout optics. The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974. Medal of Honor recipients For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In the ensuing battle two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. Gordon's lesson is that when something is crucial, push hard. 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. I purchased an M1A with the sole purpose of creating a clone look-a-like rifle that matched the visual appearance of the M14 from the movie Black Hawk Down that was carried by the actor Johnny Strong as he played the role of Randy Shughart on screen. Notice: Information contained herein is not and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Shughart's body was recovered after several days. You dont need an individuals name to express horror at the treatment of the bodies.. Theres an on-going debate on whos tougher: a Navy SEAL or a member of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachments Delta Unit, a.k.a. All that is said and done, the government of Somalia was ravaged by.... Attainable, and suddenly hundreds of thousands more Somalians were at risk of dying first Shughart! My findings eventually recovered and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Penobscot County Maine... 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