Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. In the movie, which was released in 2001, it looks as if the rifle has a split rail mount. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Ownership data provided by Refinitiv and Estimates data provided by FactSet. An estimated half million Somalis were already dead, and hundreds of thousands more were facing possible starvation. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. They were the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War. However, beyond that, it wasn't likely. During the mission, a Black Hawk helicopter (Super Six-One) providing air support was shot down. Russias Alpha Group compared to the Delta Force. Was he Sgt. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. They were only armed with their sniper rifles and pistols. 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. 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. He joined the Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. [2] 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. Again, out of ammo, he was only able to retrieve one weapon and five rounds, which he gave to Durant and said Good Luck. You are not fit to command."[13]. 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. In total 50 Somalian bodies were found at the location. But, as you will see, this setup is very close to the one in the movie. Who were the 2 soldiers in Black Hawk Down? Shughart returned to the battle alone and was killed shortly after. Gordon, 33, was a sniper team leader with the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, otherwise known as "Delta Force.". Sergeant First ClassRandall David Shughart was born on August 13, 1958, and died on October 3, 1993. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. 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. Just know that my build is like the movie version but in aesthetics only. 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. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. 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. There are few military servicemen who have received the Medal of Honor and had their actions portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Gary and Carmen talked about opening a furniture store, but also candidly discussed what would happen if he died. Cookie Notice 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. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 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. For their acts, they were awarded the highest military decoration, Medal of Honor, for the first time after the Vietnam War. Let me say when it came to my build, I made it match the M14 seen in the film the best I could, rather than what Shugharts rifle would have actually been like. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. 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. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. The Shughart-Gordon MOUT site was named for Medal of Honor recipients Sgt. All rights reserved. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Shughart was born August 13, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska, into a United States Air Force family of German descent. Medal of Honor recipients For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 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. He chose the military and 'I shall not fail those with whom I serve' became his simple religion. With us, you can buy or sell guns. While a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team went to secure it, a second Super Six-Four was also downed. 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. 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. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. Mike Durant survived and is alive today. They volunteered for sniper cover for Super 6-4 - the second downed Black Hawk MH-60L - during the [] Gary Gordon and Sgt. The United Nations tried to aid with the resulting famine, but its food rations were seized by local warlords. Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. 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. Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. Required fields are marked *, Visit our friends and partners at Nortrack for tracking and other tactical training. He is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The battle was a disaster for coalition troops and resulted in a major strategic victory for Somali National Alliance forces, with American, Malaysian and Pakistani forces suffering heavy losses. "The support, people coming forward financially to repair and things like that has been amazing to see," a Lincoln Police Department officer said to Insider. The initial insertion attempt failed and they had to insert about 100 meters away from the crash site. 1st Class Randy Shughart, who gave their lives to save their fellow soldiers during the fierce Battle of Mogadishu, are the focus of the latest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army's series on recipients of the nation's highest award for valor. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. 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. Undeterred, Gordon repeated his request until it was granted. On 24 July 1996, Aidid and his men clashed with the forces of former allies Ali Mahdi Muhammad and Osman Ali Atto. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening.". Speaking about the pairs heroic efforts in Somalia, Clinton said: Gordon and Shughart knew their own chances of survival were extremely bleak. The pair landed 100 meters south of the crashsite and, armed with sniper rifles and pistols, fought their way to the downed Black Hawk. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Shughart and Gordon were both awarded purple hearts and medals of honor for their bravery and sacrifice. Grant served with and taught marksmanship for the United States Marine Corps. Entered service at: Born: Lincoln, Maine. In 1996 the US Navy named two ships after Shughart and Gordon in honor of their heroic actions. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Wolcott's body is finally recovered. Halling stayed behind to man a door gun as one of the helicopter's gunners had been wounded. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). 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. 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. Vehicles roll out of the city. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. Randy and the Delta Force Team were assisting Army Rangers on Operation Gothic Serpent in October 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia. How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? In December 1983, Shughart returned to active duty and the following year attended Special Forces training. His actions saved the pilots life. On May 23, 1994, Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor under . In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. By this time, more Somali militiamen were arriving intent on either capturing or killing the American servicemen. 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. [55] Please re-read the annotations in Black Hawk Down (book) Mcase07 ( talk) 20:28, 14 April 2008 (UTC) [ reply] . When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. I pulled up a picture on Google of where the stripes were and attempted to match it. (from the Bowdens notes: this is because he was at most liberty to talk about the events). 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. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Kings University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime. The U.S. Army aimed to prevent that, with Gordon's Delta outfit landing in Mogadishu in the summer of 1993. One result was disruption of the African country's agriculture, resulting in 300,000 people dying of starvation. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. 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. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine. views and opinions of Springfield Armory. The information and content are subject to change without notice. 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. In attendance were a number of Navy officials and politicians, including Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John W. Douglass. The Mission commander said that the situation was already too dangerous for the Delta snipers to safeguard the Blackhawk crew from the ground effectively But, they insisted! Before we find you.". Mission commanders felt it too dangerous and believed the snipers would be of more assistance in the air. Realtime quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. Background. Their aim was to capture key allies of the powerful Somali warlord, Gen Mohamed Farah Aideed. [2][3], Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. 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. Today we remember one of our most famous Special Operations warriors. He joined the Boy Scouts and played football in high school, graduating in 1978. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. 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. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. "We've had a lot of people come forward wanting to help. The opposition was much larger and better organized then originally thought and the mission began to take a turn for the worse. "What happens with these is that over time the paint will fade," the mortician said to Insider. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. Law enforcement officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. [7], In the 2001 film Black Hawk Down, Shughart was portrayed by actor Johnny Strong. In the movie, there is a single scope ring at the front of the receiver holding an Aimpoint CompM. Gary I. Gordon was born in Lincoln, Maine, and graduated from Mattanawcook Academy in 1978. 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. Live The Armory Life. We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". The Lincoln Police Department on Tuesday announced it was "with an extremely heavy heart" to report that the gravestone of Gordon, a native of the city, may have been vandalized within the last two weeks. Police officers from Maine are investigating a possible vandalism case of a gravestone belonging to US Army Master Sgt. The mission was an assault mission to apprehend advisors to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and it was to be a short operation. Randall Shughart was a US Army Delta Force soldier. Gary Gordon and Sgt. As such, the US Army sent in its Special Forces to protect the humanitarian efforts and prevent the continued rise of the warlords. Gordon and Shugart are among the Americans honored on Memorial Day, which remembers those who died serving in the military. The optic is sitting right on top of the action. In 1993, Somalia was ravaged by civil war, which destroyed the countrys agriculture. "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," Gordon's citation says. 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. 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.