*GORDON, GARY I.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date:
3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born:
Lincoln, Maine. 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. Master Sergeant Gordon's 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. 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. After his third request to be
inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform
his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the
site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon
was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped
with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon
and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from
the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and
shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. 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. Master Sergeant Gordon
used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number
of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon
then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons
and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition,
he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help.
Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting
the downed crew. 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. His actions saved the pilot's
life. 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.
*SHUGHART, RANDALL D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Place and
date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: -----
Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. 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. 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 weapons and rocket propelled grenade
fires. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader 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. After their third request to be
inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received
permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy
ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt,
Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted
one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his
sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his
team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy,
fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to
reach the critically injured crew members. 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. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire
until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions
saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart'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.
|
|
Last updated 3 October 2003
|
|