The FReeper Foxhole Revisits Task Force Ranger: Mogadishu, Somalia - (10/3/1993)

61 posted on 10/01/2004 3:28:57 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (You have to ask yourself, "Do you really want to vote for a Sunkist president?". Well, do you punk?)

62 posted on 10/01/2004 3:30:26 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (You have to ask yourself, "Do you really want to vote for a Sunkist president?". Well, do you punk?)

To: snippy_about_it

63 posted on 10/01/2004 3:31:24 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (You have to ask yourself, "Do you really want to vote for a Sunkist president?". Well, do you punk?)

To: snippy_about_it

MSG Gary Gordon

Rank & Organization: Master Sergeant, USASOC,
Task Force Ranger; 1st SFOD-D, Squadron C

Date & Location: Sunday, 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia

Place & Date of Birth: Lincoln, Maine, 30 Aug 1960

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, his unit and the United States Army.

More Details

During a raid in Mogadishu on 3 October 1993, MSG. Gary Gordon and SFC. Randall Shughart, leader and member of a sniper team with Task Force Ranger in Somalia, were providing precision and suppressive fires from helicopters above two helicopter crash sites. Learning that no ground forces were available to rescue one of the downed aircrews and aware that a growing number of enemy were closing in on the site, MSG. Gordon and SFC. Shughart volunteered to be inserted to protect their critically wounded comrades. Their initial request was turned down because of the danger of the situation. They asked a second time; permission was denied. Only after their third request were they inserted.

MSG. Gordon and SFC. Shughart were inserted one hundred meters south of the downed chopper. Armed only with their personal weapons, the two NCOs fought their way to the downed fliers through intense small arms fire, a maze of shanties and shacks, and the enemy converging on the site. After MSG. Gordon and SFC. Shughart pulled the wounded from the wreckage, they established a perimeter, put themselves in the most dangerous position, and fought off a series of attacks. The two NCOs continued to protect their comrades until they had depleted their ammunition and were themselves fatally wounded. Their actions saved the life of an Army pilot.

No one will ever know what was running through the minds of MSG. Gordon and SFC. Shughart as they left the comparative safety of their helicopter to go to the aid of the downed aircrew. The two NCOs knew there was no ground rescue force available, and they certainly knew there was no going back to their helicopter. They may have suspected that things would turn out as they did; nonetheless, they did what they believed to be the right thing. They acted based on Army values, which they had clearly made their own: loyalty to their fellow soldiers; the duty to stand by them, regardless of the circumstances; the personal courage to act, even in the face of great danger; selfless service, the willingness to give their all. MSG. Gary I. Gordon and SFC. Randall D. Shughart lived Army values to the end; they were posthumously awarded Medals of Honor.

Before being assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command, MSG Gordon served with the 2d Battalion, 10th SFG(A) at Fort Devens, MA. His awards included the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals and four Good Conduct Medals. He was also authorized to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Airborne wings, Ranger tab, Special Forces tab, French Army Mountaineering Badge, the Royal Danish Parachutist Badge and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

No greater love.

64 posted on 10/01/2004 3:54:41 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)

No greater love.

Amen.

Thank you Valin.

65 posted on 10/01/2004 5:07:04 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)

To: colorado tanker

...standing in awe of Sergeants Shugart and Gordon, the very epitome of the NCO corps.

Well said ct. Many times I know we all feel the unexplicable combination of sadness and pride reading about our troops.

66 posted on 10/01/2004 5:08:44 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)

I'll never understand why we just watch such atrocities...

It is hard. Especially when we know we have the power,equipment and better technology than any third world enemy.

67 posted on 10/01/2004 5:10:29 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)

To: snippy_about_it

Did ya notice that rome8 signed up 9/24/2004?

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

68 posted on 10/01/2004 5:27:39 PM PDT by alfa6 (I'm just an analog guy in a digital world.)

LOL. Yeah, after I said, Huh? Then I decided to see what else he/she/it had posted. All the same and I swear, I don't have the codes!!!

69 posted on 10/01/2004 5:36:46 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)

To: snippy_about_it

rome8 Troll?

I read it 3 times, and it still doesn't make any sense. Weather this is good or bad I make no comment.

70 posted on 10/01/2004 5:44:19 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)

her left (injured) leg had as good "range of motion" & strength as the right one.

Well that's good. Now someone (unnamed) can get kicked in the butt with both legs. :-)

71 posted on 10/01/2004 5:48:38 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)

I've never seen the movie. I wish I hadn't read this. God rest their souls.

72 posted on 10/01/2004 6:27:29 PM PDT by Samwise (The Pajama People: They also serve who hunt and peck.)

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; All

Hi snippy and Sam, all,

I'm home! Whew what a day, I am tired out. Sales were okay and hope to do better tomorrow.

Nice banquet and it was grand having a couple of my girls with me. We heard wonderful Finn Folk music, a piano concert, had Tango dancers and lots of other entertainment. I won a basket of cheese and wine. We had filled 6 baskets as raffle items. I gave the wine to the girls. The baskets were all different, a bath basket, a Made in New York basket, a Bird basket, a Gentleman's basket and can't remember the other one. I had a great time, but am glad to be home. Have to do it all again tomorrow.

73 posted on 10/01/2004 7:40:49 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)

Thanks Valin.

They had to know what the chances were and they went anyway, that's what heroes are made of.

74 posted on 10/01/2004 8:38:01 PM PDT by SAMWolf ("Coordinates? I don't *care* what we hit...FIRE!")

Sounds more like someone is off their meds.

75 posted on 10/01/2004 8:39:33 PM PDT by SAMWolf ("Coordinates? I don't *care* what we hit...FIRE!")

It's a good movie. It'll make you feel good, sad and pissed off all at the same time.

76 posted on 10/01/2004 8:40:17 PM PDT by SAMWolf ("Coordinates? I don't *care* what we hit...FIRE!")

Finn Fun Finishes Feather For Friday. :-)

77 posted on 10/01/2004 8:41:06 PM PDT by SAMWolf ("Coordinates? I don't *care* what we hit...FIRE!")

ROTLMAO!!!!

Now you have to work one up using Saturday!!

78 posted on 10/01/2004 8:42:33 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Iris7; E.G.C.; The Mayor; alfa6; manna; bentfeather; ...

I saw "Blackhawk Down" with Hank and Erika Holzer.

I had just read that Clinton had expelled our Ambassador and broke up the good operation the ambassador had with our Marines.

Putting our people into a mission creep under the deathwish deadstick loser umbrella of the UN without armor and air power is treasonous.

Spectre would have created wide swaths of safety (for us) and death (for Aidad's cockroaches).

Armor a la the Thunder Run would have been appropriate.

Clinton should have been drug through the streets of Mogadishu, not the finest fighting force on earth.

We will re-elect Bush and send Kerry as our Sudan plenipotentiary armed with all the weapons systems he voted for over the last twenty years.

Jean-FOS Keri as Shambo, with bandeliers of spitballs.

79 posted on 10/01/2004 10:55:42 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)

Sunny Scandinavian Saturday Satisfies Sonnet Sales ;-)

80 posted on 10/01/2004 11:23:18 PM PDT by SAMWolf ("Coordinates? I don't *care* what we hit...FIRE!")

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