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. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. It was second ship to undergo conversion from a commercial container vessel to a Large Medium Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) sealift ship. Sergeant First Class Shugharts 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. His actions saved the pilot's life. certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owners manual. Helicopter with call sign Super 61 (Super Six One). Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. The first thing you need is an M1A, of course. Both operators died in the battle. Make more money in stocks with 2 months of access to IBD Digital for only $20! While providing critical suppressive fire 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. The Aimpoint PRO has a nearly identical aesthetic to the CompM and can still be put in a singular scope ring should you desire that. On 24 July 1996, Aidid and his men clashed with the forces of former allies Ali Mahdi Muhammad and Osman Ali Atto. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Mission commanders denied their request; in fact, they said that the situation was already too dangerous for the three Delta snipers to effectively protect the Blackhawk crew from the ground because overwhelming Somali militias outnumbered them. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. A smoke grenade gave Gordon and Shughart some cover as they fought their way 100 yards through a shantytown to the downed craft. Combat Infantryman Badge with Star . The men wanted to get on the ground, check for survivors and defend the crash of Six-Four. ", 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. The sniper team began to engage, the attacking Somalis from the opposite side of the wreckage. The M14 rifle is used by Delta Force Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong), most notably when he and MSG Gary Gordon (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) are covering the second crash site. 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. M14. 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. 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. The optic is sitting right on top of the action. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. Vehicles roll out of the city. ", The pilot wrote: "He sounded almost irritated, like this was just going to make things harder for him. 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. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to be brought home here," The New York Times previously reported. Their 'Go bag'. As he was preparing to fast rope from Super 67, Blackburn missed the rope, falling between 60-90 feet ( 18.29m-27.43m). Notice: Information contained herein is not and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell securities. [1], Shughart joined the United States Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. They risked their lives without hesitation.. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Learn all the ways IBDs top investing tools can help you succeed in the market! Aidid suffered a gunshot wound in the ensuing battle. Before we find you.". After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Master SergeantGary Ivan Gordon was born on August 30, 1960, and died on October 3, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Hoot seems to be a merge of Hooten and Howe in the book, which features more prominently in the book than Hooten. "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.". 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. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. In 1978, he was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. As for the Shughart M14, its an extremely iconic weapon, and Im proud to have one that resembles that legendary rifle. An estimated half million Somalis were already dead, and hundreds of thousands more were facing possible starvation. In 1993, Gordon's body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. They could have taken a belt of 7.62 ammo from the door gunner and delinked it. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! They become legends. In 1993, Gordons body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. Gordon and Shughart were a sniper team for Delta Force and were assigned to over watch the operation, engaging targets from the Blackhawk. Shughart deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger operations. 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. The term M1A is a proprietary title for Springfield Armorys M14-pattern rifle. It was intended to last an hour, but ended up extending into the next day. I chose to get the FDE stock Standard Issue M1A from Springfield Armory. His rifle was never recovered, so we dont know exactly what his was like although there are people who have done a lot of digging to give us a pretty good idea. and our What is the white stuff in my gas fireplace? The information has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable; however no guarantee is made or implied with respect to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart had crept up along the side of the helicopter and poked their heads into the cockpit. Once on the ground, they were armed with only their weapons and sidearms. They become legends. Ray Dowdy and Staff Sgt. Gary. Its on GunSpots YouTube channel right now. Born into a US Air Force family, he joined the Army while in high school. During Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia, Durant was the pilot of helicopter Super Six Four. His was the second MH-60L of two Black Hawk helicopters to crash during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. 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. The pilot of Gordon and Shughart's Black Hawk first attempted to land right next to the crash site of Super Six-Four, but the LZ was too hot - a flood of small arms fire, RPGs, and an excess of ground debris and fire made insertion impossible.So instead of putting down in the middle of the action, Gordon and Shughart jumped from the hovering helicopter 100 meters from the crash site, getting . Two are Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. 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 . 5 How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? Engaged in combat with Aidids militia, the Ranger forces on the ground were unable to assist. 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. Traduzioni in contesto per "first to be killed" in inglese-italiano da Reverso Context: Ding's seventeen-year-old son, Jiang Jielian (), was one of the first to be killed when the People's Liberation Army crushed the Tiananmen Square protests. What is the most elite unit in the military? The views
In 1996, the US Navy held a ceremony in Newport News, Virginia, during which it named the roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gordon. The USNS Gordon is currently operated by the US Navys Military Sealift Command in Washington, D.C. At Ft. Polks JRTC, the largest town inside of The Box is named Shughart-Gordon. In December 1986, Gordon volunteered to join the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), better known as Delta Force. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 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. 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. The infamous picture of the US Soldier being dragged shirtless through the street was not either of the CAG Snipers. 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. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. . In the movie, there is a single scope ring at the front of the receiver holding an Aimpoint CompM. The critical lesson is to never underestimate your enemy. As a result, Ive found myself increasingly interested in recreations of famous guns used around the world. Gary Gordon and Sgt. They were tasked to provide sniper support from the air during the battle, but things went wrong after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. Shortly after, Shughart was killed, the site was overrun and Durant was taken hostage. The fourth pilot was captured and later released. and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the
By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Both pilots were killed in the resulting crash and two of the crew chiefs, Staff Sgt. Gordon wanted to be inserted to secure the crash site as hostile Somalis were converging on the area. Guns like an M16A1, a Rhodesian baby poop camo-painted FAL, the FNC, the M1 Garand, etc., are all guns I hope to add to my gun safe one day. Overhead, other Army helicopters came under fire from RPGs and had to withdraw. 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. In 2003, Michael Durant published a book, In the company of heroes where he described events on that day on how he saw it. Thanks. Was he Sgt. Like I said earlier, I didnt do anything that wasnt strictly aesthetic. Were they given back along with the surviving pilot? Ownership data provided by Refinitiv and Estimates data provided by FactSet. The bodies of 50 Somalis were later found surrounding the chopper. The events of this mission have been well documented in the book Blackhawk Down, and the movie of the same title that was based on the book. Their ammunition depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali gunfire. I have the utmost respect for the two men and, as a gun enthusiast and creator, I wanted to do a project that could honor their memory. As they monitored the downing of the 2nd Blackhawk it was evident that ground forces would not be available anytime soon to secure the crash site and protect the crew of four, whom all survived the crash. Atto is alleged to have masterminded the defeat of Aidid. Both mens bodies were recovered. Shughart and Gordon are dropped 100 meters from the site and the two men held off a horde of Somali attackers and ultimately saved the life of the lone survivor of the crash, Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant. Bush authorized the dispatch of U.S. troops to Somalia to assist with famine relief as part of the larger United Nations effort. Background. In the end, 19 American soldiers were killed, including six Delta Force operators, and 73 were wounded. Of the four man crew, only Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant survived, suffering a crushed vertebra and comminuted fracture to his left femur. While their heroic actions during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia resulted in their deaths, they efforts allowed for the rescue of a fellow soldier. 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. The full "rescue scene" with Shugart and Gordon in HQ. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. The Battle of Mogadishu resulted in 18 soldiers killed five from Delta Force and 73 wounded. All rights reserved. I will not fail those with whom I serve.. Michael Durant was released after 11 days of captivity. Gary Gordon and Sgt. However, it added that the family "was never notified that this was happening.". 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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The only way to rescue survivors was for the Gordon-Shughart-Hallings copter to go in. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? From the start of the mission up until nightfall, the movie sticks close to the book. 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. The scenario-based is on Mark Bowdens bestseller Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. What happened to the pilot in Black Hawk Down? Gordon, 33, was a sniper team leader with the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, otherwise known as "Delta Force.". He was not there at night since he was on the convoy that finally returned to base after failing to reach the crash site. Eighteen Americans were killed. For more information, please see our By the fall of 1992, the nation of Somalia was war-torn and ravaged by famine. 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. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. Now, the optic rail used in the movie is super low, like really, really low. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant, one of the Black Hawk pilots, was captured. In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. Upon his third request, he and Shughart were inserted, armed with rifles and pistols. Gary Gordon. The story of courage and self-sacrifice is best portrayed in the heroic story of MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart. Shortly after, Randy Shughart was killed, and Durant was taken alive. On May 23, 1994, President Clinton awarded Gordon and Shughart the Medal of Honor, joining just 3,000 others in two centuries. . Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. They were the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War. M14. Then, a second Black Hawk helicopter, call sign Super Six-Four, was shot down. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. 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. Aidid was fatally wounded in a battle with a rival militia two years later. After completing the introductory training courses, Shughart completed AIT (advanced individual training), Airborne School, and in 1978 assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Lewis, Washington. *Real-time prices by Nasdaq Last Sale. The main divergence in the movie is that more is that some people were shown doing things others did: In the end, the movie won 2 Oscars in 2001. Gordon and Shughart lost their lives in the assault. They likely had an extra bag with ammo that they would have taken with them. The two soldiers were killed after running critically low on ammunition. The peacekeepers then faced the task of overcoming the decades-long intertribal conflicts within the war-torn nation. Designed to support up to a battalion-level assault, this . Required fields are marked *, Visit our friends and partners at Nortrack for tracking and other tactical training. 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. Westminster Cemetery, Pennsylvania, United States 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. 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. Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. When they reached Super Six-Four, they extracted Durant and the other crew from the helicopter and defended the aircraft. In 1993, Gordon's body was eventually buried and brought back to his hometown in Maine. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. 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. The showdown pitted 160 special operations soldiers arriving in 19 helicopters and 12 vehicles against 3,000 Aidid men. News outlets broadcasted searing images of mobs dragging the bodies of dead Army Special Operators and helicopter crewmen . We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. [11], Herbert Shughart, Randall Shughart's father, attended the Medal of Honor presentation ceremony at the White House, where he refused to shake hands with U.S. President Bill Clinton. 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. Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! "It almost looks like somebody did a bad job trying to clean it," he added. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. Two Delta Force operators Master Sgt. The USNS Shughart is currently the lead ship in her class, and is capable of carrying 48 track vehicles, 58 tanks, and over 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. "Gordon was the epitome of the dependable individual who so believes in taking responsibility that he gives his life to protect his fellow men," Fred Borch, author of "For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart," told IBD. As a person with an interest in guns, movies and military history, its rewarding to take on projects where all those line up. 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. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. For their efforts during the Battle of Mogadishu, Gary Gordon and Randall Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The opposition was much larger and better organized then originally thought and the mission began to take a turn for the worse. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He joined the Army while attending Big Spring High School in Newville, entering upon graduation in 1976. Your email address will not be published. His actions saved the pilots life. Sergeant First ClassRandall David Shughart was born on August 13, 1958, and died on October 3, 1993. I only tried to match it in appearance and not performance. We'll go in and re-sand the letters and repaint them because it only last so long because of the weather.". No doubt about it, the rifle in the movie is a full-length M14, similar to the Standard Issue M1A. "Shughart-Gordon". The Americans' "overconfidence played a part in the problems during the raid," wrote Chun. Please re-read the annotations in Black Hawk Down (book) Mcase07 ( talk) 20:28, 14 April 2008 (UTC) [ reply] 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. He and Shughart were lowered to the ground, while their comrade Sergeant First Class Brad Halling stayed aboard to man a machine gun. The ceremony was attended by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) and Carmen Gordon, the master sergeants widow. Instead of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his mother, Betty, said he would have "wanted to. Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. After all that is said and done, the build is complete. In October 1993, elite American troops launched a disastrous raid in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Despite having inflicted heavy casualties against the Somalis, the two Delta snipers were too outnumbered and outgunned. Gary I. Gordon and Randall D. Shughart were true warriors and the finest American heroes. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed and Durant was taken alive. As they monitored the downing of the 2nd Blackhawk it was evident that ground forces would not be available anytime soon to secure the crash site and protect the crew of four, whom all survived the crash. Shughart retrieved Gordons CAR-15 and gave it to Durant to use. 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. In 1989, Gordon was with the outfit in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama to capture its dictator, Manuel Noriega. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. The Lincoln Police Department said that while it may have been a case of vandalism, it also could have also been a "work in progress" with gold lettering on the engravings. Especially the bodies of Shughart and Gordon. At one point, MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart requested permission to land near the second helicopter crash site and defend the crash site and four critically wounded helicopter crew members. He chose the military and 'I shall not fail those with whom I serve' became his simple religion. Citation Reads:Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Authors may own the stocks they discuss. Master Sergeant Gordons 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. [3], Mission commanders denied Gordon's request twice,[1] saying that the situation was too dangerous for the snipers to protect the crew from the ground. When the smoke had cleared, its said that there were 25 dead Somali attackers scattered around the site. For their acts, they were awarded the highest military decoration, Medal of Honor, for the first time after the Vietnam War. I didnt dive deep into what trigger Shughart would have had, or glass bedding of the action, etc. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. Shughart left active duty and went into the Army Reserve in June 1980. With all of the ground forces still trying to help Super Six-One, there was no one left to help at the crash site of Super Six-Four. 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. [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. 2000-2023 Investor's Business Daily, LLC. SHUGHART-GORDON VILLAGE. During his service, he participated in such missions as Operation Just Cause and the Persian Gulf War. The ceremony was attended by a number of officers and politicians including Shughart's commanding officer at the time of his death; John W. Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Senator Bob Kerrey; and others. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. The information and content are subject to change without notice. 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. A combat search and rescue (CSAR) team was sent in to secure the survivors. On a new IBD podcast, Jon Najarian explains 0DTE options and their unintended impact. Stories can drive us, inspire us, and we retell them for generations. Oops, there's been an error. Gordon's body was eventually recovered and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Penobscot County, Maine. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. Once he committed to something, the way was clear. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more! How many Delta Force died in Black Hawk Down? [2][3], Shughart was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. Two years later, the government of Somalia was overthrown and a civil war erupted. Their ammunition nearly depleted, Gordon and Shughart were killed by Somali militias gunfire. Shughart was assigned to 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in June 1986. "When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the 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," his medal citation reads.