Medal of Honor: Randall D. Shughart, Somalia – Operation Gothic Serpent, October 3, 1993

Name: Randall D. Shughart
Rank: Sergeant First Class
War/Operation: Somalia – Operation Gothic Serpent
Date of Action: October 3, 1993
Unit: U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Task Force Ranger
Accredited to: Newville, Pennsylvania

Summary of Action
During the Battle of Mogadishu, Shughart and his sniper team provided critical cover from the air as Black Hawk helicopters fell to enemy fire. When it became clear no ground forces could reach the second crash site, Shughart and his team leader, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, volunteered three times to be inserted. On approval, they landed 100 meters south of the wreckage and fought their way through hostile streets with only rifles and pistols. Shughart pulled the crew from the wreck and established a perimeter, taking the most exposed positions. Moving constantly, he fired on advancing Somalis with deadly effect until his ammunition was spent. Fatally wounded, he fell fighting, his last stand buying time and saving the pilot, Michael Durant. His selfless courage alongside Gordon’s stands as one of the most defining examples of battlefield valor in modern American history.

Medal of Honor Citation
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.