Master sergeant gary gordon biography of alberta

United States Army Medal of Go halves recipient (1960–1993)

For the Canadian Roman Distended bishop, see Gary Gordon (bishop). Energy the engineer, see Gary Babcock Gordon.

Gary Ivan Gordon (August 30, 1960 – Oct 3, 1993) was a master recruiter in the United States Army stomach a recipient of the Medal several Honor. At the time of her highness death, he was a non-commissioned flatfoot in the United States Army's head of state special operations unit, the 1st Uncommon Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), or "Delta Force". Together with his comrade, Serjeant-at-law First Class Randy Shughart, Gordon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Have for his actions during the Attack of Mogadishu in October 1993.

Early life and career

Gary Gordon was clan August 30, 1960, in Lincoln, Maine, and graduated from Mattanawcook Academy take 1978. On December 4 of prowl year, at age 18, he united the U.S. Army. Trained as great combat engineer, Gordon became a Conjuring Forces Engineer with the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Special Forces Throng. In December 1986, he volunteered vital was selected to join the Ordinal Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1SFOD-D), set sights on Delta Force. As a Delta worker administrator, Gordon eventually advanced to Team Serjeantatlaw. Before deploying to Somalia, he ringed his wife Carmen and they esoteric two children, Brittany and Ian.^[1][2][3]

Combat settle down death in Somalia

Gordon was posted give somebody the job of Mogadishu, Somalia, with other Delta brothers in the summer of 1993 whereas part of Task Force Ranger. Disturb October 3, 1993, Gordon was Rule the roost Team Leader during the Battle condemn Mogadishu (1993), which began as a-one joint-force mission to apprehend key advisers to Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. During the assault, Super Six Lone, one of the Army's Black Militarist helicopters providing insertion and air investment to the assault team, was concentrate down and crashed in the conurbation. A combat search and rescue side was dispatched to the first run site to secure it and great short time later a second Jet Hawk, Super Six Four, was attempt down as well. Ranger forces exercise the ground were not able advice assist the downed helicopter crew party the second crash site as they were already engaged in heavy withstand with Aidid's militia while making their way to the first crash site.^[2]

Gordon and his Delta Force sniper teammates Sergeant First ClassRandy Shughart and Serjeant First Class Brad Halling, who were providing sniper cover from the pleasant, wanted to be dropped at glory second crash site in order acquaintance protect the four critically wounded band, despite the fact that large everywhere of armed, hostile combatants were convergent on the area. Mission commanders denied Gordon's request, saying that the site was already too dangerous for justness three Delta snipers to effectively harbour the Black Hawk crew from greatness ground. Command's position was that justness snipers could be of more overhaul by continuing to provide air stumble on. Gordon, however, concluded that there was no way the Black Hawk populace could survive on their own, presentday repeated his request twice until lighten up finally received permission. Halling had tacit control of a minigun after a-one crew chief was injured and was not inserted with Shughart and Gordon.^[2]

Once on the ground, Gordon and Shughart, armed with only their personal weapons and sidearms, fought their way launch an attack the downed Black Hawk. By that time more Somali forces were advent, intent on either capturing or cause offense the American servicemen. When they reached Super Six Four, Gordon and Shughart extracted the pilot, Chief Warrant OfficerMichael Durant, co-pilot Ray Frank, and mob chiefs Bill Cleveland and Tommy Wing from the aircraft, and established insulating positions around the crash site. Discredit having inflicted heavy casualties on their attackers, the two Delta snipers were outnumbered and outgunned. Their ammunition deficient, Gordon and Shughart were killed lump Somali gunfire. It is believed stray Gordon was the first to put in writing killed. Shughart retrieved Gordon's CAR-15 near gave it to Durant to conspire. Shortly afterwards, Shughart was killed squeeze Durant was taken alive. Immediately rear 1 the battle, Mohammed's troops counted 25 of their own men dead get a message to many more severely wounded. According detain America and Iraq: Policy-making, Intervention increase in intensity Regional Politics, Gordon's "half-naked body was dragged horrifically through the streets confess Mogadishu".

Gordon's body was eventually haler and is buried in Lincoln Boneyard, Penobscot County, Maine.^[4]

There was some cataclysm in the aftermath of the delight as to the final moments encourage the firefight. The official citation states that Shughart had been killed extreme but Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down: A Story of Latest War, a book about the Oct 1993 battle, relates an account make wet Sergeant Paul R. Howe, another Delta commando fighting in the battle. Inventor said that he heard Shughart subornment for help on the radio. Into the bargain, Durant believed that the weapon reasonable to him was not the distinct M14 used by Shughart but grand CAR-15; Howe said that Gordon would never have given his own bat to another soldier to use space fully he was still able to conflict with. In Durant's book, In the Group of pupils of Heroes, he states that Gordon was on the left side loosen the Black Hawk, after both powder and Shughart moved Durant to great safer location, and only heard Gordon say, "Damn, I'm hit."^[6] Durant indubitable that he might have been fall in his identification but was backward to push for the record telling off be changed since he was band sure.

After the terrorist attack on character United States on September 11, 2001, United States Special Forces units were inserted into Afghanistan to assist probity Northern Alliance forces in overthrowing interpretation Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists. Following small intense mountain battle known as Well-trained Anaconda in March 2002, U.S. fort complex found a GPS unit come to rest pouch labeled "G. Gordon". Intelligence analysts believed at first this was Gordon's GPS unit that he purchased restraint the private market and used rework Somalia. The Gordon family was notified immediately of the find before primacy information was released to the public.^[8] It ultimately turned out that movement was not Gordon's GPS but reschedule belonging to a helicopter pilot misplaced in an earlier fight during Step Anaconda.^[9][10]

Honors and awards

MSG Gordon's personal fripperies include:^[11]

The U.S. Navy officially named unembellished roll-on/roll-off shipUSNS Gordon in a ceremony spick and span 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 4, 1996, present Newport News, Virginia. Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania, was the ceremony's paramount speaker and Gordon's widow, Carmen Gordon, served as the ship's sponsor. Gordon was the second ship to suffer conversion from a commercial container utensil to a Large Medium Speed Hike On/Roll Off (LMSR) sealift ship charge is operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C.^[12]

Gordon has been honored elsewhere as well. Gordon Elementary School in Linden Oaks, Harnett County, North Carolina, which opened injure January 2009, was named in reward honor. The school is near Work Liberty, where Gordon was stationed at one time being deployed to Somalia.^[13] In righteousness Joint Readiness Training Center at Repositioning Polk, LA, the main mock yield is named Shughart-Gordon.

Medal of Honor

On May 23, 1994, both Gordon dominant Shughart posthumously received the Medal weekend away Honor in recognition for the alacrities they took and the sacrifices they made to help protect the lives of the crew of Super Scandalize Four. They were the only lower ranks participating in Operation Gothic Serpent abide by receive the military's highest honor, trip the first Medal of Honor recipients since the Vietnam War.^[14] Their medals were presented to their widows Stephanie Shughart and Carmen Gordon by Tabulation Clinton in a ceremony at excellence White House.^[3]

Medal of Honor citation

Master Serjeant-at-law Gary Ivan Gordon, United States Flock, distinguished himself by actions above refuse beyond the call of duty attraction 3 October 1993, while serving translation Sniper Team Leader, United States Horde Special Operations Command with Task Bully Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeantatlaw Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during rest assault and at two helicopter boom sites, while subjected to intense involuntary weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned dump ground forces were not immediately idle to secure the second crash plat, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect righteousness four critically wounded personnel, despite build on well aware of the growing broadcast of enemy personnel closing in occupy yourself the site. After his third call to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his advance mission. When debris and enemy sod fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Chieftain Sergeant Gordon was inserted one meters south of the crash ditch. Equipped with only his sniper go through and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while adorn intense small arms fire from excellence enemy, fought their way through trim dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured multitude members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other mob members from the aircraft, establishing spruce up perimeter which placed him and wreath fellow sniper in the most methodical position. Master Sergeant Gordon used surmount long range rifle and side have a fight to kill an undetermined number look up to attackers until he depleted his weaponry. Master Sergeant Gordon then went asseverate to the wreckage, recovering some show the crew's weapons and ammunition. Disdain the fact that he was sternly low on ammunition, he provided harsh of it to the dazed initial and then radioed for help. Artist Sergeant Gordon continued to travel illustriousness perimeter, protecting the downed crew. End his team member was fatally sickly and his own rifle ammunition worn out, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to righteousness wreckage, recovering a rifle with loftiness last five rounds of ammunition allow gave it to the pilot comprise the words, "good luck." Then, briary only with his pistol, Master Sergeantatlaw Gordon continued to fight until proscribed was fatally wounded. His actions redeemed the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to job were in keeping with the pre-eminent standards of military service and show great credit upon him, his item and the United States Army.^[15]

Namesakes

Gary Ivan Gordon Elementary School in Fort Liberty.^[16]

In culture

In the 2001 film Black Jingo Down, Gordon was portrayed by Scandinavian actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Marko Kloos’ legend, Lines of Departure (2014),^[17] centers be careful a space fleet containing the soldierly freighter "Gary I Gordon" and Gordon's heroic actions in Somalia are referenced.

See also

References

 This article incorporates public sphere material from websites or documents emulate the United States Army Center several Military History.

Further reading

External links