Middlesex Township near Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart
Sniper, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
— 1976-1993 —
Photographed By Don Morfe, May 31, 2015
1. Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart Marker
Inscription.
Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart. Sniper, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. Raised on a farm in Newville, Pennsylvania, Randall D. Shughart joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1976 and became a member of the elite Special Forces. During the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, SFC Shugart and his team leader Gary I. Gordon were providing sniper fire from the lead helicopter to support ground assault operations and covering two helicopter crash sites. When it became apparent that ground forces were not able to secure the area, both Soldiers volunteered to be inserted in to the second crash site, knowing that the crew lay wounded and that a large number of the enemy were approaching. The sniper team fought their way to the crash site, pulled the crew from the crashed helicopter and set up a security perimeter, putting themselves at the most vulnerable spots. Armed only with their sniper rifles and pistols they held off the enemy until their ammunition was depleted. Their action was directly responsible for saving the life of the pilot. For his selfless service that day SFC Shughart was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Across the nation SFC Shughart’s service and sacrifice has been honored in different ways. His hometown named the Post Office after him and started a scholarship fund in his honor. The Army named a barracks and urban warfare training site after him and the Navy christened a ship the USNS Randall D. Shughart., (Inscription under the photo in the upper left) , They were the kind of professionals who could pick off a rabbit from a roller coaster with a BB gun. To me they were Batman and Robin, only much better, and they just walked up to my aircraft like they were out for a stroll in the park. From the Company of Heroes.
Raised on a farm in Newville, Pennsylvania, Randall D. Shughart joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1976 and became a member of the elite Special Forces. During the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, SFC Shugart and his team leader Gary I. Gordon were providing sniper fire from the lead helicopter to support ground assault operations and covering two helicopter crash sites. When it became apparent that ground forces were not able to secure the area, both Soldiers volunteered to be inserted in to the second crash site, knowing that the crew lay wounded and that a large number of the enemy were approaching. The sniper team fought their way to the crash site, pulled the crew from the crashed helicopter and set up a security perimeter, putting themselves at the most vulnerable spots. Armed only with their sniper rifles and pistols they held off the enemy until their ammunition was depleted. Their action was directly responsible for saving the life of the pilot. For his selfless service that day SFC Shughart was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Across the nation SFC Shughart’s service and sacrifice has been honored in different ways. His hometown named the Post Office after him and started a scholarship fund in his honor. The Army named a barracks and urban warfare training site after him and the Navy christened a ship
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the USNS Randall D. Shughart.
(Inscription under the photo in the upper left) They were the kind of professionals who could pick off a rabbit from a roller coaster with a BB gun. To me they were Batman and Robin, only much better, and they just walked up to my aircraft like they were out for a stroll in the park. From the Company of Heroes.
Erected by US Army War College and US Army Heritage and Education Centery.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Heroes. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1976.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 40° 12.444′ N, 77° 9.612′ W. Marker was near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It was in Middlesex Township. Memorial was on Army Heritage Drive. This marker is on the grounds of the United States Army Heritage and Education Center. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 950 Soldiers Dr, Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart Marker-Heritage Center in the background
Photographed By Don Morfe, May 31, 2015
4. Sign at the entrance to the US Army Heritage and Education Center
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 2, 2000
5. Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart Grave Marker
SFC Shughart is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle PA
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 23, 2003
6. Team Leader Gary I. Gordon Grave Marker
Master Sergeant Gary Gordon is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln ME. He was awarded the Medal of Honor along with SFC Shughart
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 5, 2018
7. Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart Marker
The marker and the 12lb. Napoleon have been replaced by the relocated 3 inch Antitank Gun M5/M6 and marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 666 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on September 11, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 4, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 7. submitted on September 10, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.