SFC Randall D. Shughart

3 October 1993, Somalia

USASOC

Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart, of Newville, Pennsylvania, died on 3 October 1993 while supporting Operation CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia.

Shughart enlisted in the Army in 1976 as an Infantryman. After completing his initial training, he attended Airborne School and the Ranger Course, and served in Company B, 2nd Ranger Battalion, until 1980. After a break in service, he re-enlisted in the Army in 1983 and returned to 2nd Ranger Battalion. In 1986, SFC Shughart was selected as a Special Operations Team Member, deploying to Panama for Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989. He later attended the Special Forces Qualification Course.

In August 1993, SFC Shughart deployed to Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger. During the Battle of Mogadishu, SFC Shughart and his Team Leader, MSG Gary I. Gordon, volunteered to be inserted at the site of a downed MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. He was killed by small arms fire while protecting the crash site. SFC Shughart was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, at the time of his death.