Fort Gordon dedicated to Battle of Mogadishu hero | Article

FORT GORDON, Ga. — Grasp Sgt. Gary I. Gordon was 33 years outdated when he made the last word sacrifice, and almost 32 years later the Military is conserving its promise to make sure that he — and his fellow brothers-in-arms — are by no means forgotten.

Fort Gordon was formally devoted throughout a ceremony Sept. 26, 2025, honoring Medal of Honor recipient Grasp Sgt. Gary Gordon.

The ceremony was hosted by U.S. Military Cyber Heart of Excellence and Fort Gordon Commanding Common, Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic. Gordon’s widow, Carmen Drake-Owens, and son, Ian, attended the ceremony together with a number of nationwide and native leaders, and members of Particular Forces organizations — displaying what Janovic described as “an incredible demonstration of solidarity.”

On Oct. 3, 1993, upon listening to phrase of a downed Black Hawk “Tremendous Six 4,” Gordon and fellow elite sniper Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart repeatedly requested to be positioned on the crash website.

Retired Col. Ron Russell, a Particular Forces operations officer and veteran of the battle, recounted circumstances surrounding that day.

“I keep in mind particularly on the radio, Gary and Randy asking to be inserted into the battlefield … I think about now that they have been flying across the battle, they might look down on the crash website, and so they may see the hordes of Somalis that have been surrounding the crash website,” Russell mentioned. “The pilot that inserted them has since acknowledged that nobody of their proper thoughts would have gone, as a result of they might see precisely what they have been moving into.”

Regardless of the upcoming hazard, the snipers’ requests have been fulfilled. Inserted about 100 yards from the crash website, Gordon and Shughart fought their strategy to the Black Hawk the place they rescued one in every of its injured pilots, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Durant; the remaining 4 crew members didn’t survive the crash.

“I imagine that each Gary and Randy understood what they have been seeing beneath them however believed they might kind that chaos into some semblance of order like they’d been chosen and educated to take action many occasions,” Russell mentioned. “I additionally belief that they believed passionately within the Ranger Creed and the Particular Forces Creed, which state, ‘I’ll by no means fail my comrades.’”

Surrounded by enemy fireplace, the three fought till the tip. Gordon and Shughart have been fatally wounded; and each have been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his or her actions that day; Durant was finally captured by the Somalis and launched 11 days later.

Unable to make it to the dedication ceremony, Durant recorded a message that was performed throughout a reception following the ceremony. He mentioned the next:

“[Gordon] had supported a number of missions previous to that mission on October 3 in Somalia, all very profitable. And his position was vital in offering fireplace help for the operators who’re on the bottom. On that day, not solely did he try this, however he volunteered to return into my crash website and save my life. I might not be right here if not for his actions and Randy’s actions.”

These actions mirror the kind of individual Gordon was and the kind of Soldier others ought to aspire to be, Janovic mentioned. Gordon and Shughart have been absolutely conscious of the hazard they have been heading into, but they insisted on moving into in order that the crew of Tremendous Six 4 may dwell.

“What we’re doing at present … is dedicating ourselves to dwell by the instance set by Grasp Sgt. Gary Gordon — to earn the proper to say that we dwell, work, and serve on Fort Gordon, the place our watchword is ‘excellence,’ and we adhere to the Military Values personified within the reminiscence of Gary,” Janovic mentioned.

Along with naming the set up after Grasp Sgt. Gary Gordon, a portion of the road at Chamberlain and Rice Highway, the place the ceremony was held, has been named Grasp Sergeant Gary Gordon Boulevard. The boulevard results in the long run location of the U.S. Military Cyber Heart of Excellence headquarters. Three buildings close by will encompass what is going to later be often called Gary Gordon Plaza. A plaque, which was unveiled through the ceremony, might be put in contained in the plaza.

Gordon’s widow Carmen mentioned that her late husband was a assured however humble man who merely beloved his nation, his organic household, and his prolonged navy household. Carmen shared tales of heroism from a number of of Gordon’s comrades who fought in Somalia and have since handed away.

“I can’t consider one with out considering of the opposite,” she mentioned. “I’m all the time honored to be the voice of my late husband, and I feel if he was right here at present, he would need everybody to know that despite the fact that his identify is on that placard as you enter this put up, it’s not only for him; it’s for each single Soldier that served that day.”

When requested what she hopes Troopers take away from her late husband’s legacy, she shared just a few beliefs he lived by.

“My husband all the time mentioned that should you set your thoughts to one thing, to by no means quit — to dream massive,” she mentioned. “My husband was somebody who beloved this nation. He had morals, he was a really quiet and reserved individual but very robust, and I feel he set an excellent instance to offer your individual life for another person that wanted you to assist them … and that’s most likely probably the most brave and largest reward which you could give.”

Janovic made a dedication to the Gordon household and urged others to affix him in that dedication.

“Carmen, it’s my sincerest hope your expectations are met — that we start a relationship that honors Gary perpetually … and that we need to be related along with his identify … that each one who drive by way of these gates are reminded of his selfless sacrifice,” Janovic mentioned. “It’s our responsibility to be sure that we’re coaching the women and men that come by way of these gates within the reminiscence of males like Gary Gordon and the reminiscence of others who’ve served all through our Military.”