The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*SHUGHART, RANDALL D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First
Class, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered
service at: Newville, Pennsylvania. 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. |
