3OCT1993: Battle of Mogadishu, Operation Gothic Serpent, Black Hawk Down

In 1992, the U.S. partnered with the United Nations to launch a humanitarian mission aimed at stopping widespread starvation in Somalia. However, shortly after the mission began, Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s militias began attacking U.N. peacekeepers, prompting a strategic shift. This pivot led to the formation of Task Force RANGER, operating under Operation GOTHIC SERPENT, to capture Aidid and his top commanders.

On October 3, 1993, U.S. forces launched a snatch-and-grab mission to detain two of Aidid’s key lieutenants, involving 19 aircraft, 12 vehicles, and approximately 160 troops. Around 4:20 pm, tragedy struck when Super 61, a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by CW3 Cliff “Elvis” Wolcott and CW3 Donovan “Bull” Briley, was hit by an RPG-7 and crashed. Both pilots were killed, and two crew chiefs were severely injured.

Two Special Operations snipers, Staff Sergeant Daniel Busch and Sergeant Jim Smith, survived the crash and defended the site. MH-6 Little Bird “Star 41,” piloted by CW3 Karl Maier and CW5 Keith Jones, landed nearby, and Jones courageously carried Busch to the safety of the helicopter under heavy fire, while Maier provided cover. Despite sustaining severe wounds, Busch heroically defended the site until his evacuation; however, he succumbed to his injuries later.

While a rescue operation was underway for Super 61, miscommunication between the ground convoy and the assault team led to a critical delay. During this confusion, Super 64, piloted by Michael Durant, was also shot down by an RPG-7 around 4:40 pm. Most of the assault team rushed to rescue Super 61’s crew, leaving them trapped under heavy fire for the night, despite air support.

At the site of Super 64’s crash, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, both elite snipers, volunteered to be inserted to protect the crash site. After being denied permission twice, their third request was approved, and they heroically held off the advancing Somali militia, inflicting heavy casualties. Super 62 provided fire support until it was also damaged by an RPG, managing to land safely afterward.

When Gordon was killed, Shughart handed his weapon to Durant and continued to hold off the mob for about 10 more minutes before being overrun and killed. The Somali militia captured Durant, who was nearly beaten to death before being taken prisoner. For their extraordinary bravery, MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — the first to be granted since the Vietnam War.

The battle left a lasting impact, with powerful images of Somali mobs dragging the bodies of fallen U.S. soldiers broadcasted worldwide. Despite overwhelming odds, a force of roughly 100 American troops held off over 1,000 armed Somali fighters in an intense, coordinated ambush until their rescue. The two-day engagement resulted in 18 American deaths and over 70 wounded, but demonstrated the relentless courage and determination of U.S. Special Forces.



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