The Maine leaders urged the Navy Secretary to call a DDG-51 destroyer after the Lincoln native for his brave service
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills despatched a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, urging him to call a DDG-51 destroyer after Grasp Sergeant Gary Gordon, a Lincoln native and grasp sergeant in the US Army’s Delta Drive particular operations unit. MSG Gordon sacrificed his life whereas rescuing a downed helicopter crew in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3, 1993.
“The warfighting functionality of a DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyer exemplifies MSG Gordon’s combating spirit and can be an inspiration to all of the crew who would have the privilege to serve aboard the USS Gary Gordon,” the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills wrote. “With such a namesake, there isn’t a doubt the crew of the ship would serve with the identical satisfaction, perseverance, and bravado as MSG Gordon.”
“MSG Gordon represents the most effective of Maine and the most effective of America’s service women and men,” they continued. “There may very well be no higher namesake for a Bathtub-built destroyer than MSG Gordon. His is a narrative of American heroism and braveness, and it’s a story that ought to honored and remembered by naming a warship USS Gary Gordon.”
Through the Battle of Mogadishu, MSG Gordon gave his life to save lots of the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that had been shot down over town. Seeing that the injured crew couldn’t survive an advance of enemy forces with solely aerial protection, MSG Gordon requested his helicopter mission commander deposit him on the bottom to defend the wounded crew. The mission commander initially refused, as a result of excessive hazard, however relented on MSG Gordon’s third request due to his persistence and forceful ardour.
As soon as on the bottom, MSG Gordon, together with fellow sniper Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, fought their approach to the injured crew, extracted all 4 injured troopers from the gun-shot riddled plane, and fought valiantly till out of ammunition. It’s estimated MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart killed over 25 enemy forces earlier than they had been killed. Their extraordinary heroism was made well-known as the topic of the e book and film Black Hawk Down.
Click on HERE to learn the letter the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills despatched to Secretary Del Toro.
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