A True Hero Honored

As I sit here and begin to type up this post, my eyes are filling with tears and the screen is getting blurry. (I think I need a bigger monitor.) Over ten years after the incident, a small town in Pennsylvania has decided to always remember the sacrifice of one of America's finest soldiers. Newville, PA has decided to name their post office in honor of Sergeant First Class Randall G. Shughart: Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building.

SFC Shughart was one of the two Special Forces (Operational Detachment: Delta) operators who, at their own request, was inserted into the fight around the crash site of Super 64, Mike Durant's Black Hawk helicopter. In order to be clear, I should clarify that the operators did not make their request to be inserted once, but three times. With the third request, they were finally given permission from higher to be inserted. After their first insertion attempt failed due to the extremely heavy volume of enemy fire, the operators were inserted 100 meters away from the crash site. You should really read the story here.

For those who may not know, the 160th SOAR (Special Operations Air Regiment) is known as the NightStalkers - the aviation unit to which the Black Hawks and other aircraft belonged. The NightStalkers are the best of the best in the sky. If you have an interest in the story, I highly recommend reading Michael Durant's book entitled "In the Company of Heroes" and then watching the movie "Black Hawk Down". NSDQ!

De Oppresso Liber


Crispy