Fort Eisenhower Renamed Fort Gordon to Honor Medal of Honor Recipient
Today, the Army commemorated the bravery of Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Gordon's widow, Carmen Drake-Owens, and son, Ian, attended the event. The base was renamed in his honour, replacing its previous namesake, Confederate General John B. Gordon.
In 1993, U.S. troops faced resistance during a raid on a site supporting Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. A Black Hawk helicopter crashed, leading to a harrowing rescue mission. Gordon and fellow sniper Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart repeatedly requested to be dropped at the crash site, driven by their commitment to the Ranger Creed.
They fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks, finding pilot Kevin Durant alive but wounded. Gordon gave Durant the last rounds of ammunition and said 'Good luck' before being killed. Durant, who is alive today, recalls Gordon's sacrifice. Both Shughart and Gordon posthumously received the Medal of Honor for their actions.
Nearly 32 years later, the Army remembered Gordon's sacrifice by renaming Fort Eisenhower back to Fort Gordon. His widow and son attended the ceremony, honouring his legacy and the ultimate price he paid for his country.
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