Somali Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously (given to family) by President Bill Clinton on May 23, 1994 at the White House for his actions as a sergeant first class with the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Delta Force, US Army, on October 3, 1992 at the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent. He joined the US Army following his high school graduation in 1976 and two years later he was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. In June 1980 he left active duty and joined the US Army Reserves, and in December 1983 he returned to active duty. The following year he attended Special Forces training and was assigned to Delta Force and transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1993 he was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, and on October 3, during Operation Gothic Serpent, an assault mission to apprehend advisers to Mohamed Farrah Aidid, two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down and the attempt to provide cover and rescue the survivors, he was killed in the ensuing firefight. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. In the 2001 film "Black Hawk Down," he was portrayed by actor Johnny Strong. In 1997 the on-roll off ship USNS Shughart was named in his honor. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "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 weapon fire and numerous rocket propelled grenades. While providing critical suppressive fire 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 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-self, his unit and the United States Army." He was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant.