NIGHTSTALKERS Goffena, Mike

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Goffena
  • FORENAME
Mike
  • UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
  • RANK
Chief Warrant Officer
  • NUMBER
  • AWARD
Silver Star
  • PLACE
Somalia 1993
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
pilot
killed in air crash February 1998 Florida
 

CITATION:

Silver Star : The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Mike Goffena, Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile enemy forces while serving as Pilot of "Super 62," an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Company D, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), during combat operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 3 October 1993. Following the crash of two Black Hawk helicopters in the streets of Mogadishu, the crash sites were surrounded by a numerically superior hostile force that threatened to overrun the embattled survivors of the two downed aircraft. Despite intense fire directed at his own helicopter, Chief Warrant Officer Goffena and his Co-Pilot Captain James Yacone flew covering orbits over both crash sites and the target area and, despite damage inflicted on their own aircraft, skillfully brought their crippled helicopter back to base. The gallant actions and superb skill demonstrated by Chief Warrant Officer Goffena on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
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