Scott Richard Studenmund (June 26, 1989 – June 9, 2014) was a United States Army Special Forces soldier.[7][4] He was killed in action in the 2014 Gaza Valley airstrike in a friendly fire incident that took place in Zabul Province, Afghanistan on June 9, 2014.[6][8]
Scott Studenmund | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Scott Richard Studenmund |
| Other name(s) | Scott R. Studenmund |
| Born | June 26, 1989 Pasadena, California, United States |
| Died | June 9, 2014 (aged 24) Zabul Province, Afghanistan |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Service years | 2009–2014 |
| Rank |  Staff Sergeant[1] |
| Unit |  5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal[4] Purple Heart Medal[4] Army Commendation Medal[5] Army Achievement Medal[6] Meritorious Service Medal[4][6] Army Good Conduct Medal[5] |
| Memorials | Enduring Heroes Memorial |
| Alma mater | Pitzer College |
| Relations | Woody Studenmund (father) Jaynie Studenmund (mother) |
Studenmund was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.[4][9]
Early life
Scott Richard Studenmund was born on June 26, 1989, at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California.[4] He was the son of former eHarmony executive Jaynie Studenmund and economics professor Woody Studenmund. He is also the grandson of United States Senator Jack R. Miller.[10][11] He attended Clairbourn School in San Gabriel, California, Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada, California and Pitzer College prior to volunteering for the U.S. Armed Forces.[12] He played college football as a linebacker for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.[4]
Military career
Studenmund volunteered for the Special Forces 18X Program in 2009. He earned his Green Beret and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2011.[13] Studenmund was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 5th Special Forces Group.[14] He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014.[15]
During the 2014 Gaza Valley airstrike, which took place in the Zabul Province on June 9, 2014,[16] Studenmund was among five U.S. troops alongside one Afghan soldier who were killed when a friendly B-1B Lancer bomber inadvertently dropped laser-guided bombs on their position during a firefight with Taliban forces.[17][18] As documented in an episode of 60 Minutes, the bomber failed to distinguish friendly troops from the enemy.[19][20][21]
Memorial
On June 21, 2014, a memorial service was held for Studenmund at Flintridge Preparatory School.[22] On July 10, 2014, Studenmund was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, beside his ODA (Operation Detachment Alpha) teammate Jason McDonald.[23][4][24] In 2014, both Clairbourn School and Flintridge Preparatory School established funds named in his honor.[25][26] Flintridge Preparatory School also honored Studenmund with a memorial wall,[27] while Clairbourn School dedicated their football field to him, renaming it the Scott Studenmund Field.[28]
Studenmund was one of the soldiers honored by having his name inscribed on the Enduring Heroes Memorial erected in Pasadena, California in 2017.[29][30][31]
Medals
- The Bronze Star Medal[4]
- The Purple Heart Medal[4]
- The Army Commendation Medal[5]
- The Army Achievement Medal[6]
- The Meritorious Service Medal[4][6]
- The Army Good Conduct Medal[5]