Scott Studenmund

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 nameScott Richard Studenmund
Other name(s)Scott R. Studenmund
Born(1989-06-26)June 26, 1989
Pasadena, California, United States
DiedJune 9, 2014(2014-06-09) (aged 24)
Zabul Province, Afghanistan
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army
Service years2009–2014
Rank Staff Sergeant[1]
Unit 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  • Company B, 1st Battalion[2][3]
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsBronze 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]
MemorialsEnduring Heroes Memorial
Alma materPitzer College
RelationsWoody 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

See also

References
  1. Alsup, Saeed Ahmed and Dave (June 11, 2014). "Friends, family recall bravery, dedication of U.S. service members killed in 'friendly fire'". CNN.
  2. "Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund – Faces of the Fallen". The Washington Post. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  3. "U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan". The New York Times. June 16, 2014.
  4. "Pasadena, California Enduring Heroes Memorial". www.enduringheroes.us.
  5. "» A Salute to Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund". creallc.com.
  6. "Congressional Record, Volume 160 Issue 105 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014)". www.govinfo.gov.
  7. "Killed by Friendly Fire, 24-Year-Old Green Beret From Pasadena Is Remembered". June 11, 2014.
  8. "Pasadena resident, Flintridge Prep graduate Scott Studenmund killed by suspected friendly fire in Afghanistan". June 10, 2014.
  9. "Special tribute to honor fallen soldier, Flintridge Prep alum Sgt. Scott Studenmund". La Cañada Valley Sun. May 20, 2015.
  10. "Military Mother Whose Son Died In Afghanistan In 2014 Opens Up About Loss, Tragedy Facing Americans Today In Afghanistan". August 26, 2021.
  11. Goodwin, Zach (March 24, 2021). "Economics professor Woody Studenmund takes a seventh-inning stretch".
  12. "Army Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund| Military Times". thefallen.militarytimes.com.
  13. "Scott R. Studenmund". 9 June 2014.
  14. Espinosa, Ana (October 11, 2021). "'It's a miracle': Close call for Florida trooper caught on camera" – via www.wlky.com.
  15. Radio, Southern California Public (June 11, 2014). "Friendly fire: Pasadena man among 5 killed in Afghanistan (updated)". Southern California Public Radio.
  16. Perry, Tony (11 June 2014). "U.S. soldier from Southern California killed in Afghanistan". baltimoresun.com.
  17. Lamothe, Dan (2014-09-04). "Investigation: Friendly fire airstrike that killed U.S. Special Forces was avoidable". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  18. Everstine, Brian. "Report: Bombs killed U.S. soldiers after location mix-up". USA TODAY.
  19. "Why were 5 U.S. soldiers killed by an American bomber in Afghanistan?". www.cbsnews.com. 12 November 2017.
  20. "Green Berets cleared in Afghanistan friendly fire deaths". The Washington Times.
  21. "Miscommunication blamed for deadly U.S. mistake in Afghanistan". PBS NewsHour. September 5, 2014.
  22. Cormaci, Carol. "Memorial service for fallen Green Beret draws 1,100". courant.com.
  23. "Jason A. McDonald – Green Beret Foundation". Green Beret Foundation1. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  24. "Memorial Service Held for Fallen Green Beret Scott Studenmund – Crescenta Valley Weekly".
  25. "The Scott Studenmund Award for Leadership, Commitment and Service at Clairbourn". Clairbourn School.
  26. "Endowment Funds – Flintridge Preparatory School". www.flintridgeprep.org.
  27. Cormaci, Carol (3 November 2016). "Flintridge Prep celebrates homecoming on its own field". chicagotribune.com.
  28. "Pasadena Now » Scott Studenmund Field Dedication at Clairbourn School". PasadenaNow.com.
  29. "Enduring Heroes Memorial pays tribute to war dead from Pasadena and neighboring cities". Los Angeles Times. May 30, 2017.
  30. "Pasadena-Area's Fallen Warriors, Their Families Honored on Gold Star Mother's Day – Pasadena Now". www.pasadenanow.com.
  31. Newspapers, Outlook (June 25, 2020). "Enduring Heroes Emerges as a Landmark With Impact".
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