Scott Studenmund

{{Infobox military person

|honorific_prefix =

|name = Scott Studenmund

|honorific_suffix =

|image =

|image_upright =

|alt =

|caption =

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|birth_name = Scott Richard Studenmund

|other_name = Scott R. Studenmund

|nickname =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1989|06|26}}

|birth_place = Pasadena, California, United States

|death_date = {{death date and age|2014|06|09|1989|06|26}}

|death_place = Zabul Province, Afghanistan

|placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

|placeofburial_label =

|placeofburial_coordinates =

|allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}

|branch = {{army|United States|size=20px}}

23px Special Forces

|branch_label = Branch

|serviceyears = 2009–2014

|serviceyears_label = Service years

|rank = 20px Staff Sergeant{{Cite web |last=Alsup |first=Saeed Ahmed and Dave |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Friends, family recall bravery, dedication of U.S. service members killed in 'friendly fire' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/us/afghanistan-american-friendly-fire-deaths/index.html |website=CNN}}

|rank_label =

|servicenumber =

|unit = 20px 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Company B, 1st Battalion{{Cite news |date=2011-07-06 |title=Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund – Faces of the Fallen |url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/national/fallen/33179/scott-studenmund/ |access-date=2021-10-22 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2014 |title=U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/17/us/us-military-deaths-in-afghanistan.html |website=The New York Times}}

|commands =

|battles = War in Afghanistan

2014 Gaza Valley airstrike

|battles_label =

|awards = Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Army Commendation Medal{{Cite web |title=» A Salute to Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund |url=https://creallc.com/salute-staff-sgt-scott-r-studenmund/ |website=creallc.com}}
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal

|memorials = Enduring Heroes Memorial

|alma_mater = Pitzer College

|spouse =

|children =

|relations = Woody Studenmund (father)
Jaynie Studenmund (mother)

|laterwork =

|signature =

|signature_size =

|signature_alt =

|website =

|module =

}}

Scott Richard Studenmund (June 26, 1989 – June 9, 2014) was a United States Army Special Forces soldier.{{Cite web |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Killed by Friendly Fire, 24-Year-Old Green Beret From Pasadena Is Remembered |url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/killed-by-friendly-fire-24-year-old-green-beret-from-pasadena-is-remembered/}}{{Cite web |title=Pasadena, California Enduring Heroes Memorial |url=https://www.enduringheroes.us/our-heroes-2 |website=www.enduringheroes.us}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Congressional Record, Volume 160 Issue 105 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014) |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2014-07-08/html/CREC-2014-07-08-pt1-PgE1118.htm |website=www.govinfo.gov}}{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2014 |title=Pasadena resident, Flintridge Prep graduate Scott Studenmund killed by suspected friendly fire in Afghanistan |url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/government-and-politics/20140610/pasadena-resident-flintridge-prep-graduate-scott-studenmund-killed-by-suspected-friendly-fire-in-afghanistan}}

Studenmund was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2015 |title=Special tribute to honor fallen soldier, Flintridge Prep alum Sgt. Scott Studenmund |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-me-special-tribute-to-honor-fallen-soldier-flintridge-prep-alum-sgt-scott-studenmund-20150520-story.html |website=La Cañada Valley Sun}}

Early life

Scott Richard Studenmund was born on June 26, 1989, at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. 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.{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2021 |title=Military Mother Whose Son Died In Afghanistan In 2014 Opens Up About Loss, Tragedy Facing Americans Today In Afghanistan |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/08/26/military-mother-whose-son-died-in-afghanistan-in-2014-opens-up-about-loss-tragedy-facing-americans-today-in-afghanistan/}}{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Zach |date=March 24, 2021 |title=Economics professor Woody Studenmund takes a seventh-inning stretch |url=https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/uncategorized/2021/03/24/economics-professor-woody-studenmund-takes-a-seventh-inning-stretch/2902593}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Army Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund| Military Times |url=https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-staff-sgt-scott-r-studenmund/6568569 |website=thefallen.militarytimes.com}} He played college football as a linebacker for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.

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.{{Cite web |title=Scott R. Studenmund |date=9 June 2014 |url=https://greenberetfoundation.org/memorial/scott-r-studenmund/}} Studenmund was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 5th Special Forces Group.{{Cite web |last=Espinosa |first=Ana |date=October 11, 2021 |title='It's a miracle': Close call for Florida trooper caught on camera |url=https://www.wlky.com/article/fhp-trooper-close-call-accident-lake-worth/37925307 |via=www.wlky.com}} He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=Southern California Public |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Friendly fire: Pasadena man among 5 killed in Afghanistan (updated) |url=https://archive.kpcc.org/news/2014/06/11/44657/friendly-fire-local-soldier-among-5-killed-in-afgh/ |website=Southern California Public Radio}}

During the 2014 Gaza Valley airstrike, which took place in the Zabul Province on June 9, 2014,{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Tony |title=U.S. soldier from Southern California killed in Afghanistan |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-me-ln-soldier-friendly-fire-20140611-story.html |website=baltimoresun.com|date=11 June 2014 }} 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.{{Cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |date=2014-09-04 |title=Investigation: Friendly fire airstrike that killed U.S. Special Forces was avoidable |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/09/04/investigation-friendly-fire-airstrike-that-killed-u-s-special-forces-was-avoidable/ |access-date=2021-10-22 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{Cite web |last=Everstine |first=Brian |title=Report: Bombs killed U.S. soldiers after location mix-up |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/04/report-bombs-killed-us-soldiers-after-location-mix-up/15108525/ |website=USA TODAY}} As documented in an episode of 60 Minutes, the bomber failed to distinguish friendly troops from the enemy.{{Cite web |title=Why were 5 U.S. soldiers killed by an American bomber in Afghanistan? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-were-five-u-s-soldiers-killed-by-an-american-bomber-in-afghanistan/ |website=www.cbsnews.com|date=12 November 2017 }}{{Cite web |title=Green Berets cleared in Afghanistan friendly fire deaths |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/28/green-berets-cleared-in-afghanistan-friendly-fire-/ |website=The Washington Times}}{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2014 |title=Miscommunication blamed for deadly U.S. mistake in Afghanistan |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/miscommunication-blamed-deadly-u-s-mistake-afghanistan |website=PBS NewsHour}}

Memorial

On June 21, 2014, a memorial service was held for Studenmund at Flintridge Preparatory School.{{Cite web |last=Cormaci |first=Carol |title=Memorial service for fallen Green Beret draws 1,100 |url=https://www.courant.com/tsn-vsl-memorial-service-for-fallen-green-beret-draws-1100-20140624-story.html |website=courant.com}} On July 10, 2014, Studenmund was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, beside his ODA (Operation Detachment Alpha) teammate Jason McDonald.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-30 |title=Jason A. McDonald – Green Beret Foundation |url=https://www.greenberetfoundation.org/memorial/jason-a-mcdonald/ |access-date=2018-01-31 |website=Green Beret Foundation1}}{{Cite web |title=Memorial Service Held for Fallen Green Beret Scott Studenmund – Crescenta Valley Weekly |url=https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/news/07/03/2014/memorial-service-held-fallen-green-beret-scott-studenmund/}} In 2014, both Clairbourn School and Flintridge Preparatory School established funds named in his honor.{{Cite web |title=The Scott Studenmund Award for Leadership, Commitment and Service at Clairbourn |url=https://www.clairbourn.org/list-detail?pk=117880 |website=Clairbourn School}}{{Cite web |title=Endowment Funds – Flintridge Preparatory School |url=https://www.flintridgeprep.org/giving/endowment-giving/endowment-funds |website=www.flintridgeprep.org}} Flintridge Preparatory School also honored Studenmund with a memorial wall,{{Cite web |last=Cormaci |first=Carol |title=Flintridge Prep celebrates homecoming on its own field |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/tn-vsl-me-schools-prep-homecoming-20161102-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com|date=3 November 2016 }} while Clairbourn School dedicated their football field to him, renaming it the Scott Studenmund Field.{{Cite web |title=Pasadena Now » Scott Studenmund Field Dedication at Clairbourn School |website=PasadenaNow.com |url=http://pasadenanow.net/main/scott-studenmund-field-dedication-at-clairbourn-school/}}

Studenmund was one of the soldiers honored by having his name inscribed on the Enduring Heroes Memorial erected in Pasadena, California in 2017.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Enduring Heroes Memorial pays tribute to war dead from Pasadena and neighboring cities |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pasadena-memorial-sculpture-20170529-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |title=Pasadena-Area's Fallen Warriors, Their Families Honored on Gold Star Mother's Day – Pasadena Now |url=https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-areas-fallen-warriors-their-families-honored-on-gold-star-mothers-day |website=www.pasadenanow.com}}{{Cite web |last=Newspapers |first=Outlook |date=June 25, 2020 |title=Enduring Heroes Emerges as a Landmark With Impact |url=https://outlooknewspapers.com/blog/2020/06/25/enduring-heroes-emerges-as-a-landmark-with-impact/}}