MARSOC IDENTIFIES MARINE KILLED IN COMBAT ACTIONS IN IRAQ

Photo By Master Sgt. Lynn Kinney | Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, a critical skills operator with 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, suffered fatal wounds during combat operations while supporting Iraqi Security Forces. He was originally from Mancos, Colorado. Koppenhafer, who joined the Marine Corps in 2005, spent the last 10 years as a highly revered MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO). Before joining MARSOC, he served as a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and later as a scout sniper, completing deployments with both the 31st and 11th Marine Expeditionary Units. Koppenhafer completed MARSOC’s arduous training pipeline as a critical skills operator in 2009, graduating as the Individual Training Course honor graduate. During his first MARSOC deployment to Afghanistan, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He completed three additional deployments as a member of 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and was selected as MARSOC’s 2018 Critical Skills Operator of the Year. His personal decorations include: two Bronze Star Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device, one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Humanitarian Service Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, four Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.  

UNITED STATES

08.11.2019

Story by Maj. Kristin Tortorici 

Marine Forces, Special Operations Command

It is with heavy hearts that Marine Forces Special Operations Command announces the death of a Marine Raider who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, August 10, 2019.

Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, a critical skills operator with 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, suffered fatal wounds while supporting Iraqi Security Forces. This incident is under investigation. He was originally from Mancos, Colorado.

Koppenhafer, who joined the Marine Corps in 2005, spent the last 10 years as a highly revered MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO). Before joining MARSOC, he served as a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and later as a scout sniper, completing deployments with both the 31st and 11th Marine Expeditionary Units. Koppenhafer completed MARSOC’s arduous training pipeline as a critical skills operator in 2009, graduating as the Individual Training Course honor graduate. During his first MARSOC deployment to Afghanistan, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He completed three additional deployments as a member of 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and was selected as MARSOC’s 2018 Critical Skills Operator of the Year. His personal decorations include: two Bronze Star Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device, one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Humanitarian Service Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, four Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer was a graduate of the School of Infantry, Mountain Survival Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), Scout Sniper Course, MARSOC’s Individual Training Course, MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course, Basic Airborne Course, Military Freefall, MARSOF Heliborne Insertion/Extraction Techniques Master, and Military Combatant Diver Course. He graduated from Adams State College in 2005 with a B.S. in Business Marketing.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Our most sincere thoughts are with the family and teammates of Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer during this difficult time. MARSOC is providing care and support to Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer’s family; we urge respect for their privacy as they grieve this incredible loss.

For additional information, please contact the MARSOC Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Maj. Kristin Tortorici, at [e-mail].

Updated: 0820, 14 August 2019

• Date Taken: 08.11.2019
• Date Posted: 08.11.2019 21:45
• Story ID: 335460
• Location: US
• Hometown: MANCOS, COLORADO, US