Fallen Marine Raider Gunnery Sgt. Koppenhafer…
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Scott A. Koppenhafer’s death on Saturday at first blamed on extremists
…Victim of Friendly Fire?
The U.S. military is currently investigating whether friendly fire caused the first combat death involving an American service member in Iraq this year, defense officials said.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Scott A. Koppenhafer was part of a team of Iraqi and U.S. troops conducting an operation Saturday against a suspected Islamic State target in Iraq’s Nineveh province when he was killed, the officials said.
By: Shawn Snow
He served and led Marine commandos for nearly a decade while earning two Bronze Stars for heroism in Afghanistan and in combat against Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.
It was a revered career and selfless service Marine Raider Gunnery Sgt. Scott A. Koppenhafer ultimately paid for with his life.
Koppenhafer was killed Saturday while supporting and advising an Iraqi security forces mission in Ninewah province, Iraq, according to military officials. The Wall Street Journal reported that the military is investigating whether Koppenhafer was struck by Iraqi or U.S. forces.
Marine officials described the fallen 35-year-old Raider as “highly revered.”
Koppenhafer is survived by his wife and two children. Fair winds and following seas, Gunny. The rest of the article may be viewed here: Marine Times
Category: Iraq, Isis, Marine Corps, Terror War, Valor
Fair winds, Gy, Prayers out to you and your family. People forget men and women are still out there in harms way (whether in “harms way” or not) protecting their freedoms. [Freedoms often taken for granted.]
We owe you an unpayable debt.
God rest him well. Praying for his family also Sir.
The United States does NOT have and to the best of my semi-aged memory has not EVER had “commando” units. The Gunny was (and is) a United States Marine,
1SOW would beg to differ.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Special_Operations_Wing
As a Marine, I don’t disagree that he was and remains a Marine. As to “commando”, I think that is a generic term for guys that operate in small groups and are generally bad ass. The knower of all things, Wikipedia, has the following entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando#United_States
“During 1941, the United States Marine Corps formed commando battalions. The USMC commandos were known collectively as Marine Raiders.”
And if you don’t believe that entry, here is the book that is the citation for the entry:
https://books.google.com/books?id=ZEeaBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=paramarine+commandos&hl=en#v=onepage&q=paramarine%20commandos&f=false
Whether you want to split hairs over the fact that they are called “commandos” or not, I guess you can. But no one doubts he is a Marine.
Godspeed and Fare thee Well Gy SGT Scott M. Koppenhafer. May God’s Peace and Comfort be unto your Family and Fellow Marines.
May the road rise to meet him and the winds be always at his back.
Another Warrior goes on to Valhalla, Godspeed.