The Department of Defense has identified a Marine killed in action Saturday in Iraq. Gunnery Sgt. Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, of Mancos, Colo., died after apparently being hit by enemy small arms fire in combat, the Pentagon said in a statement late Sunday. This incident is under investigation.
GySgt Koppenhafer was assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve along with Iraqi security forces in Iraq’s Nineveh province in the country’s north, according to an earlier statement from U.S. Central Command.
GySgt Koppenhafer was advising and accompanying the Iraqi Security Forces on a planned operation, Central Command’s statement said. Iraqi forces have recently launched new operations in the area to weed out remnants of Islamic State group.
GySgt Koppenhafer enlisted in 2005 and served 10 years with Special Operations Command. He had completed three previous deployments, including to Afghanistan, as a Marine Raider and was named the critical skills operator of 2018 by the command. He earned two Bronze Stars along with many other commendations.
He is survived by a wife and two children.
Go with God Gunny. Valhalla has you now.
~S~
GySgt Koppenhafer was assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve along with Iraqi security forces in Iraq’s Nineveh province in the country’s north, according to an earlier statement from U.S. Central Command.
GySgt Koppenhafer was advising and accompanying the Iraqi Security Forces on a planned operation, Central Command’s statement said. Iraqi forces have recently launched new operations in the area to weed out remnants of Islamic State group.
GySgt Koppenhafer enlisted in 2005 and served 10 years with Special Operations Command. He had completed three previous deployments, including to Afghanistan, as a Marine Raider and was named the critical skills operator of 2018 by the command. He earned two Bronze Stars along with many other commendations.
He is survived by a wife and two children.
Go with God Gunny. Valhalla has you now.
~S~
