Marine Raider Killed in Iraq - RIP Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer

A Marine Raider was killed Saturday 10 August 2019 by enemy small arms fire while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. Gunnery Sgt. Scott Koppenhafer, 35, of Mancos, Colo., died Aug. 10 in an incident that is still under investigation, according to a Pentagon announcement. Koppenhafer was assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, part of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

According to a separate statement released Saturday by U.S. Central Command, an unnamed service member was killed during an Iraqi Security Force mission in Ninewah Province, Iraq, while advising and accompanying the ISF during a planned operation. That statement came out before the Pentagon released Koppenhafer’s name.

The following is the text of the Pentagon statement on Aug. 11: The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, of Mancos, Colorado, died August 10, 2019, after being engaged by enemy small arms fire while conducting combat operations. This incident is under investigation. Koppenhafer was assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.