Welcome to the
iHonor American Flag
remembering U.S. Marine
Gunnery Sergeant Scott Koppenhafer
Welcome to the
iHonor American Flag
remembering U.S. Marine
Gunnery Sergeant Scott Koppenhafer
iHonor GWOT (Global War on Terror) Fallen:
U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant
Scott Koppenhafer of Mancos, Colorado
U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant
Scott Koppenhafer of Mancos, Colorado
Gunnery Sergeant Scott Koppenhafer, age35, served in Operation Inherent Resolve
Assigned to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Killed in action, by small arms fire, on August 11, 2019, while advising and accompanying Iraqi security forces in Ninewah province, Iraq
We honor and thank U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.
Assigned to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Killed in action, by small arms fire, on August 11, 2019, while advising and accompanying Iraqi security forces in Ninewah province, Iraq
We honor and thank U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.
Scott Koppenhafer
Born on February 13, 1984 in Mancos, Colorado
Smart, hard working rancher and leader
All around athlete played football and wrestled for Mancos H.S. Blue Jays
Inspirational story that reveals Scott's traits all in one moment: While riding horseback on the cattle range, a coyote wandered across the meadow. With “reins in his teeth and both guns blazing,” Scott did not hesitate to chase it down to protect the herd. “That is how he went at life, reins in teeth, sank spur, always tilting forward,” -Rhodes (friend)
2002 Mancos High School graduate
Earned wrestling scholarship to attend Adams State University - continuing his impressive athletic career with his older brother as a teammate
2005 Adams State graduate with B.S. in Business Marketing
Born on February 13, 1984 in Mancos, Colorado
Smart, hard working rancher and leader
All around athlete played football and wrestled for Mancos H.S. Blue Jays
Inspirational story that reveals Scott's traits all in one moment: While riding horseback on the cattle range, a coyote wandered across the meadow. With “reins in his teeth and both guns blazing,” Scott did not hesitate to chase it down to protect the herd. “That is how he went at life, reins in teeth, sank spur, always tilting forward,” -Rhodes (friend)
2002 Mancos High School graduate
Earned wrestling scholarship to attend Adams State University - continuing his impressive athletic career with his older brother as a teammate
2005 Adams State graduate with B.S. in Business Marketing
[ Scott signing National Letter of Intent to wrestle for Adams State with dad and coach at side ]
Koppenhafer enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps in 2005 and attended boot camp and School of Infantry
Assigned as 0331 Machine Gunner to 1st Battalion / 5th Marine Regiment (1/5)
From January 2006 to July 2008, he deployed at sea twice - with 31st and 11th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) where rose to Corporal and then Sergeant
From Fall 2008 to Spring 2009, Scott attended MARSOC's (Marine Special Operations Command's) first Individual Training Course to become an elite Marine Raider
While at the course, he learned Special Operator skills, tactics, and graduated at the top of his class (Honor Graduate)
Assigned as 0331 Machine Gunner to 1st Battalion / 5th Marine Regiment (1/5)
From January 2006 to July 2008, he deployed at sea twice - with 31st and 11th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) where rose to Corporal and then Sergeant
From Fall 2008 to Spring 2009, Scott attended MARSOC's (Marine Special Operations Command's) first Individual Training Course to become an elite Marine Raider
While at the course, he learned Special Operator skills, tactics, and graduated at the top of his class (Honor Graduate)
After the Advanced Language Course, in 2010, where he learned the Urdu language (official language of Pakistan), he joined 2d Marine Raider Battalion
Served and deployed 4 times with a variety of Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT) from 2011 to 2019 while moving up to rank of Gunnery Sergeant - as a MSOT Team Chief
On August 11, 2019, while on deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, he was shot and killed while leading an Iraqi forces raid
GySgt Koppenhafer survived by his wife, Renae, and two children, Colt and Penelope; his parents, Gerald and Carla; brother, Travis (Ashley); sister, Kelleen (Travis); and 3 nephews, Grant, Augustus, and Michael.
Served and deployed 4 times with a variety of Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT) from 2011 to 2019 while moving up to rank of Gunnery Sergeant - as a MSOT Team Chief
On August 11, 2019, while on deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, he was shot and killed while leading an Iraqi forces raid
GySgt Koppenhafer survived by his wife, Renae, and two children, Colt and Penelope; his parents, Gerald and Carla; brother, Travis (Ashley); sister, Kelleen (Travis); and 3 nephews, Grant, Augustus, and Michael.
[ Marine Unit Patches: 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (left) and 2d Marine Raider Battalion (right) ]
Inspirational Quotes about Scott Koppenhafer
"Koppenhafer, known by many as “Kope,” used 'sandpaper love' to motivate those around him to work harder and smarter. If he was kidding you, it meant he loved you and wanted your best effort.”
- Mike Montoya, longtime friend of Scott K.
“The most important thing for Kope was that the entire team came home alive. His sole purpose was to help his fellow Marines. He made us better, elevated us to perform. By pushing us, he was saying he cared.”
- Marine teammate (unnamed)
"While serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, his (Koppenhafer's) mantra was "Just do your job."
- Marine Lieutenant (who served with Koppenhafer)
- Mike Montoya, longtime friend of Scott K.
“The most important thing for Kope was that the entire team came home alive. His sole purpose was to help his fellow Marines. He made us better, elevated us to perform. By pushing us, he was saying he cared.”
- Marine teammate (unnamed)
"While serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, his (Koppenhafer's) mantra was "Just do your job."
- Marine Lieutenant (who served with Koppenhafer)
[ U.S. Marine Raider emblem ]
Military Awards & Decorations for GySgt Koppenhafer
[ GySgt Koppenhafer's military decorations as displayed on TogetherWeServed.com (unofficial) ]
Military Decorations include:
2 Bronze Star Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device,
2 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device,
one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal,
2 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
2 Bronze Star Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device,
2 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat Distinguishing Device,
one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal,
2 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
Bronze Star award citation highlights:
According to military citations, Koppenhafer won his first Bronze Star after helping rescue Afghan civilians by attacking insurgents in October 2012, and by aiding teammates who were pinned by insurgents in December 2012.
Koppenhafer's second Bronze Star came for heroic actions in September 2017, when he and his team established a forward position in a sandstorm against ISIS militants. “Throughout the day, he supported his partner force from a series of over-watch positions while enduring enemy machine gun fire, small arms attacks, and an attempted dynamic armored vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack that detonated several hundred meters from his position,” the award citation reads.
According to military citations, Koppenhafer won his first Bronze Star after helping rescue Afghan civilians by attacking insurgents in October 2012, and by aiding teammates who were pinned by insurgents in December 2012.
Koppenhafer's second Bronze Star came for heroic actions in September 2017, when he and his team established a forward position in a sandstorm against ISIS militants. “Throughout the day, he supported his partner force from a series of over-watch positions while enduring enemy machine gun fire, small arms attacks, and an attempted dynamic armored vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack that detonated several hundred meters from his position,” the award citation reads.
Sources for Tribute:
CLICK HERE to review Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer's tribute at the Military Time's Honor the Fallen site
GO HERE to see Koppenhafer's TogetherWeServed.com page
CLICK HERE to examine the Marine Raider Foundation tribute to GySgt Scott Koppenhafer
GO HERE to read the local news article about Koppenhafer
CLICK HERE to review the article about MARSOC's first Individual Training Course and its honor grad - Scott Koppenhafer
GO HERE to see the obituary for GySgt Koppenhafer
CLICK HERE for the old local newspaper sports article about Scott K.
CLICK HERE to review Gunnery Sergeant Koppenhafer's tribute at the Military Time's Honor the Fallen site
GO HERE to see Koppenhafer's TogetherWeServed.com page
CLICK HERE to examine the Marine Raider Foundation tribute to GySgt Scott Koppenhafer
GO HERE to read the local news article about Koppenhafer
CLICK HERE to review the article about MARSOC's first Individual Training Course and its honor grad - Scott Koppenhafer
GO HERE to see the obituary for GySgt Koppenhafer
CLICK HERE for the old local newspaper sports article about Scott K.
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