SSgt Scott D. Sather

Staff Sergeant Scott D. Sather, a Combat Controller assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina, died following an injury received while engaging hostile forces in Iraq on 8 April 2003. His death marked the first combat casualty for the US Air Force during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Born on 21 June 1973 in Flint, Michigan, Sergeant Sather entered the Air Force on 13 May 1992 and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Immediately after basic training he entered the arduous Combat Control pipeline training course. Following graduation, Sergeant Sather was assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, United Kingdom. He returned to the United States on an assignment to the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Washington. On 30 April 1999, Sergeant Sather applied for and was accepted for special duty assignment with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron. He was attached to a Joint Task Force at the time of his death.

Sergeant Sather's awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal (with 3 devices), Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal (with 2 devices), National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.

Sergeant Sather is survived by his wife Melanie, his brothers Jason and Derek, his father Rodney C. Sather, and his mother Karin S. Craft.

Learn more about the Bronze Star Medal with Valor he was awarded: https://www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/combat-control-acts-of-valor/ssgt-scott-d.-sather/bronze-star-medal-with-valor-recipient