City Mourns Loss of Local Soldier in Afghanistan

Scott Studenmund graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School in 2008. He was killed last Monday in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Flintridge Prep.

The flags at local government buildings will be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday, June 17, as the city mourns the death of a 24-year-old Pasadena soldier in southern Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund was among the five American soldiers killed during a security operation last Monday, reports said.

Investigators were looking into the likelihood that “friendly fire” was the cause of the death of the soldiers, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these fallen,” Kirby said.

The incident occurred when the US service members’ unit came into contact with the enemy forces, International Security Assistance Force officials said in a statement issued from the command’s headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

“Tragically, there is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved,” the Security Assistance Force statement said. “The incident is under investigation. Our thoughts are with the families of those killed during this difficult time.”

Studenmund graduated in 2008 from Flintridge Preparatory School, where he was an all-area and all-league football star.

Flintridge Headmaster Peter Bachmann said in an open letter that the whole school community is mourning over the loss of what he called ” a brave, virtuous patriot.”

“When I think about Scott’s service, I think of the [school’s] founding fathers—a virtuous man must be prepared to risk his life, fortune and sacred honor for his country,” Bachmann said. “This sentiment guided Scott. Please hold him fast in your memories.”

Coach and history teacher Ingrid Herskind said in a statement that she met Studenmund as an 8th grader who was interested in running cross country.

“He wasn’t a typical cross country runner because he was solid and strong, not lanky and tall,” Herskind said. “He was fierce on the hills and always had a huge sprinter’s kick in every race’s finish. I’m sure he was a fine leader for his troop mates and served them with all of his humor and support.”

Studenmund was born on June 26, 1989 at Huntington Hospital. After he graduated from Flintridge, he went on to play football for Pitzer College for a year before deciding to take a leave from college to become a Special Forces Green Beret soldier. He spent two years in training, including six months of foreign language, during which he learned to speak Arabic. In his class of 38, Studenmund was one of three to complete the program and earn the Green Beret title.

The Pasadena soldier completed in 2013 one of the most difficult military training, a seven-week combat dive school at Key West.

He became a sniper in Clarksville, Tennessee, and was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2014. He was set to return home in August, but was killed last Monday.

Studenmund is survived by his father, Woody, chair of the Economics Department at Occidental College; his mother, a business executive; his sister, Connell, a sophomore at Dartmouth College; and a step brother who lives in Seattle.