Scott Sather

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Scott D. Sather
On duty in the desert.
Born	21 June 1973 Clio, Michigan
Died	8 April, 2003 Iraq
Occupation	Combat Controller United States Air Force
Spouse	Melanie Sather

Staff Sergeant Scott Sather was born on 21 June 1973 in Clio, Michigan. Scott Sather joined the United States Air Force in 1992. Sather served in Afghanistan apart of Operation Enduring Freedom. On 8 April 2003, while in southern Iraq, SSgt Scott Sather, a combat controller, assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron stationed at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, became the first Airman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sather earned seven medals, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart during his Air Force career. [1]

Currently there is a US air base named after him in Baghdad, Iraq. Sather Air Base is home of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group at Baghdad International Airport. It is home to over 1,000 Airmen, Army, British Royal Air Force, and contracted civilians.

[edit] Bronze Star Medal

The citation accompanying his Bronze Star Medal with Valor reads,

“

He led this reconnaissance task force on combat operations into Iraq on the first day of the ground war, breeching enemy fortifications during the Iraqi border crossing. During the next several days Sergeant Sather covered countless miles conducting specialized reconnaissance in the Southwestern Iraqi desert supporting classified missions. With only minimal sleep he assumed a leadership role in the reconnaissance of an enemy airfield opening up the first of five airheads used by a joint task force to conduct critical resupply of fielded troops, and provide attack helicopter rearming facilities enabling deep battlefield offensive operations. Sergeant Sather was then employed to an area of heavy enemy concentration tasked to provide critical reconnaissance and intelligence on enemy movement supporting direct action missions against enemy forces. Exposed to direct enemy fire on numerous occasions he continued to provide vital information to higher headquarters in direct support of ongoing combat operations. His magnificent skills in the control of close air support aircraft and keen leadership under great pressure were instrumental in the overwhelming success of these dangerous missions. Sergeant Sather’s phenomenal leadership and bravery on the battlefield throughout his deployment were instrumental in the resounding successes of numerous combat missions performing a significant role in the success of the war and complete overthrow of the Iraqi regime.

”