Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 16, 2014) – Governor Steve Beshear today recognized the sacrifices of two Fort Campbell soldiers who died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald died June 9 in Gaza Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while engaged in a combat operation. The incident is under investigation. Follow "More" below for photo of Staff Sgt. McDonald)

According to a report published in Military Times and referenced in Honor the Fallen:

  Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California.

The son of former eHarmony CEO Jaynie Studenmund, he was deployed to Afghanistan in January and was set to return home in August. He was a 2008 graduate of Flintridge Preparatory School in suburban Los Angeles.

Studenmund was a “brave, virtuous patriot” who played football and ran track at Flintridge and loved military history and a good debate, the school said in a statement.

“When I think about Scott’s service, I think of the Founding Fathers — a virtuous man must be prepared to risk his life, fortune and sacred honor for his country,” headmaster Peter Bachmann said in the statement.

Though undersized for a defensive position, “he made our defense go,” football coach and science teacher Glen Beattie said. “He was aggressive, quick and wouldn’t let anyone block him or dominate him. He would fight through anything and would not let himself be defeated.”

Studenmund played football at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, for a year, then took leave to pursue his “life’s dream” of becoming a Green Beret, the Flintridge statement said.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard requested that flags in the city be flown at half-staff in his honor.