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Stephen "Scott" Helvenston | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1965 Ocala, Florida |
| Died | 31 March 2004 (aged 38) Fallujah, Iraq |
| Nickname | Scott |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1982–1994 |
| Rank |  Petty officer first class (Quartermaster) |
Stephen "Scott" Helvenston (June 21, 1965 – March 31, 2004) was a United States Navy SEAL. He was working as a security contractor for Blackwater Security when he was killed in the 31 March 2004 Fallujah ambush within days of arriving in Iraq.
Helvenston was a personal trainer for Hollywood celebrities such as Demi Moore (for G.I. Jane), and was also featured in the reality shows Combat Missions and Man vs. Beast (in the latter, he completed an obstacle course faster than a chimpanzee). He also starred in a reality series called Extreme Expeditions: Model Behavior months before he left for Iraq. The series was shot in Mexico and was finished, but never aired.
Helvenston's great-great-uncle was Secretary of War Elihu Root.[1]
Helveston joined the Navy at 17 and received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. He became the youngest person to complete Navy SEAL training.[2] He graduated with BUD/S class 122 in 1983 and then attended Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia. He spent 12 years in the Navy SEALs until he left in 1994[3] as an E-6 (Quartermaster First Class).
Helvenston began training at Blackwater USA's facilities in March 2004, and developed a personal conflict with head trainer Justin "Shrek" McQuown.[1] Helvenston arrived in Kuwait on March 18, where he was under the management of John and Kathy Potter, whom he knew from Combat Missions.
- ^ a b Jeremy Scahill (May 8, 2006). "Blood Is Thicker Than Blackwater". The Nation.
- ^ "Worker Killed In Fallujah Laid To Rest In Florida". News 4 Jacksonville, Fl. April 13, 2004. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ "Mothers Say Mistakes Led to Fallujah Tragedy". Primetime, ABC News. April 7, 2005.