Army Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, California was one of two Americans killed on June 6th when their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.
Also killed in the crash was 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Washington.
Both Pace and Fazzari were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Pace's father, Patrick Pace, told the Imperial Valley Press his son graduated fifth in his class at Brawley Union High School. Pace graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2005 with a degree in nuclear engineering.
Brooke Pace said of her late brother:
“From the little old lady down the street, to his grandma, to his (best) friend’s daughter, he had a smile for anybody that knew him. And he would stand up and fight for the people and just anyone, including the men he served with.”
According to DVIDS, Pace's military awards include:
Two Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, the Army Aviator Badge and the Combat Action Badge.
