Scott Helvenston (1965-2004)
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Birthplace:
Ocala, Florida, USA
Born:
June 21, 1965
Died:
March 31, 2004
Stephen 'Scott' Helvenston was a former US Navy SEAL, and later became a stuntman, acror, personal trainer, and entrepreneur. In 1982, at the age of 16, he received special permission to join the U.S. Navy and, at 17, he became the youngest Navy SEAL in U.S. history. After graduating BUD/S, he deployed with SEAL Team Four, served for 2 years, and later moved to San Diego, California, where he deployed with SEAL Team One. He applied and became an instructor at BUD/S, leading PT (Physical Training) every morning for 4 years. With a fond memory for his airborne training, he later became an AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Instructor for 4 years until he was medically discharged from the Navy in 1994 for back, wrist, and ankle injuries due to a partially collapsed canopy malfunction. With high aspirations, he recovered, resumed his fitness regimen, and became an actor and stuntman in Hollywood. His film credits include Face/Off and G.I. Jane. Scott was the man who got Demi Moore into that incredible physical shape for the film. In 1997, Scott founded Amphibian Athletics, a Navy SEAL Training and fitness company with the goal of teaching people the skills to excel in outdoor activities, and life, in general. His Navy SEAL Training Camps became quite popular and frequently were spotlighted on television and in the newspaper. Due to the success of his training camps, he drew from his PT background and designed a video workout series, allowing greater access to his fitness education. With 11 videos to his credit, Scott became quite well known in the fitness world. In addition to his success as a Navy SEAL, he was a two-time, gold medal-winner in the pentathlon, and to this day, he remains the only human contestant on the popular TV show Man vs. Beast to win, racing against three different chimpanzees on an obstacle course. He also represented the Navy SEAL Teams on the TV show Combat Missions. He also starred in a reality series called Extreme Expeditions: Model Behavior months before he left for Iraq. In 2003, after the United States led a coalition to remove Saddam Hussein from power, Paul Bremer was named the head of the Provisional Coalition Authority. With a demand for experienced operators in Iraq, Scott was asked to join the security team tasked with protecting Ambassador Bremer. After heading back East to sharpen all his combat skills, he deployed to Iraq, working as a security contractor for Blackwater Security. Within days of his arrival, on March 31, 2004, the news returned to the States that Scott was one of four American contactors who were ambushed, brutally murdered, and set aflame in Fallujah, Iraq, while an angry Iraqi mob cheered on live TV. He left behind two young children.