Scott Helvenston

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Scott Helvenston (1965-March 31, 2004) was a former United States Navy SEAL, and worked as a civilian contractor when he was killed while employed by private military contractor Blackwater Security in Iraq.

On March 31, 2004 - Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah ambushed a convoy containing four American private military contractors from Blackwater USA who were conducting delivery for food caterers ESS^[1]

The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Their burned corpses were then dragged through the streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates.^[2]

Photos of the event were released to news agencies worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and moral outrage in the United States, and prompting the announcement of a upcoming "pacification" of the city.

Helveston was formerly a personal trainer for Hollywood celebrities such as Demi Moore, and also starred in the reality shows Combat Missions and Man vs. Beast, in which he completed an obstacle course faster than a chimpanzee.

He joined the Navy at 16 with special permission, and thereafter became the youngest person to complete Navy SEAL training (at age 17). He spent 12 years in the Navy SEALs until he left in 1994.