Blass, Steven Patrick
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Steven Patrick Blass, 27, of Estherville, Iowa, was killed in action on March 11, 2013, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Staff Sergeant Steven Patrick Blass was a 27-year-old soldier from Estherville, Iowa. He served with Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Attack Helicopter), part of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade based at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. His military service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On March 11, 2013, Blass died in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated he was killed by enemy small-arms fire while on a dismounted patrol. He was assigned as a helicopter repairer but was performing infantry duties at the time of the incident.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2013, Kandahar remained a major center of insurgent activity, and U.S. and allied forces conducted frequent patrols and security operations in the region.
The Army posthumously awarded Blass the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His remains were returned to Iowa, and he was buried with military honors in Estherville. Local news reported that hundreds of community members lined the streets during the procession.
Blass is memorialized on the Iowa Veterans Memorial and on online veteran tributes. His unit, the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, continued its mission in Afghanistan until the conclusion of the U.S. combat mission in 2014.
Explore Further
Steven Blass was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
