Plumhoff, Steven
Male
Verified Maj. Steven Plumhoff, 33, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, was a U.S. Air Force officer assigned to the 58th Operations Group. He was killed in a hostile incident in Afghanistan on November 23, 2003.
Their Story
Maj. Steven Plumhoff was a 33-year-old officer in the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the 58th Operations Group, based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. According to official records, his service involved operations in multiple theaters, including Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On November 23, 2003, Plumhoff was killed in a hostile action in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense announced his death the following day, stating he died when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device near Bagram Air Base. Another airman, Staff Sgt. Paul J. Fisher, was killed in the same attack.
Plumhoff's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The operation's initial objective was to dismantle the al-Qaeda terrorist network and remove the Taliban regime from power in Afghanistan, which had harbored the group.
The Air Force posthumously awarded Plumhoff the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and parents. His remains were returned to the United States, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Maj. Plumhoff is memorialized on several veterans' monuments, including the New Jersey Run for the Fallen tribute. His name is inscribed on Panel 20U, Line 28 of the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Air Force Academy.
Explore Further
Maj. Steven Plumhoff 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.
