PFC Scott L. Roth
401st MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade

Killed In Action ~ 20 December 1989 ~ Panama

        PFC Scott L. Roth, age 19, from Killeen, Texas, was a member of the 1st Platoon, 401st MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade (Fort Hood, Texas), on a four month rotating security tour in the Republic of Panama.

        On 18 December 1989 the Company completed its tour and was packed and standing by for rotation back to Fort Hood when they were ordered to 'load down' and await further orders from the 519th MP Battalion (Fort Meade, Maryland), to which they were assigned subordinate.

        On 19 December at 1900 Hours the Company received their new orders for Operation Just Cause. The 401st MP Company moved out to their assignments just before H-Hour (2400 Hours).

        On 20 December 1989 during the early morning hours of the start of Operation Just Cause, the First Platoon, for which PFC Roth was the machine gunner, was tasked with preventing the movement and consolidation of Panama Defense Forces (PDF) in their area of operation at Check Point-12, in the Diablo Heights area.

        PFC Roth was killed in action during a fire fight with a PDF patrol that challenged the MP Check Point. The PDF attack was defeated and two of its members were taken as prisoners of war.

        PFC Roth was the only MP killed in action during Operation Just Cause and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.