Fassbender was a soldier under the command of Lieutenant Childress in the 24th SAS Regiment's H-Squadron. Fassbender participated in Operation Shear. During the operation, Fassbender was in the half of H-Squadron tasked with destroying the mortar positions. Lt. Childress told to him lay down suppressive fire first on a Sentry Gun nest in order to protect Sgt. Nathan Hale and others as as they charged up the hill towards the mortars. Fassbender died whilst attempting to complete the objective.