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<p><em>Stephen Charles Reich</em> was born in May 1971 to Ray and Sue Reich in Bedford, OH, a small community outside Cleveland. Early on he demonstrated a love of and proficiency for baseball. As a lefty toddler, he would stand for hours watching baseball games on TV and mimicking the pitcher’s wind up. Not surprisingly, his first Little League experience was pitching and winning the local championship.</p>
<p>Stephen’s family including sisters Megan and AnnMarie moved to the small town of Washington, CT in 1980. The new community placed a strong emphasis on family, volunteerism and sports participation, especially in baseball. Growing up in this idyllic environment, a healthy competition developed between Stephen and his sisters to excel in sports and academics and make a strong commitment to community. They enthusiastically cheered each other’s wins and helped to rectify any losses. Stephen was fortunate to have strong and influential coaches to help mold his healthy competitive nature. Pitching a state baseball championship game just after his 16th birthday was a significant milestone for him in high school. About that same time, he visited West Point and his focus was set on the United States Military Academy. He was eager for this next challenge in life.</p>
<p>In his plebe year, Stephen made the varsity baseball team as one of its starting pitchers. Living in close proximity to West Point enabled our family to attend all the baseball and football games. Those four years would prove to be an important bonding experience with West Point that would later provide our family with much needed comfort and love. </p>
<p>Stephen’s first years at West Point were conflicted. Although he thrived on the academic, military and athletic challenges, there was always the possibility of a professional baseball career luring him away. Ultimately, he decided that his clear career path was through West Point and into the Army. In 1993, topping off his successful Army baseball career, Stephen was invited to play on the National Baseball Team after graduation. That summer, he was chosen by Team USA to carry the American flag and lead the delegation into the opening ceremonies at the World University games.</p>
<p>In 1994, Stephen attended the Aviation Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Rucker. While there, he renewed his love for horses and riding and purchased his first horse, Napoleon, to enjoy the beauty of Alabama. In 1995 he was assigned to the University of Kentucky ROTC program, preparing to resume his baseball career. He signed to play professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization. While pitching in the High Desert League in California, he was recalled to the Army and was sent to Germany. He served as a platoon leader in Company A, 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. During his subsequent tour with the 12th Aviation Brigade he served in Operation Allied Force deploying to Hungary, Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo. With baseball still in his heart, Stephen became involved in the fledgling German Baseball League. </p>
<p>Living economically in a converted horse stable, Stephen bought two horses: Shiloh and Jami. He enjoyed riding horseback to his office at the U.S. Army Garrison, Wiesbaden.</p>
<p>Returning from Germany in 2000, Stephen attended the Infantry Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, GA followed by the CAS3 at Fort Leavenworth. Upon arrival to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, he deployed with 2nd Battalion to Operation Enduring Freedom as battle captain in support of Task Force Dagger. In December 2001, he served as operations officer for 2nd Battalion’s detachment of MH-47D aircraft in Afghanistan. He commanded headquarters and headquarters company, 2nd Battalion from February 2002 through May 2003.</p>
<p>In 2004, Stephen completed an assignment to Daegu, Korea as the operations officer for E Company, 160th SOAR(A), where he was promoted to major. Upon his return, he was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA. Stephen invested in a home and was preparing to spend a significant part of his life there. He enjoyed hiking with his two dogs, Copper and Summer. During this time Stephen met his wife, Jill Blue, who shared his love for dogs. They were married in March 2005, just one week before his last deployment to Afghanistan. On June 28, 2005, exactly 16 years to the date he entered the United States Military Academy on R-Day, Stephen was commanding a mission in Afghanistan now known as Operation Red Wings. While attempting to rescue four Navy Seals under attack in the Kunar Province, his Chinook “Turbine 33” was struck with a rocket-propelled grenade. Eight Army Night Stalkers and eight Navy Seals lost their lives.</p>
<p>West Point ’93 classmates remember Stephen for his epic smile, his competitive nature, his friendliness and quiet sensitivity. “His smile was on the order of those stone cut enigmas that that is wired to a heroic nerve that grace the faces of classical statutes. He wore an air of mystery and some very interesting scars.” He can never be replaced or forgotten. Our sincere hope is that Stephen will always be remembered for his smile, kindness and love of dogs; but more importantly for the deep respect, dedication and love he had for the Class of ’93.</p>
<p>Stephen Reich’s military schools include: Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape C Course, the Airborne School, and Air Assault Course. His awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Senior Aviator, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device and the Combat Action Badge.</p>
<p><em> —Sue Reich, Gold Star Mother</em></p>
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