<div>
“Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer.”</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Those words from our Cadet Prayer were never more ingrained in a graduate of the Military Academy than in the heart and soul of Steve Farris. He not only followed those precepts during 25 years service for his country, but in the 18 years since retirement. During those later years, he spent many hours doing charitable work with the elderly in the Allentown-Bethlehem area, assisting individuals who were having difficulties; visiting inmates in the county prison; visiting patients in nursing homes and those in the State Hospital in Allentown.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<em>Stephen C. Farris</em> was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 3 March 1913, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Farris. After graduation from high school in 1931, he spent two years at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, where he majored in mathematics. While there he earned letters in football and basketball. Entering West Point in 1934 he played on the football squad in 1934 and 1935, on the basketball squad in 1937 and 1938, and baseball squad in 1938 and 1939. He was a cadet corporal Third Class year, sergeant during Second Class year, and lieutenant First Class year. Any cadet who lived in the 26th Division Barracks will remember the numerous songs that resounded through that area when Steve was present. He was a tremendous morale factor to us all, and his good naturedness was an inspiration to everyone in “I” Company.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
After graduation, he had a short tour at Parks Air College, then Executive Officer, Battery B, 7th Coast Artillery at Fort Hancock, New Jersey. In 1940, he was reassigned to Fort Mills, Philippine Islands as Executive Officer, and later commanding F Battery 92d Coast Artillery Battalion. In June 1941, he assumed command of “C” Battery 92d Coast Artillery Battalion at Corregidor. After a valiant and heroic stand on that island the U.S. Forces surrendered. Steve was imprisoned by the Japanese in the Philippines and Japan for 3 years and 3 months under the most difficult conditions. While many Americans died, Steve survived through his determination and will to live. He earned a Silver Star for his actions during the defense of Corregidor. He was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Philippine Defense Ribbon, the American Defense Ribbon, the Victory Ribbon, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Upon his release from a Japanese prison camp in September 1945, Steve became interested in studying the Russian language. He attended an accelerated course at the Naval Intelligence School and completed it with an academic rating of Superior. He completed the Strategic Intelligence School in 1947 with a fluency in Russian and Italian. Later he became fluent in French and Spanish.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
On 21 November 1945 he was married to Anna S. Posivak of Bethlehem. Three children were born of this marriage—Elizabeth Ann, who has a doctorate from Purdue; Mary M., who is a lieutenant in the Navy; and Thomas S., who is a graduate of the University of Vermont.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
From 1948 until 1951 Steve served as Assistant Army Attache in Rome. Then followed a year at the Artillery Officers Advance Course at Fort Sill. Successively, he served as Commander, 86th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in Chicago, Illinois; student at the Air Command & General Staff College, Air University, Montgomery, Alabama; Commander, 92d Antiaircraft Artillery Skysweeper Battalion at Brize Norton in England; Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, Com Z in Verdun, France; Assistant Chief, Industrial and Personnel Security Group, Security Division, Department of the Army, at Fort Holabird; and G2 advisor of the First Republic of Korea Army in Korea (1959). After leaving Korea in 1960 he served as Chief, Foreign Combat Developments Branch, Combat Development Command, at Fort Ord and at Support Headquarters at Fort Ord.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In 1963, Steve attended a Civil Affairs Course in Fort Gordon, Georgia, and then was transferred to Germany, where he was assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, Civil Affairs Section, VII Corps, in Stuttgart. An emergency within the family forced Steve to retire on 30 June 1964.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
After retirement, Steve taught math at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem from 1964 until 1975, assisting in the teaching of Russian at the University of Maryland.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
He is survived by his wife, Anna; daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Mary; son Thomas, two grandchildren; a brother, Francis; and a sister, Mary Daday.</div>
<div>
</div>