Army Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, 39, died September 28, in Wardak, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire, according to the Department of Defense.
Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. According to a biography released by Fort Bragg, Stephens was on his fifth deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed. He served as a Special Forces medical sergeant.
The military awarded Stephens numerous honors during his career, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Stephens was a native of Tolar, Texas. He leaves behind his father, his wife, and three children.
