“I’ve had the pleasure of serving with several Texans, and they were all born fighters. It must be something in the water down there.” — Major Rusty Bradley, Author Lions of Kandahar. 

Sergeant First Class Riley Stephens was raised in the sleepy farming town of Tolar, Texas about 45 minutes south of Ft. Worth. Places like Tolar are only further proof that some of our nation’s most elite warriors come from those towns barely discernible on a map, places that we might mention with the inevitable follow up question, “Where is that?” Six deployments, a litany of schools, and a legendary Special Operations career as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. Sergeant First Class Riley Stephens, a true legend of the Special Operations community, some of his life depicted in the epic novel “Lions of Kandahar.” 

SFC Stephens took his last stand on September 28, 2012 providing covering fire for his unit in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. All of the words about Riley and an incredible career as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant pale in comparison though, to the memories of a father who witnessed his son’s first steps and supported him through his most painful tribulations as a Special Operations warrior. Mick Stephens might’ve been Riley’s father, but he was also his closest friend and on that day in September, Mick experienced one of the greatest tragedies that can possibly befall a father, he lost his first born.

FEATURING

This podcast features a future story with The Caregiver Project, the partner project of The Veterans Project. The Caregiver Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that our Gold, Silver, White, and Blue Star families are never forgotten. The project is a detailed photographic essay bringing attention to those who sustain the most overlooked injuries and greatest sense of loss stemming from the Global War on Terror . . . the families of those injured, killed, lost to the war at home, or deployed in service of our great nation. The goal of the project is to shed light on the stories of our nation’s caregivers, those who bear the scars and stripes day-to-day of their warrior’s sacrificial service. It is the belief of The Caregiver Project that the stories of our warriors’ families are largely neglected; and that by bringing their narrative to the forefront, citizens and veterans alike can gain a better understanding of the challenges, trials, and tribulations faced by our veterans’ families.