Benjamin A Stevenson

Canyon Lake, Texas

July 21, 2011

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

MSG

U.S. Army Special Operations Command

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Killed in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

Benjamin A. Stevenson
Obituary
Stevenson, Master Sgt. Benjamin A. CANYON LAKE, Texas Master Sgt. Benjamin A. Stevenson, 36 of Canyon Lake, died Thursday, July 21, 2011 in Paktika province, Afghani-stan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire, the Pentagon said. Stevenson was assigned to headquarters and headquarters company with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. According to the Army, Stevenson was born in Albany, N.Y., and graduated from Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas, in 1993. He enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in June that year. Stevenson first served with the 325th Infantry Battalion at Fort Bragg as a gunner, firing anti-tank missiles and a squad leader. He then went on to become an aircraft power plant repairman with the 601st Aviation Support Battalion at Katterbach, Germany. He completed Special Forces training in January 2000 and was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he served as a weapons and intelligence sergeant. He deployed with the unit three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, according to the Army. In May 2006, Stevenson was assigned as a special operations team member with Special Operations Command, where he deployed to Iraq four more times and twice more to Afghanistan, the Army said. Stevenson's awards include the Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor; Army Commendation Medal with Valor; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Presidential Unit citation; Joint Meritorious Unit award; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars; Iraq Campaign Medal with six campaign stars; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead; and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Stevenson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Stevenson is survived by his wife and two young sons and his mother, Laura M. Lane. Visitation Thursday, July 28, 2011, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Pinecrest Funeral and Cremation Services, Hope Mills, N.C. Funeral Friday, July 28, 2011, 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Church. Interment Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to: Special Operation Warrior Foundation in Ben's name, P.O. Box 13483, Tampa, FL 33681.
Published in Albany Times Union from Aug. 4 to Aug. 5, 2011