Paratrooper Prepares A Special Gift for His Newborn Daughter

By Spc. Joshua R. Ford

Lt. Col. Troy Stephenson, commander, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, places an American flag in a wooden case as gift for his daughter, Carol Joy Stephenson, who was born on Sept. 14, 2006, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Stephenson is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom near Tikrit, Iraq, and flew the flag over his battalion headquarters on the day of her birth. US Army photo by Spc. Joshua R. Ford

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - For a moment, rumors made their way around the 3rd Brigade Combat Team that they would not deploy - giving hope to Lt. Col. Troy Stephenson and his wife, Monica Ann, that the whole family would be present for the birth of their first girl.

Those hopes soon vanished when the official word came to them that the deployment would call a battalion commander to duty; duty that would protect the nation his newborn daughter would grow up in. It's a sacrifice he was willing to make for that reason alone.

Monica was heartbroken to find out her husband would miss the birth of their only daughter and that their daughter would spend the entire first year of her life without the presence of her father.

The Stephensons understood, knowing that God had good reasons for their circumstances.

Missing the birth of a child may be one of the hardest things a servicemember deals with when deployed.

In 19 years of service to the Army, Stephenson, commander, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, hadn't missed the birth of any of his other children.

Lt. Col. Troy Stephenson, commander, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, folds an American flag he flew over his battalion headquarters in celebration of the birth of his first daughter, Carol Joy Stephenson, who was born on Sept. 14, 2006, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Stephenson is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom near Tikrit, Iraq. US Army Photo by Spc. Joshua R. Ford

In mid-August Stephenson deployed to Iraq, and on Sept. 14 Carol Joy Stephenson entered the world. On that very same day Stephenson flew an American flag over his headquarters near Tikrit, Iraq, in celebration of her birth.

After flying the flag over his headquarters, Stephenson folded the flag and placed it and his battalion's coin in a wooden case engraved "This American flag flew over my dad's Battalion Headquarters on the day of my birth - September 14, 2006."

The idea Stephenson had for his daughter had been a slight adaptation of what he had done for his son, Stephenson said.

The native of Trail, Oregon, came up with the idea many years ago when he planned to do something similar for his son Joshua.

Stephenson carried an American flag through every conflict he fought in. During the Gulf War he carried the flag in his cargo pocket. During conflicts in Bosnia, Haiti and his first tour to Operation Iraqi Freedom, he carried the same flag in his rucksack. Today Stephenson still carries the flag and will give the flag to Joshua at the end of his military career.

"Getting the reputation of being the hard-feeling, low-emotion Paratrooper and ranger, it wouldn't be expected of one with such a description to do something like this," Stephenson said. "When I told Monica, she thought it was very special."

Monica found joy in what her husband had done for their only girl. And to capture the moment on film and in photographs made it even better, she said.

One day Carol Joy would get to watch the video recording and look at the photographs and see what her father had done in her honor.

Stephenson's wife spent 10 years on active duty and knows much about what her husband is going through.

"My first-hand experience is like a double edged sword. I know enough about the process to understand what my husband is probably experiencing," Monica said.

Stephenson said that his wife Monica, a native of Detroit, Mi., is the real hero in this situation.

Lt. Col. Troy Stephenson, proud father and commander, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, poses for a photo underneath an American Flag he raised over his battalion headquarters Sept. 14, 2006, in Tikrit, Iraq, in honor of the birth of his daughter, who was born on the same day. Stephenson is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and intends to give the flag to his newborn daughter, Carol Joy, upon his redeployment. US Army Photo by Spc. Joshua R. Ford

"She's back home by herself taking care of three boys, one infant and still working a full-time job," Stephenson added.

When Stephenson returns from commanding his battalion in the Salah ad Din Province of Iraq, he wishes to do something special for his newborn daughter and spending time with his family.

The Stephenson family is an outdoors family, and Joshua attended his first duck hunt at the tender age of 6 weeks old.

So whether it is hunting for caribou on the frozen tundra of their new home in Fairbanks, Alaska, or salmon fishing in the rivers of Oregon, Stephenson and his family will vacation as only the Stephenson family can. Hunting, fishing, camping - it doesn't matter to them as long as they spend their time together.

Spc. Joshua R. Ford
Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division

alan@newsblaze.com

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