Robert Stephenson
Woodbury, Minnesota
After serving with the Marines for over 20 years, both in active and reserve duty, Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Bob” Stephenson volunteered to go to Iraq to fight the war on terror. After receiving a letter from the commanding general of his division urging him to serve in active duty, the father of six and husband to an expecting wife, Theresa, felt a “sense of patriotism and duty to serve his country.”
Stephenson hit the ground in Al Asad, Iraq on October 12, 2004, which proved to be a safer and more desirable destination than his next stop, Kalsu (pictured at the airfield, top left). This town in the Northern Babil Province of Iraq known as the “Triangle of Death,” was under constant attack or threat of attack by mortars or suicide bombers.
Although he was able to communicate frequently with his family, the overseas assignment made him appreciate his family and his country much more. Stephenson expressed gratitude for the strength of his wife and the strength of other military wives; Theresa not only cared for their family and ran the household while he was away, but she also continued to homeschool their six children (pictured with Lt. Col. Stephenson, lower left). The family's faith guided them through the tough times, eventually strengthening their marriage and their bond as a family.
 While he was in Iraq, Stephenson noticed that Iraqis experienced a great blessing in the success of their January elections. In an email home he wrote, “The elections were a huge success, as many of you know. I have a great admiration for the Iraqi people that braved the terrorist thugs and went to the polls. They got attacked, and they cleaned up the blood and body parts and got back in line and voted. Freedom got a lift that day, and a blow was dealt to the terrorists and their world of oppression, evil, and hatred. The seeds of liberty have been sown, not only in Iraq but throughout the entire Middle East. The International Republican Institute found that 62 percent of Iraqi's feel their country is headed in the right direction. This is up from 42 percent in September.”
Stephenson left Iraq with a greater respect for his country and its freedoms and values. He also left with a greater respect for those who serve and have served before us; he instills these values in his children so that they will be passed on to another generation.
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