Stephen V. Long MAJ, USA
Major Stephen V. Long was dedicated to his wife and family. He was a kind and generous man who loved God. He honored his country and his flag. He was a war hero even before September 11th, 2001. Major Long enlisted in the United States Army in July 1981 and attended Infantry training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing training, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger) Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. In October 1983, then-Specialist Long parachuted onto the island of Grenada as part of Operation Urgent Fury, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart. After Grenada, he was selected for a three-year ROTC scholarship and was subsequently discharged from the Army to attend Augusta State University in Georgia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and was commissioned in the United States Army in November 1989 as a second lieutenant with the Quartermaster Corps. After attending the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Lieutenant Long was assigned as a platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In August 1990 he deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm where he served as a platoon leader. Upon his return to the 82nd Airborne Division in March 1991, he assumed the responsibilities of company executive officer and later as an assistant brigade logistics officer. In 1995, he graduated from the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia with a follow-on assignment as a battalion logistics officer and, later, as a company commander with the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, in Katterbach, Germany. Captain Long was assigned to the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command in April 1998, where he served as an assignment officer in the Officer Personnel Management Directorate and, later, as the Secretary of the General Staff for the Command. He was promoted to major on November 1, 2000. Major Long’s military training includes Infantry One Station Unit Training, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Jungle Warfare School, the United States Army Ranger Course, the United States Air Force Survival Training Course, the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Petroleum Officer Course. Major Long’s awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor (two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and the Bronze Service Star. Service and campaign medals include: the National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal. Major Long was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge with Bronze Service Star. Major Long is survived by his wife, Tina Long, and stepsons, David and Tryon Hopkins.