DOB/DOD:May 22, 1971 (Solon, OH) – June 28, 2005; 33 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Jill Bennett Blue (1973-) on March 19, 2005.
LOCAL ADDRESS: Scofield Hill Road; Washington Depot
COMMISSIONED: May 1993
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 15A; Aviation Officfer
UNIT: Company B, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne) [The Night Stalkers]; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
FAMILY: Born to Raymond W. (1938-) and Mary S. Reich (1949-). Two sisters, Megan J. Reich George (1973-) and Ann M. (1977-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal with two devices, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with device, Air Medal with “V” device for Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two devices, National Defense Service Medal with device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War On Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Kosovo, Combat Action Badge, Aviator Badge (Senior), Parachutist Badge (Basic), Air Assault Badge, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award with device, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Major Stephen C. Reich was killed in eastern Afghanistan near Asadabad when his MH-47D (Chinook) helicopter “Turbine 33” was shot down by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). The mission was to rescue a four-person Navy SEAL team surrounded by Taliban insurgents in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province as part of Operation Red Wings. The mission was the subject of a book by Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient, Marcus Luttrell, and a subsequent movie called Lone Survivor. Others killed in this incident:
U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion, 160th Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne); Hunter Army Air Field, GA
Army Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach; Jacksonville, FL
Army Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature; Clarks Grove, MN
Army Sergeant 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles; Shelbyville, IN
Army Sergeant 1st Class Michael L. Russell; Stafford, VA
Army Staff Sergeant Shamus O. Goare; Danville, OH
Army Sergeant Kip A. Jacoby; Pompano Beach, FL
U.S. Army’s HQ & HQ Company, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne); Fort Campbell, KY
Army Master Sergeant James W. Ponder III; Franklin, Tennessee
Navy’s SEAL Team Ten; Virginia Beach, VA
Navy Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen; San Diego, CA
Navy Lieutenant Michael M. McGreevy, Jr.; Portville, NY
Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan; New Orleans, LA
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas; Corbett, OR
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor; Midway, WV
Navy’s SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One; Pearl Harbor, HI
Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy; Exeter, NH
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Patton; Boulder City, NV
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James Suh; Deerfield Beach, FL
OTHER: A video honoring Major Reich’s life can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/127644520
Shepaug Valley High School; Class of 1989. As a left-handed pitcher, he led his school to the Class S state championship in baseball in his sophomore year, 1987. Two-time All-State selection in 1988 and 1989. Posted a 27-4 career record with 130 strikeouts and nine walks.
United States Military Academy at West Point; Class of 1993. 19 career wins. A career ERA of 2.49 is the sixth-best in Army history. ECAC all-star in 1993. Named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year in 1993. The Baseball Room at West Point is named in his honor.
Named to Team USA baseball in 1993. He carried the American flag in the opening ceremonies of the 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, New York. He made 17 appearances for Team USA, playing in Italy, Nicaragua, and Cuba and at the World University Games.
From USABaseball.com on May 24, 2024
By Ethan Bakogiannis
Duty, honor, country.
While the words of West Point’s motto have echoed through the heads of cadets for over 125 years, Major Steven Reich lived them — both while on the mound for USA Baseball and in the cockpit of a helicopter for the United States Army.
A fierce competitor, a selfless leader, and a loyal serviceman, Reich graduated from West Point in 1993, the same year he pitched for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Picked by his team to carry the American flag when walking out for national team games, the Army graduate left a lasting impression on those around him during his time on the team, including his manager, now Minnesota head coach John Anderson.
“He was selfless, a leader, compassionate, driven, internally motivated, he was a critical thinker, he was always able to see the bigger picture — not just himself,” Anderson said. “So selfless — always interested in helping others and making the team and the organization and the world a better place, and he always had that quality about him.”
That impression, though, later turned into a legacy.
Twelve years after his time with Team USA, Reich made the ultimate sacrifice while leading a rescue mission during Operation Enduring Freedom for the Army. Reich was 34 when he and 15 other soldiers were shot down in their helicopter by enemy fire in Eastern Afghanistan.
Anderson and those around him described Reich as selfless, driven, and passionate. Above all else, Reich was a leader, so much so that although saddened, Anderson was not shocked when he learned his former player died for his nation while leading a rescue mission.
“So I wasn’t surprised because he always cared about others and put others ahead of himself — he’s a selfless person,” Anderson said. “That part didn’t surprise me, but I was very, very saddened to learn of his passing. We lost a tremendous human being, a person that I think was willing to serve our country for the rest of us and our freedoms and democracies.”
The Connecticut-born [Webmaster correction: Ohio-born} lefty passed on a lasting legacy with his sacrifice, one of dedication to his country and unwavering leadership, no matter the type of uniform he was wearing.
“I think he led by example because he was a hard worker, he was committed, he had integrity,” Anderson said. “You can’t be a strong leader, you can’t impact change, you can’t impact others unless you have great integrity, because you walk the talk every single day. You can’t do that unless your actions match your words, and he was one of those people who did that obviously very consistently.”
While he was always passionate about serving his country, Reich was determined to carve out a career as a pitcher. Reich pitched 36.3 innings in 17 games in the summer of 1993 while sporting a 2.48 ERA and flaming 38 strikeouts.
Reich’s name is also dotted across the record books at West Point. While his name is still revered at the academy for his intangible qualities and strength of character, the pitcher holds the program record for most career strikeouts with 259 and flamed a whopping 17 Ks against Air Force in his final collegiate game. He also sported an undefeated 6-0 record in service academy games.
Once he graduated and finished leading Team USA to a 30-16 record, Reich played in the Orioles’ farm system. According to his parents, Reich loved baseball and adored the intensity of pitching. He also despised defeat.
“He hated to lose,” said his father, Ray Reich. “He knew that playing baseball, when you’re a pitcher, there’s far more pressure on the pitcher than other players on the team. But he always was very determined.”
But soon enough, Reich was called back into the line of service for the Army in 1996. Anderson said that he unselfishly accepted the call, citing Reich’s strong desire to protect his country.
“It speaks volumes about who he is and the risks he was willing to take because he felt like that to make the world a better place or even serve his country in a way that would make the world a better place, then that’s what he wanted to do,” Anderson said. “You’ve got to be a selfless person to take on that challenge and do it voluntarily … he was willing to take that risk.”
Reich was once again abroad representing his nation, now protecting it rather than playing for it.
However, he still couldn’t stand to leave baseball behind — Reich’s parents recalled him requesting to be deployed abroad to be away from the game. However, once stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, Reich soon found himself as the coach and manager of a local, small-time baseball team.
Reich’s love for the game was undeniable, and once Reich passed, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler knew he had to act quickly to honor his legacy.
“So when the opportunity, or the thought, or the conversation around honoring Stephen’s sacrifice, his commitment — I don’t use the word lightly — legacy, kind of came into focus, we really chased that very quickly and aggressively to make sure that we honored him and what he did for our country and others like him,” Seiler said.
Reich’s number 20 was retired in June of 2006. Only the third number to be retired by USA Baseball, his name and number are forever enshrined in the history of both the organization and baseball. While it’s in direct remembrance of Reich, Seiler said that the retired number is a reminder of the broader appreciation of what the military does to protect our freedoms every day.
Reich embodied the qualities of selflessness, commitment, and leadership. His impact stretched from those in his hometown to his teammates on the 1993 National Team to current Army baseball players taking the field in his honor. He also has multiple awards named after him, and Reich’s parents still hear how much their son touched others’ lives.
“People reach out to us constantly — people that he served with, people that he played baseball with, and people that he went to school with, and I feel blessed to have that when they contact us,” said his mother, Sue Reich. “It’s really great, and it’s very humbling when they choose to honor Stephen with their play, or their words, or an award.”
From wearing the red, white, and blue to protecting it, Reich’s legacy is uniquely and fittingly intertwined with both USA Baseball and his service in the Army.
“Honor the sport, honor the country,” Seiler said. “When we put that uniform on, we’re honoring all of the United States of America, and we’re honoring the sport of baseball. When you look at Stephen, he did that as a national team player, and then ultimately, he took those basic responsibilities that we have here, and he upped it to a place where none of us, I think, can really understand how to get there in terms of sacrificing his life for the nation that he loves so much. We’re proud to call him an alum.”
The ultimate embodiment of both organizations’ values, Reich defined the motto of duty, honor, country — no matter what uniform he wore.
From The Hartford Courant May 25, 2015, and updated December 12, 2018
WASHINGTON, Connecticut — The display case sits in the lobby at Shepaug Valley High School, honoring the life of an alumnus.
There are baseballs, hats, pictures, and a glove that tell the story of a decorated athlete. There is a military uniform, awards and medals, and a burial flag that represent the life of an American hero.
There’s no avoiding the presence of Stephen Reich, who walked the halls of the school in the late 1980s. He was just a high school sophomore when he led Shepaug to a CIAC baseball title. He eventually pitched at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, good enough to earn a contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
But he turned away from baseball and distinguished himself in the military, earning three Bronze Stars.
Ten years ago, Reich died when his Chinook helicopter was shot down while rescuing a SEAL team in Afghanistan. Reich, who was commanding a U.S. Army Special Forces rescue mission, was one of 16 men killed during the mission.
In a small school in a small town, his legacy remains strong. So, when the Shepaug community gathered to award the Stephen Reich Memorial Award at an annual Memorial Day assembly Thursday morning, the school’s auditorium was overflowing with visitors.
Students were joined by Reich’s family and others who knew him. Teachers who had Reich as a student spoke of his character, classmates talked about his willingness to serve his country, and students listened quietly and attentively throughout.
This was no ordinary assembly. Reich’s life — from his days as a Shepaug student to his career in the Army — is used as a model.
“I think it’s had an impact on the kids,” said science teacher and baseball coach Scott Werkhoven, who was Reich’s classmate and close friend. “They do bring him up in class. The way they talk about him, you can tell that it’s meaningful to them and that they get it. They understand why we do it and why it’s important. It’s a great opportunity for them to get a perspective on what’s important.”
This year, the story of Reich also was told during a 12-minute documentary. Fox Sports spent the winter interviewing Reich’s parents, Ray and Sue, along with friends and classmates from Shepaug and West Point. Producers tracked down the Baltimore Orioles scout who signed Reich and uncovered an interview with Reich from his brief stint as a Class A pitcher in 1996.
The documentary was carried on Fox Sports over the weekend. On Monday, it will be on the Yes Network from noon to 12:30 p.m. during “Yankee Batting Practice Today.”
The Shepaug community got an advance viewing on Thursday. Reich’s parents saw the piece before Thursday, but they were still moved as they watched it in the school auditorium.
“It’s amazing,” said Ray Reich, a former teacher at The Gunnery School. “They dug up footage that we have never seen. The final scene … it was powerful.”
The final scene? Reich being interviewed in spring training in 1996, when he was pitching for High Desert in the California League.
“If there’s one thing that I’m scared of,” Reich says, “I’m scared to death of, you know, looking back on everything and saying to myself, ‘God, I should have done this. I should have taken that extra step and made that effort and taken that chance.’ And I don’t want to have anything missing in my life when it’s all over.”
This was said before Reich was called back to duty by the Pentagon and before he had to abandon his dream of pursuing a baseball career. Not that he left baseball with regret. His mother said in the documentary that it was heartbreak, but “as soon as that decision was made, he closed that door.”
Reich had been a standout athlete from the time his family moved to Washington from Ohio in 1980. A left-handed pitcher, he distinguished himself early and led his high school team to a state championship in 1987. He also played soccer and basketball, but his prowess on the pitcher’s mound drew attention before he graduated in 1989.
During his sophomore year in high school, he visited West Point and became enamored with the Military Academy. Reich continued to shine for the Army baseball team and attracted major league scouts.
He could have left the school after his sophomore year and pursued a professional career. Instead, he remained and graduated in 1993. By remaining, he was committed to a career in the military.
Reich did pitch for Team USA in the 1993 Pan-Am Games and the World University Games. That team included future major league players such as Todd Helton, Todd Walker, and A.J. Hinch.
“He was very good,” Werkhoven said. “He was competitive. He wasn’t going to back down.”
His father said in the documentary that Reich didn’t just want to play. He wanted the ball. He was among the best pitchers in the country, and scouts were interested.
Eventually, Army officials allowed him to pursue a professional career. The Orioles signed him, and he embarked on his career in 1996.
“We often hear the cliche about the ‘it’ factor,” Orioles scout Earl Winn said in the documentary. “When you saw Stephen Reich pitch, you knew that he had ‘it.’”
Four games into the season, a Pentagon official had a change of heart. The way Winn described it, the Pentagon realized it had invested money into Reich with the intention of the Cadet eventually flying helicopters.
So that’s what Reich did. He trained to become a “Night Stalker,” a helicopter pilot with the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. These are considered elite aviators, and Reich embraced the challenge.
He was deployed to Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and Hungary in the late 1990s before joining the 160th. As a member of the 160th, there would be deployments to South Korea and Afghanistan.
Whenever a deployment ended, Reich returned home and hiked the Steep Rock nature preserve in Washington.
“Just for that quiet solitude,” Sue Reich said. “That was his way to transition. He was as comfortable in Army boots as he was in Birkenstocks. But he needed to have that time to have just total peace.”
Reich, married to Jill Blue in early 2005, was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan when he led a mission to rescue a team of Navy SEALs. A grenade took down his helicopter near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
All 16 aboard died on June 28, 2005.
Ten years later, his memory lives in the school and town he loved. The Stephen Reich Memorial Award has been handed out annually since 2006, awarded to the Shepaug student who “best exemplified the characteristics Stephen demonstrated: character, service, leadership and achievement.”
The award was presented to Sebastian Taylor this year. Four of the past winners were on hand, and the rest of the student body cheered as the award was presented.
“Stephen walked the same halls that you do,” Shepaug teacher Douglas Winkel told the students. “He took classes like you do, sat in the same classrooms as you do. Joked around with his buddies and played sports like many of you do. Stephen is you.”
As the assembly ended, members of this year’s baseball team shook hands with Ray Reich. Sue Reich and her daughter, Megan, chatted with friends and well-wishers.
A school assembly turned into a celebration of an extraordinary life.
“Folks talk to folks,” Ray Reich said. “This is a small town, and people talk. But for this kind of a turnout … it’s amazing. The students are just mesmerized. Some of these kids, the seniors, have sat through this story for three years, and they never get tired of hearing it. Even though it ended badly, Stephen left quite a legacy. He packed a lot into 34 years.”
Member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2016
From CTInsider.com November 9, 2016
By John Nestor
NEW MILFORD – Shepaug Valley High School graduate and Army hero Stephen Reich is being honored by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. On November 17, 2016, Reich will be inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the annual CHSCA Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club at 7 p.m. A member of the Shepaug class of 1989, Reich helped lead the Shepaug baseball team to the 1987 CIAC Class S State Championship. “Stephen was a great pitcher, one of the best in the state,” said Shepaug baseball Coach Scott Werkhoven, who was a teammate and friend of Reich’s. “He was just a sophomore when he helped us win the state title, a great, great pitcher.” Reich went on to attend the United States Military Academy, where he pitched for the Army baseball team and became one of the best pitchers in Army history. He was a three-time league all-star and was the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year in 1993. He was inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. “He went on to become a great college pitcher,” Werkhoven said. “He was a great competitor.” Reich graduated from West Point in 1993 and was selected to play for Team USA. He was chosen by the entire American delegation to carry the flag in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1993 World University Games. The World University Games team included future major league players such as Todd Helton, Todd Walker, and A.J. Hinch. After completing two years of his four-year military commitment, he was granted a release to sign with the Baltimore Orioles in 1996. He pitched in two games for their Class A affiliate, the High Desert Mavericks, before being called back to the Army. Reich also could have left the school after his sophomore year and pursued a professional career. Instead, he remained and graduated in 1993. By remaining, he was committed to a career in the military. “It was the kind of guy he was and what he believed in,” Werkhoven said. “He didn’t have any regrets and was proud of his service to our country.” In 1996, Reich was ordered to Germany as a platoon leader with the 158th Aviation Regiment, where he served in Operation Allied Force in Hungary, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. Reich served four tours of duty in Afghanistan with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Nightstalkers) and was killed in action on June 28, 2005, during Operation Red Wings to rescue a four-man Navy SEAL team. Reich was one of 16 troops (Nightstalkers and Navy SEALs) aboard an Army Special Operations MH-47 Chinook helicopter that was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province. During his military career, Reich was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Senior Army Aviator Wings, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, an Air Medal with Valor device, and the Combat Action Badge.
Memorialized by the Major Stephen Reich Award for Exceptional Citizenship in Washington, Connecticut. The purpose of the annual award is to recognize a Washington resident who stands out among the many people who give to the community. The plaque hangs in the lobby of Washington, Connecticut Town Hall.
Major Reich was cremated, and his ashes were spread at a nature preserve called Steep Rock in Washington, Connecticut. Three miles away at Hidden Valley Preserve, there is a stone bench with a plaque at the Henry David Thoreau Bridge on the President’s Trail about 1 mile in from the parking area at 198 Bee Brook Road, Washington Depot, Connecticut. Also named for him, Reich Bridge is located in Hidden Valley Preserve.
Part of the 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) creed
“I serve with the memory and pride of those who have gone before me, for they love to fight, fought to win, and would rather die than quit.’’