# Stephen C. Reich

Major Stephen C. Reich (May 22, 1971 – June 28, 2005) was an American soldier and Minor League Baseball player who was killed in action while on a rescue mission in Afghanistan at age 34. Reich played for the "Team USA" baseball team in 1993, and has more wins than any other pitcher in the history of the United States Military Academy.

## Biography

Born in Solon, Ohio, and raised in Connecticut, Reich was the star pitcher at Shepaug Valley High School, a left-hander who led the varsity baseball team to a state championship in 1987 where he pitched and won the championship game. He led the team back to title contention in 1989. Coming out of high school, Reich was a highly touted pitching prospect, but he chose the military over professional baseball.
Reich attended the United States Military Academy where he pitched for the Army baseball team. Reich was a star pitcher for Army and holds the record for most wins by a West Point pitcher. "He was one of the best to ever come through here," said Bob Beretta, a spokesman for the Army baseball team. "When we say someone here is the best since, it's always the best since Steve Reich."
Reich was known for his fastball and command, rarely walking a batter. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1996 after completing two years of a four-year military commitment, and pitched two games for their Class–A High Desert Mavericks affiliate in that year before being recalled by the Army.
Even after his initial military commitment ended, Reich was a highly touted pitcher, but he chose military service over professional baseball.
In 1993, Reich was named to the "Team USA" baseball team. He carried the American flag while representing Team USA in 1993 at the World University Games. He made 17 appearances for Team USA playing in Italy, Nicaragua and Cuba and at the World University Games.
In 1996, Reich was ordered to Germany. He served in Operation Allied Force in Hungary, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo.
Reich served four tours of duty in Afghanistan 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 (eight Nightstalkers and eight 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. This mission was described in the book, Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. Reich was assigned to 3rd Battalion 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) from Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

## Awards and decorations

During his military career, Reich was awarded the following:
| Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge | Combat Action Badge |
| Badge | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings | Senior Army Aviator Wings |
| 1st Row | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters |
| 2nd Row | Purple Heart | Purple Heart | Purple Heart | Purple Heart | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Air Medal with "V" device | Air Medal with "V" device | Air Medal with "V" device | Air Medal with "V" device |
| 3rd Row | Army Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal | Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak leaf clusters | Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak leaf clusters | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star |
| 4th Row | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| 5th Row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal |
| 6th Row | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with 1 Service star | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with 1 Service star | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with 1 Service star | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with 1 Service star |
| Badges | Parachutist Badge | Parachutist Badge | Parachutist Badge | Parachutist Badge | Parachutist Badge | Parachutist Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge |
| Unit awards | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Valorous Unit Award | Valorous Unit Award | Valorous Unit Award | Valorous Unit Award | Army Superior Unit Award with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Army Superior Unit Award with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Army Superior Unit Award with 1 Oak leaf cluster | Army Superior Unit Award with 1 Oak leaf cluster |
| Badge | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia | 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Distinctive unit insignia |
* 4 Overseas Service Bars.