Blue to Gold: ARMY Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens

ARMY Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, thirty-nine, of Tolar, Texas, died September twenty-eight, in Wardak, Afghanistan.

The small town of Tolar is preparing to honor a native son killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said that Army Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, thirty-nine, died in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.  He suffered fatal wounds during an attack on September 28.

Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He was a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. This was his fifth deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom.

He was a native of Tolar, forty-six miles southwest of Fort Worth. Stephens is survived by his wife, three children and father.

According to Jherri Carter, of Meridian Bank, Stephens will be honored at a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. The service will be at the Old Tolar Rattler Football Field at 401 East 7th Street.  Parking is available at Tolar High School at 301 Rock Church Highway.

The Department of Defense said Stephen's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement Medal with Valor Device, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and many more.