After 20 years in the U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class John S. Stephens was ready to retire upon completion of his deployment to Iraq. He had a post-retirement plan that he hoped would some day land him a job in the Central Intelligence Agency.

Those plans and dreams were cut short when Stephens, 41, a native of La Grande, Ore., was killed March 20, 2007, in Tikrit, Iraq, when his patrol came under enemy fire during combat operations. Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley.

He was a member of a military transition team that is advising Iraqi security fores. It was his second deployment to Iraq.

"He was a dedicated military man," his father, Gene Stephens, told the Associated Press. "He told us that he was doing his job, and when he went back to Iraq this time, he said he was going back to do his job and try and help people there."

Stephens and his family were stationed at Fort Sam Houston prior to coming to Fort Riley, and news of his death hit hard with his former neighbors in San Antonio.

"People have been standing around outside talking about it," Darrell Loving, a former neighbor, told the San Antonio Express News at the time. "It was a shock. We didn't think he'd be too much in harm's way. He was a good guy. He worked really well with his kids."

Stephens, who was called Scott by friends and family, served in the military for more than 20 years and was working as a medic on this tour to Iraq. Upon retirement, his plans were to complete work on a master's degree in computers and then apply for a job with the CIA.

Stephens joined the Army in 1985, serving at various times as a line medic, aid station non-commissioned officer in charge, platoon sergeant, department non-commissioned officer in charge, operations non-commissioned officer, senior operations non-commissioned officer, plans non-commissioned officer in charge, medical trainer, and military transition team medic.

He participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, along with a tour in Bosnia. He also deployed in support of Operations Joint Forge and Joint Guard in Kosovo in 1996 and 1998.

Awards and decorations included the Bronze Star. He was posthumously awarded a second Bronze Star, as well as the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Survivors include his wife, Beate; son, Darren; stepson, Brian; and stepdaughter, Cheryl.