John Marshall Stephens

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Marshall Stephens, 85, of Fort Knox, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Thomas, with his sons by his side.

He was born in Staunton, Virginia, on June 23, 1939.

CSM Stephens had a long and distinguished military career from 1957 to 1990. During his 33 years of service, he made significant contributions to U.S. Cavalry and Armor Force. His leadership assignments included First Sergeant H Troop, 17th Cavalry, 23rd Infantry Division, First Sergeant of A Troop 3-17 Air Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam, CSM of 2nd Squadron, Eaglehorse, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, CSM of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse), CSM 7th Army Training Command, Commandant of the First Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox.

CSM Stephens' career was highlighted by his time with the 11 th ACR, Blackhorse, in Fulda, Germany, where he served as the senior enlisted advisor for the Regimental Commanders Saint, Sunell and Crow and his time as the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Armor, Brown, Tait, and Foley, at Fort Knox. CSM Stephens and his fellow cavalry troopers served at the height of the Cold War in the 1970s, protecting our nation's freedom by standing watch over the Fulda Gap. They never blinked.

CSM Stephens' awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star with OLC, Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, Army Commendation Medal with OLC and Combat Infantry Badge. Post-retirement, CSM Stephens was awarded the Order of Saint George Gold Medallion in 1998. The Gold Medallion is the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association's highest recognition of those who continue to advance the Armored Force after leaving service. In 2022, he was enshrined in the Major General Adna R. Chafee Jr. Award Program. This is an annual award recognizing the finest leaders who have made long-lasting contributions within the Armored Force. This is the highest honor presented on behalf of all Armor and Cavalry Soldiers past and present, designating the awardees as Legends of Armor. His portrait and biography hang in Patton Hall in Fort Moore, Georgia, among our nation's greatest Armor and Cavalry historical leaders.

CSM Stephens continued to provide counsel and mentorship to many officers and noncommissioned officers throughout his retirement years. His impact crossed generations of leaders, with a few still serving in active duty 34 years after retirement.

You could say that he never stopped serving our nation.

John applied the same passion he gave to his beloved nation and soldiers to his other interests in life, including golf, coin collecting and the outdoors. He took up golf in 1965 and quickly fell in love with the game. His talents and dedication enabled him to reach a near-scratch status in the 1970s and he made the All-Army Golf Team while serving as the CSM of the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He shared a love for hunting and fishing with his sons throughout his life. After serving in Vietnam, he was assigned as the senior enlisted advisor to Murray State University ROTC, The Racer Battalion. During this assignment, he could fish with his young boys on Kentucky Lake. He would tell stories of watching little Johnny and Billy catching big Kentucky Crappie Slabs and wondering who would win. He also developed a passion for coin collecting in the 1970s. As he sharpened his numismatic skills, he developed close friendships throughout Europe and the U.S. He was known for his early American copper collection and, according to a prominent U.S. Dealer, had amassed one of the top five bust-half collections in the nation.

Although John had many passions, none were as important to him as his family. He did an amazing job of balancing his military responsibilities and raising his sons by himself throughout their teenage years at Fort Knox. So many of the same leadership qualities that benefited the officers and NCOs he served with gave John and Bill an incredible head start in life. He always had a sixth sense of knowing when to get involved or when to stand back and watch his sons stumble and develop on their own.

He always knew when John and Bill needed a hand on their back or a boot up their rear. He had the same love and passion across his seven grandsons. Baseball was by far John's favorite sport and he was blessed with his own team of nine boys – two sons and seven grandsons. Papaw Stephens was a great life coach to all.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Richard Stephens; his mother, Mable Glenn Harris; his sister, Sara "Sally" Bruntz; and his brother, Richard "Dickie" Stephens.

Survivors include his two sons, John (Donna) and Bill (Cindy); his seven loving grandsons, Tyler, Blake, Grant, Jacob, Colin, Zachary and Jack.

A celebration of life is planned for the main post chapel in Fort Knox. A specific date in the near future will be announced soon. Burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery, with the actual date to be announced in the coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider donating to the Blackhorse General Scholarship Fund in memory of CSM Stephens, blackhorse.org/donate/. The fund was established to help educate the children of Blackhorse Troopers killed in action or incapacitated by wounds and later expanded to assist all Blackhorse children. We can't think of a better way to honor CSM Stephens than to give to the Blackhorse Scholarship Fund and help educate the sons and daughters of the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. The Stephens Family will match every donated dollar to the Blackhorse Fund to create a separate donation to the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association's Scholarship Fund. The impact of your donation will be felt across the U.S. Cavalry and Armored Force.

Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home is caring for John and his family.