Stephens Awarded Belgium's Knights Order of the Crown

This article was originally published in the Feb. 26, 2020 issue of the Independent News. Reid Stephens passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020 at the age of 96. Stephens was a longtime Bourbon resident and World War II veteran. He was honored by the Kingdom of Belgium earlier this year for his heroics during the Battle of the Bulge. Stephens was honored at a Veterans Day 2019 assembly at Bourbon High School. 

Bourbon resident and World War II veteran Reid Stephens was awarded the Knights Order of the Crown from the Kingdom of Belgium on Friday at a ceremony at Bourbon High School.

Stephens, 96, was a machine gunner with the 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion of the 7th Armored Division.

Stephens fought with his fellow soldiers to hold back a German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge. The Battle of the Bulge was Germany’s final offensive campaign during World War Ii, lasting more than a month.

Dignitaries from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany were on hand for the ceremony.

Gen. Georges Franchomme, military attache at the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C., honored Stephens.

Stephens and others in his platoon stayed back to provide rearguard security. Other members of his battalion withdrew, which led to him being taken as a prisoner of war.

Stephens was honored by Belgium at BHS on Veterans Day. 

BHS teacher JD Huitt, who provided opening and closing remarks, said at the same time Stephens’ story was being shared to students here, it also was making its way through the Belgian government.

“His story of heroism and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds made it all the way to the king of Belgium, which is why we are here today,” Huitt said. 

Following the Veterans Day ceremony, notification was sent out that Belgium’s king, Phillippe, had signed a decree authorizing that Stephens be awarded the Knights Order of the Crown. This is one of Belgium’s highest honors.

Stephens’ family and members of American Legion Post 81 were present to witness the ceremony. Huitt asked students in the closing remarks to remember what they had seen and learn from Stephens’ life.

“One of the qualities that stands out when you look at Reid’s life is that of hard work” Huitt said. “One of the common things that I’ve heard many veterans say is that they were just doing a job that had to be done. And yet, it is not a stretch to say that they changed the world. So if you want to change the world, go do the job set before you and do it well.”

Huitt also asked students to learn about the quality of self-sacrifice.

“In the action of staying behind and helping to hold off the onslaught of the German attack, Reid subjugated his own well being so that others might go on and continue the fight,” he said. “We live in a very inwardly focused culture. In a world obsessed with likes and views and selfies, it would do us well to think about how we can serve others and make the greater world a better place.”

Huitt asked that students remember Stephens’ perseverance. Stephens lost his brother outside the city of Reims, friends died in combat and he spent the last part of the war as a prisoner of the Third Reich. 

“There is no one in this room that will ever endure what this man endured,” Huitt said. “And yet, that doesn’t mean that we won’t experience some degree of hardship or suffering. Throughout life, you will have challenges. Life will threaten to burden and crush you, but you can get through it. We know that this is possible because Reid has proven it. So lean on his life experience and know that you can persevere.

Huitt said that Stephens’ faith brings all of his qualities together.

“One of the things that Reid always insists and that he would want me to express is that it was the hand of God that protected and sustained him during those difficult months in Europe and that has brought him to where he was today. That doesn’t mean that it has been easy, but it has been with purpose.”