Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Swoop on December 05, 2005, 04:26:02 AM

Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Swoop on December 05, 2005, 04:26:02 AM
Sgt. Andy A. Stevens
2nd Battalion
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
AKA Warpig

Was killed last thursday outside Falluja by a roadside bomb.


Andy was offered a 3-year tour at the Training Center in Orlando to continue development of the USMC version of OFP.  He chose instead a second tour in Iraq.


First met Andy online when OFP came out.  Squad CO, charming fella, not a lot to say but he talk did you listened.  I've been inactive in OFP for a long time but still kept in touch with Andy regularly.  I used to get popups from yahoo messenger from field tents in Iraq. Just last year took delivery of a copy of VBS1 and sent it on to Wisconsin for him cos you can't buy it in the States.

Gonna miss him.


(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-9/48257/20029211530-0-Swoop.gif)
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: SFRT - Frenchy on December 05, 2005, 05:27:40 AM
:(
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Dinger on December 05, 2005, 05:59:42 AM
Just heard the news myself.
I'm stunned too.
I'll miss him.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Curval on December 05, 2005, 07:29:10 AM
Sorry to hear this Swoop.
:(
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Dinger on December 05, 2005, 07:49:17 AM
I'm still stunned.

on the "VBS order" -- that was before CTcorp offered it for sale to individuals. Technically, you weren't supposed to do that Swoop.
This was all the more impressive since when he wasn't deployed, Andy was one of the main guys running the USMC VBS labs -- in other words, he shelled out $1000 for a personal copy of what he used every day at work. During his first deployment, he ordered some superexpensive alienware laptop so he could play.

He was an astonishing guy. My "boss" elsewhere comments that he "helped us out". That help wasn't so much technical as enthusiasm. As I found out, he was so eager about everything related to VBS that if I made to him a passing mention about something I was fiddling around with, a few days later we would hear through the "official path" that "the marines were very eager to have" what I was working on, and concern that I hadn't told the proper channels about this stuff. So for the last year and a half, or so, I had to maintain some distance. He was a great advocate for training using PC-based COTS software, and as such an agitator, he was great help, even if I couldn't work with him as close as I'd have liked. He had a vision of using video games to save lives, and he was the example we would use on how economical these systems are. I would not be surprised to find out that much of the USMC's implementation of VBS derives directly from Andy's work. His passion and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.

He had a greater passion, that of being a Marine.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Ripsnort on December 05, 2005, 08:14:36 AM
Sorry to hear that Swoop. :(
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: detch01 on December 05, 2005, 09:40:28 AM
Sorry to hear that Swoop :( .



asw
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Seagoon on December 05, 2005, 10:22:41 AM
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/13321363.htm
http://www.wqow.com/news/articles/article_5410.shtml

Sorry to hear the news Swoop.

Farewell to a dedicated man, may his death not be in vain.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Hangtime on December 05, 2005, 10:47:48 AM
Terrible news. My condolences to all his life touched. Hope the rest of us inherit his resolve.

Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Maverick on December 05, 2005, 11:25:04 AM
Rest in Peace Marine.  Semper Fi.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Sikboy on December 05, 2005, 11:25:09 AM
My condolences and prayers to his friends and family.

My father was a Navy man, and he had little use for Marines. I grew up with this prejudice as well. While I was in the Navy though I had the privlege of serving with the Marines and working side by side with them. Throughout all of my travels and experiences both in and out of the Navy I've known no finer men than the U.S. Marines I served with.



-Sik
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Nefarious on December 05, 2005, 11:33:32 AM
Sorry to hear that Swoop...
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Suave on December 05, 2005, 11:49:08 AM
Sad news indeed. At least he was doing what he loved. Wonder if I ever met him in ofp.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Scherf on December 05, 2005, 12:19:04 PM
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: mauser on December 05, 2005, 12:47:43 PM
Condolences to you and Sgt. Stevens' family and other friends.  We are diminished.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: nirvana on December 05, 2005, 05:20:49 PM
Always hard to hear.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Gunslinger on December 05, 2005, 05:22:04 PM
He sounds like a great guy and a great Marine.  

"If the Army and the Navy ever looked on Heaven's scnenes,
they would find the streets are guarded by United States Marines"
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: midnight Target on December 05, 2005, 05:24:54 PM
Truly a loss for his family, his friends and our Country. to him.
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Eagler on December 05, 2005, 05:35:37 PM
sorry for your loss
Peace to his family and friends
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: MotleyCH on December 05, 2005, 06:18:20 PM
<>  Sgt. Andy A. Stevens

 ( Prayers sent to family and freinds )
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: rpm on December 05, 2005, 07:21:50 PM
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Yeager on December 05, 2005, 08:40:19 PM
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: RedDg on December 05, 2005, 08:46:37 PM
<>
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: NUKE on December 05, 2005, 09:25:13 PM
Very sorry to hear this Swoop and Dinger.

He sounds like a great man. I thank God for people like Sgt. Andy A. Stevens.

Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Vulcan on December 06, 2005, 02:25:31 AM
Sometimes real life sucks :(
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Heater on December 06, 2005, 05:58:54 AM
Sorry to here this...:(  it realy sucks!
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: USHilDvl on December 06, 2005, 12:22:33 PM
<> Sgt. Stevens

:(
Title: Re: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Sakai on December 06, 2005, 01:20:03 PM
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Lazerr on December 06, 2005, 08:54:38 PM
Wow, this is very sad.

His father is actually a substitute teacher in the school district I used to attend.

From Tomah, WI correct?

Best wishes to his family.:(

Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: EagleEyes on December 07, 2005, 12:33:05 AM
<>

Semper Fi!

Sorry to hear Swoop!  My thoughts and prayers are with his family, as well as all the other familys who have someone serving overseas!



:(



Egle31


PROUD AMERICAN!
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Swoop on December 07, 2005, 04:49:12 AM
Thanks for the kind words, I'm sure the family would appreciate the response that's been seen on this and various other forums.


For anyone who never knew Andy.......well you missed out.  Frankly, I never met a more capable soldier who was as modest as Andy.  And more than that, he cared about the people he knew, always kept in touch, would always put himself out for a friend.

And I'm proud to have called him my friend.

(http://www.legacy.com/images/FallenSoldiers/Photos/ANDY_A_STEVENS_15836977.jpg)




This was a man to whom Semper Fi were not just words.


For anyone wishing to leave condolences for the family, the Washington Post has put up a guest book.  link (http://www.legacy.com/washingtonpost/Guestbook.asp?Page=Index&PersonID=15836977)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-9/48257/20029211530-0-Swoop.gif)

P.S.  Pls excuse the typos and horrid grammar of the original post that can't be edited, I was kinda choked up at the time.  Should read "when he did talk you listened".
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: SirLoin on December 07, 2005, 05:08:33 AM
I'm sorry you lost a good friend Swoop.

Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: x0847Marine on December 07, 2005, 07:40:19 AM
RIP brother
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: Hajo on December 07, 2005, 06:04:33 PM
Carry on Marine!
Title: Friend of mine killed in Iraq
Post by: ravells on December 07, 2005, 06:07:01 PM
Poor bloke.

I'm sorry for his family's loss and all he has left behind.

Ravs.