Stephen Mark Badger

Major Stephen Mark Badger (December 13, 1957-October 27, 1995) was an United States Army officer assigned to the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by William Kreutzer, Jr. while he and his unit were preparing for their morning run on October 27, 1995. [cite news |first=Ronald |last=Smothers |title=Sniper Kills 1, Wounds 18 at Army Base |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E5DB1F39F93BA15753C1A963958260 |work=New York Times |date=1995-10-28 ]

Biography

Badger was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 13, 1957. He joined the JROTC program at Highland High School and later served in the National Guard. He continued in the ROTC program at Brigham Young University, graduating as a 2nd Lt. in 1985. He was a 10-year veteran of the United States Army. [cite news |title=Death: Stephen M. Badger (obituary) |work=Deseret Morning News |date=1995-11-01 |page=A11 ]

Marriage and children

Badger's first marriage, to Nancy Peck, ended in divorce. He was married a second time to Diane Wallace Badger in 1993. The couple had a total of eight children between them. [cite news |first=Ronald |last=Smothers |title=Paratroopers Seek Refuge in the Mundane |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6D81F3DF93AA15753C1A963958260 |work=New York Times |date=2005-10-29 ]

Death and afterward

At the time of his death, he held the rank of captain in the United States Army. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of major following his death. He is buried in Holden, Utah.

Sergeant William Kreutzer, Jr. was quickly apprehended and determined to have been the sniper. Kreutzer was found guilty by a military court and sentenced to death. His death sentence was commuted to life by the Military Court of Appeals. He will be retried in late 2008.

References