Sergeant Stephens was a member of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while attacking the enemy north of Seoul towards Uijongbu, South Korea, on 27 September 1950.

Stephens was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.