Heather Cartagena

Wow. What a privilege to have known such an incredible man! From his days as a grade school and high school heartthrob, athlete, and jokester, to his devotion and love as a father and his commitment and dedication as an experienced soldier and skilled pilot.

Who doesn’t remember that wonderful smile, the willingness to help a friend, and the love and pride he had for his children? To see that he affected so many people is amazing, although I’m not surprised. In one day, 440+ people have found their way here to share their memories and grieve, and it comforts me to see through your comments that he was loved and cherished by everyone he encountered; that the kindness, integrity, and vivacity at his core was never corrupted, regardless of the struggles he went through, and that he really made an impact in so many people’s lives – as a protector of our freedoms, as a colleague, as a father, son, brother, cousin, uncle, husband, and friend. I can only hope that I might inspire a similar feeling in those I meet in my journey!

I knew Steve since about birth - I can’t remember not knowing him. We met at Sunday school as little kids. His family lived a few blocks away from mine. Steve became good friends with my older brother Kevin Jensen (who is also no longer with us), and I became best buds with his cousin Jeanette Fieldduring the year she came to live with his family when Steve and I were freshmen at AVHS. I just remember the four of us, sometimes with Karrie Kozar Williams, cruising around in my brother’s old Dodge Dart getting into mischief… I vaguely recall something to do with water balloons :D Kevin was always hurrying to get Steve and Jeanette home before curfew. The penalty for missing curfew was pretty stiff – I think it was one day of grounding for every minute they were late!

After my brother graduated and Jeanette moved back to Utah, I still saw Steve at church most Sundays. Like every other girl on Earth, I had a secret crush on him and had to hide my jealousy when he became the first boy my friend ever kissed. I’ll always remember that easygoing way about him and how even though he was very popular in H.S, he was never stuck-up or conceited about it and easily made friends with just about everyone. Jeanette and I are still best buds after 20+ years, and a lot of Steve’s many siblings are friends with my many siblings, so I’ve stayed somewhat in touch through our families – brothers, sisters, and cousins. I was glad to find Steve on facebook two years ago and get reconnected. I knew he was overseas a lot, but had no idea it was 12 deployments. I knew he was a career soldier and later became a pilot, but had no idea how decorated a soldier he was. But then again, it wasn’t like him to brag.

In June 1996, I was flipping through the current issue of Vanity Fair when suddenly a picture of Steve was smiling back at me from the pages! There was a story about U.S. troops deployed abroad with photos of several soldiers, including Steve. It was so nice to see that he was still smiling even while in harm’s way. I held on to that issue. I wasn’t sure if he had ever seen it and thought I might give it to him one day. I’ve always kept that magazine through various moves and closet cleanings. And, like so many of you, I’ll always remember the image of his smile…