VA #Veteranoftheday – Steven Daugherty

Each day, the VA honors a special military veteran for their dedicated service on their blog, VAntage Point. Today’s featured military member is a veteran who was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and died serving his country. 

Steven Daugherty grew up in Barstow, California, where he attended Barstow Community College and earned his Associates Degree before enlisting in the Navy in 1991. 

Daugherty completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois and attended additional training at the Naval Technical Training Center Detachment at Fort Meade, Maryland and at Naval Intelligence in Pensacola, Florida. 

In 2004, Daugherty served at Naval Security Group Activity in Norfolk. He then reported to Navy Information Operation Command Tactical Communications System Special Warfare and served with Naval Special Warfare Group 2, where he provided intelligence support to the SEAL teams he worked with. 

On July 6th, 2007, during his second tour in Iraq, Daugherty was involved in combat operations near Baghdad when the vehicle he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device, ending his life. 

Daugherty was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” a Purple Heart, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon for his service.