During the Korean War, Capt. Stephenson was company commander of an early integrated unit. He received the Silver Star in 1952 for his actions during the Battle of Triangle Hill. According to his award citation, he voluntarily ran a telephone line despite intense enemy fire and Òreorganized a section of machine guns from his company, moving from foxhole to foxhole encouraging and assisting his men.Ó

Despite being wounded, he helped move more seriously injured soldiers to safety. He also Òchecked all defensive machine gun positions before he allowed himself to leave his position on this hill.Ó