Tulsa World: State man killed in Iraq

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

State man killed in Iraq
A bomb attack claims the State Department employee, of Guthrie.

DEVOTED
Steven Lee Farley: He was regarded by friends as a man whose personality oozed patriotism.

By AND JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 6/25/2008 2:11 AM
Last Modified: 6/25/2008 2:22 AM

Heroes of Oklahoma: View a memorial to the Oklahomans who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. www.tulsaworld.com/heroesofok

A bomb attack claims the State Department employee, of Guthrie.

GUTHRIE — Steven Lee Farley possessed a can-do attitude and a personality that oozed patriotism, friends in his hometown said Tuesday.

"There wasn't anything you could ask him to do for this community that he wasn't on the front lines to try to help," Guthrie Mayor Chuck Burtcher said in a telephone interview. "He was the kind of guy that when he walked into a crowd, he had this magnetic personality. He pulled you to him, and you wanted to know what he was about."

A State Department employee, Farley was one of four Americans who died Tuesday when a bomb struck a district council building in Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City. He was 57.

U.S. troops captured a suspect who tested positive for explosive residue after fleeing the scene.

In a statement, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice paid tribute to Farley and called the attack that killed him a "terrible reminder" of the dangers employees face daily in advancing critical foreign policy goals for the U.S.

"Steven Farley's devotion to public service was reflected in his many years of duty in the United States Navy Reserve, and to his home town of Guthrie, Oklahoma," Rice said.

"Along with thousands of

other citizen-patriots, he volunteered to serve in Iraq, joining the State Department in April 2007."

She said Farley served with distinction on the staff of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific.

"He was one of the hundreds of dedicated men and women serving on Provincial Reconstruction Teams, helping the citizens of Iraq to rebuild and revitalize their local governments after years of Saddam's tyranny," Rice said.

She expressed gratitude and sympathy to Farley's wife, Donna Farley, and other members of his family.

U.S. officials were not certain why the attack occurred.

"It is unclear to us whether the American officials, including Mr. Farley, were the target of this, or whether it was simply targeting a building that is associated with the local government and institutions there in Sadr City," said State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey.

Farley may have been the first person associated with a Provincial Reconstruction Team to be killed in Iraq, Casey said.

While he was not a foreign service officer, Casey said, Farley was one of the employees hired directly because of his expertise.

"He was an expert in governance issues," he said, adding that was one of the reasons he would have been visiting the town council.

A member of the Navy Reserve for more than 20 years, Farley was mobilized shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

He volunteered to serve in Iraq by joining the State Department.

Farley had a military demeanor that put people at ease, Burtcher said.

"You can be straight-laced, but you can also know how to handle people," he said. "That's the kind of people who made our best officers. Steve was that way."

Farley was on the board of directors of the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce, Burtcher said.

"Not only did he serve our country well, but he served our country bravely," he said. " . . . If you had an engagement and you needed somebody to speak for the American Legion, Steve would put that uniform on and come in there and make you proud that he was serving us."

Retired Air Force Col. George Watts said he had a military kinship with Farley.

Farley beamed last winter when he brought to Guthrie and other Oklahoma cities a group of Iraqi leaders from the Baghdad area, Watts said. While in the Sooner State, the Iraqis visited with municipal leaders to learn about democracy and how to govern a small American city, Watts said.

"He was very proud of what he was doing, and we were very proud of him, too," Watts said in a telephone interview.

"He thought that what we as a nation were doing in Baghdad was absolutely correct, that it would have a long-term impact for America in the Middle East. He believed in democracy and freedom and felt that they were really making some excellent progress with leadership and citizens in Baghdad."

Farley owned a Guthrie-based cleaning service.

A Republican, he ran unsuccessfully in 2004 for the District 31 House of Representatives seat.

A graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, Farley served in the Army in Vietnam and was commissioned in the Navy, attaining the rank of captain before retiring.

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

Rhett Morgan 581-8395, Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
, jim.myers@tulsaworld.com By AND JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

9 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment RockBoston, (6/25/2008 11:58:55 AM) This man wanted to be able to serve this country any way he could. He did just that, thank you sir for your sacrifce.
	Report Comment msT., (6/25/2008 3:21:11 PM) Let me ask that all who care to take the time to comment... remember that Steve is loved by many and will be greatly missed. To read words such as "Seymour Hicks" makes me wonder how truly "American" such a person can be. Yes, Steve reaped what he had sown every day of his life. You would be able to see this if you could see him with his wonderful family. Seeing the great job that he and Donna have done together raising their sons. Pictures on TV cannot adequately express that. He truly exuded happiness and love, respect and kindness. He took his role being an American to great lengths, and believed that it was possible to carry that role into another country and share his knowledge with people that needed assistance. I'm saddened and sorrowful that, that role literally cost him his life. I will greatly miss my dear, fun "Uncle Steve"...and yes, we do "reap what we sow"...as there is proof by the size of the garden of loved ones that he has left behind.
	Report Comment RockBoston, (6/25/2008 3:35:35 PM) msT I am sorry for your loss. I am marine veteran of Iraq and Afgan war fronts. I know your uncle was doing what he wanted to do. Please don't allow anyone hear to take away what your feeling now. Most of these people are very narrow minded and hatefull. take time to mourn with your family, don't worry about this rabble. Take care.
	Report Comment DA, (6/25/2008 4:02:19 PM) msT I am an Army Veteran, and am very sorry for you loss. It takes a great deal of character to do what your uncle was doing over there. He seems like he was an honorable man, whom loved America and most of all loved his family.
	Report Comment Mrs. BAI, (6/27/2008 9:39:14 PM) It is amazing the lack of intelligience "Seymour Hicks" seems to posess! I am going to hope to God you are not an American because what a shame to have evil, rotten people as yourself. Steve was my uncle as well and you can express your opinions all you want but unless you know this man (which thank God you didn't-you don't deserve it) do not pass judgement. Sure, there are many people living in our country that do not support what those men and women are doing in Iraq, but my uncle was a great man. Weird-wonder why he never went to jail-ya know, since he was an accessory to murder and armed robbery. What an idiot!!! You do not deserve to be an American.
	Report Comment america2, (7/1/2008 3:49:51 PM) As I said before-there are many people that do not agree with what we are doing in Iraq, but you can still show a little respect for the family. They are still human beings who lost a family member whether it was overseas or in a car accident. They did not make his decisions for him. Yes, bombs have been dropped on Iraqi middle schools. Planes flew through the World Trade Center too! Innocent people have died in our country as well. Crimes have been committed by Americans just as well as other countries. Its funny. People want to preach about what is wrong with this country but yet, live the freedom it provides. There are, without a doubt, American soldiers who have made many terrible mistakes, but it should not give the majority of the others, who truly love their country, the same kind of terrible treatment. And as I said before, if you knew this man-disregarding his terrible fate-you would know and understand that he was truly a genuine, Godly man, who was only trying to restore peace and had the best intentions. BUT-by your words I can see how narrow minded you are and I would not expect you to see that.. I hope you get your chance to go to Canada or the Netherlands very soon where you can live peacefully...
	Report Comment Mrs. BAI, (7/2/2008 10:46:41 PM) There is nothing to say to a narrow-minded person as yourself to know what a great man he was because you did not know him. Think what you want-write what you want-you have that freedom. My uncle did not bombb any civilian installations and was truly there because he wanted to help the people. You can say what you want and feel what you want. Those who knew him know. The Iraqi leaders of Sadr City he brought home with him in Feb. knew that too. We have received hundreds of calls and emails from his Iraqi friends over his loss and say they will continue to try and restore peace. I am sure you have read all of this though and know. You have your opinions. You have your opinions of what you have seen in the press and on :followthemoney and have made an opinion on a stranger. I am glad you could do that for yourself. I, on the other hand, do not judge others by what I have read or seen or heard (especially someone I have never met). I always look for the good in others and get to know a person before I make a judement call. My uncle Steven taught me that!!!
	Report Comment msT., (7/3/2008 3:42:14 PM) Mr. Hicks...You are truly more to be pittied than censored.
	Report Comment america2, (7/5/2008 10:58:21 PM) For all I know my uncle could have disagreed with this war. His "humanitarian deed" was that he wanted to go help these people recover from this devestation and establish a democracy. He was not forced to go there-he chose it!! You do not derserve another response from me. Just by reading your stupidity I see how intelligent and informative my uncle was on what was happening there and how people as yourself believe everything they read. Now understand for the last time. I know America has made many, many mistakes in this war. He was not there to fight or kill!! Please open your mind. He was not supporting this war. I think that is what you don't get. I feel sorry for you... Write the reponse you want. You will be wasting your time. Goodbye

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.