LTC Steven G. Hopper was nominated by Tricia Schuler, Program Manager of The United through Reading® Military Program.

Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. Hopper, G8, 25th Infantry Division (Schofield Barracks, Oahu, HI) volunteered to serve as the Coordinator/Command Liaison for the United Through Reading Military Program while LTC Hopper was deployed in Tikrit, Iraq.

This program was designed to help parents and other family members stay in touch with their children during deployments through reading children’s storybooks aloud with them on DVD. All of this effort was done as collateral duty. Not only was LTC Hopper running the program at Camp Speicher, but he was instrumental in working with the Chaplain cell to expand the program to 3 FOB sites in Iraq (Mosul, Balad, and Kirkuk). After receiving word in April, 2007 that all Army Units currently deployed in Iraq would be extended to 15 months of deployment, the program became even more important to LTC Hopper, who has a 2 year old son of his own.

United Through Reading® is truly a morale booster for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and their families, and provides a very significant way for children to stay connected to their deployed parent while inspiring the love of reading. LTC Hopper’s contribution to the United Through Reading® program as the Active Duty Coordinator and as Command Liaison is a significant one for both the soldiers and their families. His countless hours of volunteer work goes “Above and Beyond” the call of duty.