POST FALLS — Stephen Godfrey grew up Catholic. He attended Sunday mass with his mother, contributed money to the weekly collection and studied the catechism.

So when he joined the Army at age 17, he was ready for whatever it could throw at him.

“Military was just second nature,” Godfrey said. "I was used to being told what to do without asking questions, so when I went into the military, I thrived.”

He paid attention to detail and did more than most. He polished his boots until they shined. He pressed his military dress until it was crisp and perfect. 

“There’s opportunity for you to stand out and be that person other people look up to as well,” the Post Falls man said. “It was a huge drive for me to set an example.”

Even off post, Godfrey was “all about setting the right example and doing the right thing.”

“I like the purpose of the military,” he said. “I liked the up-tempo. There’s always something going on. You’re always doing something.”

The military drilled integrity into him.

“They drive that home,” the 60-year-old said. “I carry that over into life today and it’s done me well.”

All told, Godfrey served more than 26 years of active duty and more than 30 including his time as a reserve. 

Godfrey retired from the military in 2016 and moved to Post Falls, where he and his wife love the four seasons.

“This is what I call God’s country,” he said.

Today, he is the Second Vice Commander of the Post Falls American Legion Post 143. His military roots keep him grounded.

“I wanted to be around military background people. It’s just a different aura,” Godfrey said.

Godfrey joined the Army in 1982 and served until 1994. He had tours of duty in Iraq, serving on a Black Hawk helicopter.

He recalled when he went to the Gulf War, he was given the option to be a cook or a door gunner on a Black Hawk.

“I’ll be the door gunner,” he said. 

When he got there, Operation Desert Storm had just started and was a quick success. 

"There’s wasn’t a ground war going on. Ours was more of peace-keeping mission,” he said.  “When we moved into Iraq, two days later the war was over."

Still, it was an experience that stayed with him.

"I went there all gung ho," Godfrey said.

He recalled thinking he would wear a bandana and grow a beard.

“The first time I had a bandana on my head, First Sergeant came around the corner, ‘Get that off your head. Get a haircut,'” Godfrey said, laughing. “The expectation of war wasn’t what I thought it was going to be."

In 2002, missing military life, he joined the Seabees as a reserve, but it didn't work out, so he joined the Army Reserves for two years, then returned to full-time active duty.

He recalled being assigned to pick up the bodies of American service members killed in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. His duty was to be sure their bodies were shipped back to the United States.

Doing that, Godfrey said, seeing the price paid by those in the military, changed his life.

“It’s just huge to know the ultimate sacrifice that guys have given their lives,” he said. ”To be a part of their journey to get them back home to loved ones is huge.”

He has not forgotten the fallen.

Friday morning, he helped set up flags at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls for Memorial Day. 

“It’s important,”’ he said.