Story last updated at 11:49 a.m. on April 7, 2005

By: By Tatia Harris "Stephen was loving, dependable and strong," Tiffany Kennedy told reporters at her Oak Ridge home Wednesday afternoon.

"No matter what he decided to do, he would always be a hero to me and the children."

Staff Sgt. Stephen Kennedy of Oak Ridge was killed in action Monday while on patrol near Balad Ruz, Iraq. On what would have been his 36th birthday, family members talked with several members of the media Wednesday about the man and his life.

"It's just hard for me to explain my feelings," Tiffany Kennedy said. "I'm just trying to get through it."

The staff sergeant was a member of Lenoir City's Company D, 1st Squadron, of the 278th Regimental Combat Team. An 11-year military veteran, Kennedy joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1998.

Since then, he had served with the Lenoir City unit and was assigned just over a year ago as one of the unit's full-time non-commissioned officers.

Additionally, Staff Sgt. Kennedy had four years prior service with the Marine Corps, where he participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

his week, Kennedy and another soldier were killed in fierce fighting that followed an attack on a mixed force of U.S. and Iraqi troops by hidden insurgents, according to the Associated Press.

Platoon Leader Lt. Dave Tiedeman told an embedded reporter from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, "The whole gunfight lasted a little more than four hours, and in the realm of gunfights that's an extremely long time."

Tiffany Kennedy said she was first notified of her husband's death Monday evening.

"My first thought was, 'Oh, God. Why Stephen?'," she said.

Kennedy is the father of four children. And his wife said the staff sergeant "loved his job, loved his country and loved his family."

Tiffany Kennedy said she and her husband kept in touch daily either by phone, e-mail or instant messaging. "I talked to him Sunday night about everyday family business and what was going on at the house," she said.

The staff sergeant's wife said Stephen Kennedy felt that going to Iraq was the right thing to do "because it was for his family and his country."

While Tiffany said being apart was difficult for her, she said she stood firmly behind Stephen's decisions.

"I couldn't be prouder of anyone in my whole entire life," she said. "I'm so proud of him."

Stephen Kennedy is from a military family. His father, Robert Kennedy Sr., is a 28-year Navy veteran who now lives in Florida.

"Stephen was a good-natured, fun-loving child who was always laughing," his dad said.

Stephen's mother Jo described her son as "determined with a strong will and character." She said Stephen joined the Marines when he was 18 years old, shortly after graduating from high school in Brimerton, Wash.

Regarding the Oak Ridge community's outpouring of support, Tiffany Kennedy noted, "Everyone's been great. We've received calls from all over and people are asking what we need.

"We appreciate it."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalized, but services are expected to be held in Lenoir City. Though the Kennedys have called Oak Ridge home for the past two years, they previously lived in Loudon County.

A memorial fund has been set up in Stephen Kennedy's honor. Donations may be made to: Stephen C. Kennedy Memorial Fund, c/o ORNL Federal Credit Union, PO Box 365, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0365.

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