Editor’s note. The Reflector spoke with Richmonder Stacie Stufflebeam recently about her three sons serving as Lone Soldiers with the IDF. Several other Richmond families also have Lone Soldier sons involved in the War With Hamas. Future Reflectors will have information on them.
There are approximately 7,000 Lone Soldiers in Israel at the present time and three of them are on the minds and constant thoughts of Richmonders Stacie and Todd Stufflebeam 24/7.
Their sons, ages 24, 27 and 29, are reservists in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and their lives instantly changed on Oct. 7.
As one might expect, they have spent many tense days and nights since that tragic day joining other Lone Soldier families around the world.
As Stacie explained to the Reflector in early December, one son, a special forces reservist, called around 4 a.m. that morning to convey the terrible news and report he had been called up for duty.
Within hours, two other calls came in from their other sons relating the news and their military status. . One son living in Miami, was soon planning to board a plane for Israel.
While they are not on active duty status, as reservists they can still be called to active duty at any time. This often has been the situation since Oct. 7.
About 300,000 reservists were called up by the IDF on Oct. 7.
“Keeping in touch with my kids and hearing from them regularly has been tough,” Stacie noted. “It could be several days often.”
She explained, “For one of my sons, this is his second war with the IDF. He served as an active duty Soldier in Operation Protective Edge.”
“As reservists, they get to keep their phones but when they are about to embark on a mission they call to tell us they will not have their phones some period of time, but cannot provide many details.”
Staci added in this December interview, “We have irregular contact. One of my kids, I have not heard from in quite awhile.”
She explained that often What’s App messages are not read for several days, which can be alarming.
“It’s always amazing to talk to them and hear from them and how they are doing. Almost always, they all sound and look exhaustive.”
She shared they also get video calls sometimes. “None of my kids are in Gaza, so that makes a difference sometimes. They do get occasional days off and we do hear from them during that time.”
At the same, when she hears or learns of IDF casualties there is much uncertainly or anxiety. “It’s stressful when we can’t reach them.”
Why are they Lone Soldiers?
“This is a question we are asked often, “Stacie said.
“They grew up in a small Jewish community in Indianapolis … a majority of their childhood,” she explained. “They were influenced by their Israeli teachers. They learned to know how it is purposeful to grow up being Jewish. And, of course, we are a Zionist family. They believe it’s their duty to help to defend Israel.”
Growing up, they experienced class trips to Israel as well youth group trips during the summers.
Stacie has ample knowledge of Lone Soldiers since she is Executive Director of The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation.
According to The Foundation, a Lone Soldier refers to an individual serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) without family support in Israel.
Lone Soldiers have regular support from many Israeli families while on active duty in the IDF. Reservists may not have the same regular support since they are older with jobs and apartments etc. Often they have fewer support needs or concerns.
When her boys were on active duty several years back, they had lots of support according to Stacie.
“My kids have all been very fortunate to have an adoptive family while they were serving. They are still very close and keep in touch with their families. Since they have jobs and are reservists, it was not the same support as when they had served earlier.”
She was fortunate to visit with her sons in November in Israel after taking part in a special Mother to Mother Unity Mission to Israel.
The trip was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Eighty mothers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and South Africa, including 20 mothers of Lone Soldiers and 10 Israeli mothers took part in the six-day experience.
Stacie said, “It was a very powerful experience being on the Mission. We met with survivors of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, family members of hostages being held by Hamas and also many Lone Soldiers.”
Some more photos from the Momentum trip for 80 mothers.
She added, “We cooked for Lone Soldiers, picked sweet potatoes and much more.”
For more information on Lone Soldiers, visit:
