Steve Van Horn graduated from Botkins High School in 1986. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduation because, according to his mother, “You either get a job and move out of the house, or go into the service.” A tour aboard the U.S.S. Kennedy caused him to look for a more exciting career path. He met and began to admire members of a detachment of U.S. Navy SEALS who were aboard the Kennedy. Van Horn applied for, was accepted and completed the arduous BUD/S training in 1992 for Navy SEALS.
He originally served with SEAL team 2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was later selected for the prestigious, secretive SEAL Team 6. In the latter part of his career, Van Horn served as a command Master Chief for SEAL team 6. He retired in December 2016 after 30 years of service. As an E-9, Master Chief Van Horn achieved the highest enlisted rank attainable.
U.S. Navy SEAL Master Chief Steve Van Horn received the Legion of Merit award with a Valor Device in a ceremony held in 2009. The award was presented to Van Horn at a ceremony in Virginia Beach by Navy Admiral Eric Olson. He was the commander of the U.S. Special Forces Command.
The Legion of Merit decoration earned by Master Chief Van Horn is made for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services.” It is one of only two decorations designed to be worn around the neck. The other is the Medal of Honor. It is rarely given with the Valor device or Combat V, according to Admiral Olson. Other recipients of the award include World War II’s most decorated hero, Audie Murphy, Marine Corps legend Chesty Puller, Army generals Alexander Haig and Norman Schwarzkopf and Admiral Hyman Rickover, the founder of the U.S. nuclear Navy.
Although the details of Van Horn’s mission remain classified, it was carried out in 2009. Admiral Olson commented in presenting the award that the mission and Master Chief Van Horn’s efforts “significantly impacted the military efforts of the United States.”
The Legion of Merit with valor device was in addition to many other citations for bravery. They include the Silver Star, 9 Bronze Stars with Valor device, and a separate Bronze Star with Valor device for extraordinary heroism. He has been given scores of awards or citations for numerous other missions conducted throughout the world.
The nature of a SEAL’s duties, especially during the War on Terror, involve repeated deployments to trouble spots around the globe. Master Chief Van Horn completed 14 missions to Afghanistan, 5 deployments to Iraq, 4 to Bosnia, 3 European theatre missions and 6 contingency or classified deployments. In connection with these missions, his units have received numerous prestigious Presidential Unit citations.
As a command Master Chief, the SEALs he helped train participated in the most high profile successes the Navy SEALS achieved.
The estimated 80 citations and awards Master Chief Van Horn received are by far the most ever earned by a Shelby County fighting man. By comparison Major General John Harmony of Sidney earned 14 over a 40 year career.
He was inducted into the Botkins High School Hall of Honor as a member of the initial class.