Gordon Stone

Colonel Gordon Lee Stone passed away peacefully Sunday, August 28, 2016 at the age of 85 in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.
Gordon was born on August 19, 1931 in Sparta, TN.  He was the son of the late Ridley Roscoe Stone and Fannie Lou Stone.   Gordon was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Sofia C. Stone, 1 sister and 1 brother; survived by 4 children: Jeannie Hurlbert, Jayne Kerns, Joanie McCann, Jonathan Stone; 13 grandchildren and 1 sister.  He was a descendant of Brevet Lieutenant Steuart of the 17th Tennessee Regiment, Confederate Army.
 
Colonel Stone began his Army career in 1949 with the Tennessee Army National Guard, being promoted to First Sergeant.   In 1956 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant as an Armor Officer assigned to Fort Hood, TX.     From there he was transferred to Germany as a Cavalry Scout Platoon leader.  Promoted to Captain and assumed command of a Tank Company.   Transferred to Air Cavalry and became a helicopter pilot.   He was deployed to Vietnam in 1964-65 and again in 1967-68 as Commander A Troop, 1/9th Air Cav, 1st Cavalry Division.   Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry.   Colonel Stone attended the National War College and NATO Defense College.  He was promoted to Colonel and moved to NATO AFSOUTH Headquarters, Naples, Italy as Chief Special Weapons, Europe, retiring in 1986.
 
Throughout his career he received many awards and decorations to include:     The Silver Star, The Bronze Star with Oakleaf Cluster, The Legion of Merit, 42 Distinguished Flying Crosses and The Purple Heart
 
Colonel Stone’s viewing will be held 6 to 9pm on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home, 4645 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia, SC 29229.  (803) 788-3334
 
The family will receive visitors at 11 am and a funeral mass will be held at 12 pm on Friday, September 2, 2016 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 100 Polo Rd, Columbia, SC.

Burial with full military honors will follow the mass at 1pm in Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Military Officers Association of America, MOAA Scholarship Fund, c/o Tony Prince, 1168 Yorkshire Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.  (703) 304-7398
Please sign the online guest book at http://www.kornegayandmoseley.com/
 
 

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