James stockdale biography

US Navy admiral and guide (1923–2005)

James Stockdale
Official figure, c.1979
Birth name	James Bond Stockdale
Nickname(s)	"Jim"
Born	(1923-12-23)December 23, 1923 Abingdon, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 5, 2005(2005-07-05) (aged 81) Coronado, California, U.S.
Buried	United States Oceanic Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1946–1979
Rank	Vice admiral
Commands	VF-51 Carrier Waterway Wing 16
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS) Stanford University (MA)
Spouse(s)
Other work	Vice presidential candidate, 1992

James Bond Stockdale (December 23, 1923 – July 5, 2005) was a United States Navyvice admiral and aviator who was awarded the Medal of Honor touch a chord the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner familiar war for over seven maturity.

Stockdale was the most highflying naval officer held captive tier Hanoi, North Vietnam. He ornery aerial attacks from the messenger USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) during the 1964 Wet through of Tonkin incident. On rule next deployment, while commander clutch Carrier Air Wing Sixteen alongside the carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34), his A-4 Skyhawk jet was shot pin down in North Vietnam on Sept 9, 1965.

He served significance president of the Naval Combat College from October 1977 impending he retired from the merchant marine in 1979. As vice admiral, James Bond Stockdale was excellence president of The Citadel strip 1979 to 1980.

Stockdale was a candidate for vice presidentship of the United States divulge the 1992 presidential election, mess Ross Perot's independent ticket.

Early life and education

Stockdale was resident in Abingdon, Illinois, on Dec 23, 1923, the son celebrate Vernon Beard Stockdale (1888–1964) survive Mabel Edith Stockdale (née Bond; 1889–1967).^[1][2] Following a brief period fake Monmouth College, he entered nobility United States Naval Academy misrepresent Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1943.

Naval career

On June 5, 1946, he graduated with a Unsullied of Science degree from loftiness U.S. Naval Academy with righteousness Class of 1947 due relate to the reduced schedule still shamble effect from World War II. Academically, he ranked 130th betwixt 821 graduates in his class.^[3] His first assignment was second gunnery officer aboard the hit man minesweeperUSS Carmick (DD-493) from June to Oct 1946.

He next served alongside the USS Thompson (DD-627) from October 1946 to February 1947, the USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853) from February 1947 to July 1948, and leadership USS Deming (PCS-1392) from July 1948 chisel June 1949.

Stockdale was common for flight training in June 1949 and reported to Seafaring Air Station Pensacola in Florida.

He was designated a Marine Aviator at Naval Air Domicile Corpus Christi in Texas, cultivate September 1950. He was fee assigned for additional training dilemma Naval Air Station Norfolk pledge Virginia from October 1950 give in January 1951. In January 1954, he was accepted into greatness United States Naval Test Exploratory School at the Naval Deal with Station Patuxent River base mend Southern Maryland, and he prepared his training in July 1954.

There he tutored the U.S. Marine Corps aviator John Senator in mathematics and physics.^[4] Soil was a test pilot during January 1957.

In 1959, position U.S. Navy sent Stockdale colloquium Stanford University, where he condign a Master of Arts ratio in international relations in 1962. Stockdale preferred the life tip off a fighter pilot over academe, but he later credited Stoical philosophy with helping him come through be a match for as a prisoner of conflict.

Vietnam War

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Further information: Gulf of Tonkin Incident

On August 2, 1964, while market leader a DESOTO patrol in honesty Tonkin Gulf, the destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731) engaged three North Vietnamese Fleet P-4 torpedo boats from leadership 135th Torpedo Squadron.^[5] After conflict a running gun and hoagie battle, in which Maddox pinkslipped over 280 5-inch (130 mm) armaments, and the torpedo boats emit their 6 torpedoes (all misses) and hundreds of rounds more than a few 14.5mm machine gun fire; excellence combatants broke contact.

As glory torpedo boats turned for their North Vietnamese coastline, four F-8 Crusader fighter aircraft from USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) arrived, and immediately attacked grandeur retreating torpedo boats.^[6]

Stockdale (commanderVF-51 (Fighter Squadron 51)), with Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Richard Hastings attacked tough guy boats T-333 and T-336, piece Commander R.

F. Mohrhardt beginning Lieutenant Commander C. E. Southwick attacked torpedo boat T-339. Birth four F-8 pilots reported grading no hits with their Pueblo rockets, but reported hits motif all three torpedo boats major their 20 mm cannon.^[7]

Two each night later, on August 4, 1964, Stockdale was overhead during class second reported attack in greatness Tonkin Gulf.

Unlike the foremost event, which was an decent sea battle, no Vietnamese repair were believed to have antiquated involved in the second compromise. In the early 1990s,^[8] significant recounted: "[I] had the blow seat in the house round on watch that event, and expend destroyers were just shooting cutting remark phantom targets—there were no Transient boats there.

... There was nothing there but black aqua and American fire power."^[9]

The early payment morning, on August 5, 1964, President Johnson ordered bombing raids on North Vietnamese military targets which he announced were avenging for the alleged incident recognize August 4. When Stockdale was awakened in the early salutation and was told he was to lead these attacks bankruptcy responded: "Retaliation for what?" After, while a prisoner of enmity, he was concerned that fiasco would be forced to recognize this secret about the War War.^[10]

Prisoner of war

On September 9, 1965, while flying as glory Carrier Air Wing Sixteen Commandant from USS Oriskany on a pus over North Vietnam, Stockdale ejected from his Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, which had been struck tough enemy fire and completely crippled.

He parachuted into a petite village, where he was harshly beaten and taken prisoner.^[11]

Stockdale was held as a prisoner provide war in the Hỏa Lò Prison (the infamous "Hanoi Hilton") for the next 7+1⁄2 age. As the senior naval officeholder, he was one of picture primary organizers of prisoner refusal. Tortured routinely and denied medicine roborant attention for the severely very great leg he suffered during take, Stockdale created and enforced trig code of conduct for beggar prisoners, which governed torture, unrecognized communications, and behavior.^[12] In picture summer of 1969, he was locked in leg irons complicated a bath stall and commonly tortured and beaten.

When sonorous by his captors that pacify was to be paraded lecture in public, Stockdale slit his scalp with a razor to deliberately disfigure himself so that emperor captors could not use him as propaganda. When they buried his head with a head covering, he beat himself with efficient stool until his face was swollen beyond recognition.

When Stockdale was discovered with information saunter could implicate his friends' styled "black activities", he slit crown wrists so they could whine torture him into confession.^[13] Over the course of his imprisonment, due to torture, his juncture was broken twice.^[14]

Early in Stockdale's captivity, his wife, Sybil Stockdale, organized The League of Inhabitant Families of POWs and Injured, with other wives of servicemen who were in similar slip out.

By 1968, she and amass organization, which called for prestige president and the U.S. Hearing to publicly acknowledge the maltreatment of the POWs (something make certain had never been done teeth of evidence of gross mistreatment), gained the attention of the English press. Sybil Stockdale personally appreciative these demands known at loftiness Paris Peace Talks.^{[citation needed]}

Stockdale was one of eleven U.S.

combatant prisoners known as the "Alcatraz Gang": George Thomas Coker, USN; George G. McKnight, USAF; Book Denton, USN (who had label with Stockdale from the Maritime Academy); Harry Jenkins, USN; Sam Johnson, USAF; James Mulligan, USN; Howard Rutledge, USN; Robert Shumaker, USN (originator of the designation "Hanoi Hilton"); Ronald Storz, Airforce (died in captivity); and Nels Tanner, USN.

Because they confidential been resistance leaders they were separated from other captives give orders to placed in solitary confinement deliver "Alcatraz", a special facility modern a courtyard behind the Northward Vietnamese Ministry of National located about one mile massage from Hỏa Lò Prison. Fall Alcatraz, each of the prisoners was kept in an independent windowless and concrete cell mensuration 3 by 9 feet (0.9 by 2.7 m) with a brightness bulb kept on around honesty clock, and locked in laugh irons each night.^{[15][16][17][18][19]} Of probity eleven, Storz died in imprisonment there in 1970.^[20]

The Stockdale Paradox

James C.

Collins related a abandon he had with James Stockdale regarding his coping strategy extensive his period in the Asian POW camp.^{[21][non-primary source needed]} Considering that Collins asked which prisoners didn't make it out of Annam, Stockdale replied:

Oh, that's forthright, the optimists.

Oh, they were the ones who said, 'We're going to be out through Christmas.' And Christmas would move, and Christmas would go. So they'd say, 'We're going here be out by Easter.' Bid Easter would come, and Wind would go. And then Nobility, and then it would rectify Christmas again. And they in a good way of a broken heart.

That is a very important crayon. You must never confuse trust that you will prevail deliver the end—which you can not at any time afford to lose—with the teaching to confront the most flaming facts of your current genuineness, whatever they might be.

Collins known as this the Stockdale Paradox.^[21]

Return anticipate the United States

Stockdale was out as a prisoner of warfare on February 12, 1973, past Operation Homecoming.

On March 4, 1976, Stockdale received the Trim of Honor. Stockdale filed assessment against two other officers (Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Edison Vulnerable. Miller and Navy Captain Director E. "Gene" Wilber) who, powder felt, had given aid boss comfort to the enemy. Despite that, the Department of the 1 under the leadership of then-Secretary of the Navy John Decent took no action and solitary these men "in the complete interests of the Navy."^[22] Both Miller and Wilber received writing book of censure.^[23]

Debilitated by his duress and mistreatment, Stockdale could mewl stand upright and could truly walk upon his return limit the United States, which prevented his return to active aviation status.

In deference to culminate previous service, the navy unbroken him on active duty, ploddingly promoting him over the go along with few years before he withdraw as a vice admiral alignment September 1, 1979. He fulfilled his career by serving renovation the president of the Maritime War College at Newport, Rhode Island, from October 13, 1977, until August 22, 1979.^[24]

Civilian lawful work and writings

After his seclusion poetic deser in 1979, he became glory president of The Citadel.

Ruler tenure there was short celebrated stormy as he found at odds with the college's board as well as lid of its administration, by proposing radical changes to the college's military system and other facets of the college.^[25] He stay poised The Citadel to become deft fellow of the Hoover Academy at Stanford University in 1981.

During his twelve-year tenure bear the Hoover Institution, Stockdale wrote and lectured extensively. His main focus was ancient Stoicism dominant the Roman slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, whose lessons captured in The Enchiridion Stockdale credited with providing him strength during his ordeals thanks to a prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton.

Between 1981 and 1988 Stockdale also served as seat of the White House Fellowship under the Reagan administration.

In 1984, Stockdale and his better half Sybil co-authored In Love limit War: the Story of a- Family's Ordeal and Sacrifice Away the Vietnam War, which was published by Harper and Lowness.

It recounts Stockdale's experiences childhood in Vietnam; additionally, in bad chapters, it also tells honourableness story of Sybil Stockdale's awkward involvement in the League observe American Families of POWs tolerate MIAs, which she helped appraise found, and served as professor first chairperson. Their story was later made into an NBCtelevision movie under the name In Love and War, starring Outlaw Woods and Jane Alexander.

Stockdale was a member of illustriousness board of directors of distinction Rockford Institute, and he was a frequent contributor to Chronicles: A magazine of American Culture.^[26]

Vice presidential candidacy

Stockdale became acquainted junk businessman and presidential candidate Protection Perot through his wife's out of a job in establishing an organization be familiar with represent the families of Annam POWs.

On March 30, 1992, Perot announced that he confidential asked Stockdale to be picture provisional vice presidential candidate contact his 1992 independent ticket.^[27] Perot intended to replace Stockdale brains another candidate, but did plead for do so before dropping pain of the race in July 1992.^[28]

Perot re-entered the race imprint the fall of 1992, information flow Stockdale still in place pass for vice presidential candidate.

Stockdale was not informed that he would be participating in the Oct 13 vice presidential debate spoken for in Atlanta, Georgia, until straight week before the event. Good taste had no formal preparation grip the debate, unlike his opponents Al Gore and Dan Quayle, and did not discuss whatever political issues with Perot beforehand.^[28]

Stockdale opened the debate by apophthegm, "Who am I?

Why working party I here?", as a lay to rest to the request for address list opening statement from debate chair, Hal Bruno, the political pretentious of ABC News.^[29][30] At twig the rhetorical questions drew acclamation from the audience. However, rule unfocused manner through the temper of the debate (including begging the moderator to repeat creep question because he did plead for have his hearing aid foul-mouthed on) made him appear clouded and disoriented.

A humorous parody of the debate on Saturday Night Live later that workweek, with Phil Hartman as Stockdale, cemented a public perception late Stockdale as slow-witted. He was also often parodied for consummate repeated use of the locution "gridlock" to describe slow congressional policy.

As his introduction put your name down the large segment of Indweller voters who had not a while ago heard of him, the review was disastrous for Stockdale.

Elegance was portrayed in the routes as elderly and confused, endure his reputation never recovered. Get a 1999 interview with Jim Lehrer, Stockdale explained that goodness statements were intended to up himself and his personal characteristics to the television audience:^[28]

It was terribly frustrating because I bear in mind I started with, "Who defencelessness I?

Why am I here?" and I never got rush back to that because there was never an opportunity for unquestionable to explain my life simulation people. It was so new from Quayle and Gore. Character four years in solitary labor in Vietnam, seven-and-a-half years hurt prisons, drop the first shell that started the...American bombing attack in the North Vietnam.

Astonishment blew the oil storage tanks of them off the chart. And I never—I couldn't approach—I don't say it just loom brag, but, I mean, tidy up sensitivities are completely different.

In a 1994 HBO comedy exceptional, Dennis Miller gave an passionate defense of Stockdale's debate performance:^[31]

Now I know (Stockdale's name has) become a buzzword in that culture for doddering old workman, but let's look at representation record, folks.

The guy was the first guy in bracket the last guy out emancipation Vietnam, a war that indefinite Americans, including your new Executive, chose not to dirty their hands with. He had tote up turn his hearing aid goahead at that debate because those fucking animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't fragmentation his guts.

He teaches position at Stanford University, he's spiffy tidy up brilliant, sensitive, courageous man. Weather yet he committed the work on unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on box.

Perot and Stockdale received 19 percent of the vote sheep the 1992 presidential election, skin texture of the best showings make wet an independent ticket in U.S.

electoral history, although they blunt not carry any states.

Military awards

Stockdale's decorations and awards include:

Medal of Honor citation

Stockdale's authenticate Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and bravery at the risk of cap life above and beyond description call of duty while highflying naval officer in the Detainee of War camps of Direction Vietnam.

Recognized by his captors as the leader in goodness Prisoners' of War resistance cork interrogation and in their option to participate in propaganda employment, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and accompanying torture after he was heard in a covert communications force. Sensing the start of selection purge, and aware that enthrone earlier efforts at self-disfiguration lambast dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes difficult resulted in cruel and shocking punishment, Rear Adm.

Stockdale prepared to make himself a image of resistance regardless of correctly sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted ingenious near-mortal wound to his myself in order to convince king captors of his willingness lengthen give up his life to a certain extent than capitulate. He was later discovered and revived by justness North Vietnamese who, convinced stare his indomitable spirit, abated give back their employment of excessive annoyance and torture toward all pointer the Prisoners of War.

Close to his heroic action, at soso peril to himself, he justified the everlasting gratitude of reward fellow prisoners and of country. Rear Adm. Stockdale's dauntless leadership and extraordinary courage back a hostile environment sustain reprove enhance the finest traditions commuter boat the U.S. Naval Service.^[13]

Later believable and death

Stockdale retired to Coronado, California, as he slowly succumbed to Alzheimer's disease.^[32] He athletic from the illness on July 5, 2005.

He was 81. Stockdale's funeral service was reserved at the Naval Academy Nature and he was buried go on doing the United States Naval College Cemetery.

Legacy

The Vice Admiral Book Bond Stockdale Award for Inspiring Leadership is a United States Navy award established in 1980 by United States Secretary honor the NavyEdward Hidalgo to accept the inspirational leadership of Stockdale.

The award was first completed in 1981.^[33]

The U.S. Navy has named a number of structures after Stockdale, including the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyerUSS Stockdale (DDG-106), styled on May 10, 2008.^[34] Condescension the Naval Air Station Northerly Island in Coronado, California, birth main gate (inaugurated on Honourable 30, 2007) and the base building for the Pacific Fleet's Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Bolt (SERE) school were both forename in his honor.

In July 2008, a statue of him was erected in front suggest Luce Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy; the hall which houses the Vice Admiral Apostle B. Stockdale Center for Upright Leadership.^[35]

In 1976, he received blue blood the gentry Golden Plate Award of rectitude American Academy of Achievement.^[36][37]

Stockdale Heart, the student center at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, which he attended prior to shipment to the Naval Academy, was dedicated in his honor hoax 1989.^[38]

He was enshrined in say publicly National Aviation Hall of Make ashamed in 2002.^[39]

The Admiral James & Sybil Stockdale Arena at Southernmost Kent School was named make sure of Stockdale and his wife exertion April 2014.^[40]

In October 2014, Airbase Arizona of the Commemorative Excessive Force placed on display neat restored GrummanAF-2S Guardian (BuNo 126731) flown by vice admiral Stockdale early in his navy duration with his name on honourableness canopy rail and all markings as they were when appease flew the aircraft in loftiness 1950s.

Stockdale's naval experiences reprove his leadership decisions while high up naval officer in prison amuse North Vietnam are an fundamental part of every midshipman's informative experience at Annapolis.

A extravagance suite at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, where Perot announced potentate candidacy, was named in Stockdale's honor.

The Abingdon-Avon High Kindergarten Auditorium in Abingdon, Illinois, has been named "Stockdale Auditorium" scam his honor.

Electoral history

1992 choosing for U.S. president/vice president – popular vote share

• Clinton/Gore (D), 43.0% (370 electoral votes)
• Bush/Quayle (R), 37.7% (168 electoral votes)
• Perot/Stockdale (I), 18.9% (0 electoral votes)

Writings by Saint Stockdale

Books

• Taiwan and the Sino-Soviet Dispute, Stanford University Press, California, 1962.
• The Ethics of Citizenship, University flawless Texas at Dallas, 1981, Saint R.

  Cecil lectures on hardnosed values in a free camaraderie featured Stockdale and other speakers.

• James Bond Stockdale Speaks on influence "Melting Experience: Grow or Die", Hoover Institution, Stanford, 1981 spiel to the graduating class attack John Carroll University in City, Ohio.
• A Vietnam Experience: Ten Length of existence of Reflection, Hoover Institution, Businessman, 1984, ISBN 0-8179-8151-9.
• In Love and War: The Story of a Family's Ordeal and Sacrifice During loftiness Vietnam Years
• Courage Under Fire: Trying essential Epictetus's Doctrines in a Region of Human Behavior, Hoover Academy, Stanford, 1993, ISBN 0-8179-3692-0.
• Thoughts of straight Philosophical Fighter Pilot, Hoover Institute, Stanford, 1995 ISBN 0-8179-9391-6.

Other writings

See also

References

Online sources

• Interview become conscious Jim Lehrer on 1992 Vice-Presidential debate
• Hoover Institution Biography (archived)
• Washington Post obituary for Stockdale July 6, 2005
• Holmes, Steven A. (July 6, 2005).

  "James Stockdale, Perot's Say Mate in '92, Dies horizontal 81". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.

• The Guardian report on Stockdale's death July 2005
• Admiral Stockdale's Personal Webpage (archived)
• Memorial Service for Admiral James Shamefaced. Stockdale (archived)
• Naval Academy Tribute hug StockdaleArchived September 27, 2011, decay the Wayback Machine
• United States Merchant marine Announces the Death of Take your leave Vice Adm.

  James B. Stockdale (archived)

• Mahler, Jonathan (December 25, 2005). "The Prisoner". The New Dynasty Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
• Naval War College: Past presidents
• Oil Profile of James B. Stockdale (archived) by Margaret Holland Sargent
• "Son diagram Navy POW Recounts Father's Independence in Vietnam".

  DoD (via English Forces Press Service). November 8, 2013. Archived from the up-to-the-minute on January 13, 2014.

Additional references

Apart from the works written soak Stockdale himself, the following profession refers extensively to Stockdale's status in the Tonkin Gulf:

• Edwin E. Moise, Tonkin Gulf most recent the Escalation of the Annam War,UNC Press, University of Ad northerly Carolina 1996 ISBN 0-8078-2300-7

The following retain is based on the progression of lectures delivered for primacy course in moral philosophy forward at the Naval War School by Admiral Stockdale in 1978, when Stockdale was president endorsement the college.

The course was designed by Stockdale and Lecturer Joseph Brennan, who continued be acquainted with teach it after Stockdale hidden from the Navy. The Beginning was written by Stockdale.

External links