THIS IS BY WAY OF A MEMORIAL for my younger (and only) brother, Tom Stockton, who was born at Fort Brown, Texas on 26 August 1926. Our dad was at that time adjutant of the 12th US Cavalry. We lived in quarters looking out on the Resaca. My own recollections of that era are long since lost in the mists of memory.

It seems certain to me that Tom had no real comprehension of Fort Brown or the 12th Cavalry during the late 1920s. In any event, our family removed to Corvallis, Oregon in 1928 and Dad became the cavalry instructor of the Oregon State University ROTC detachment.

We four children (including Barbara, born in 1924 and Sally, born in 1939) grew up mostly on cavalry posts until the eve of World War II. Then, in 1940, Dad was reassigned from Fort Riley to become Inspector General for General Joe Stillwell's 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord. From there he went on to become Fourth Army G-3 at the Presidio of San Francisco. There Tom met Margaret "Woots" Keil, younger daughter of Colonel (later Brigadier General) Emil Kiel, the Fourth Air Force Chief of Staff. Woots was all of 14 years old when she and Tom fast became interested in each other, and Tom was 16. To my virtually certain knowledge, Tom never even glanced seriously at another eligible female for the next 45 years. At one point in his stormy cadet career, he was pursued ardently by a beautiful and highly placed debutante who was also the principal heiress to a significant estate. Flattered though he was by her attention, he remained steadfastly true to his One & Only, Woots.

At West Point, Tom fought the system, the upper classes, the faculty, the Tactical Department, and sometimes even his classmates, fearlessly and tenaciously from Beast Barracks almost to Graduation Parade. I know; I was there. Along with Generals Max Taylor and Pinky Higgins, I observed Tom and worried about him daily from my desk in the Modern Language Department. The Supe, the Com and Tom's Tac often demanded my presence to help them deal with the overpowering fury of Cadet Stockton, TW. Nothing seemed to work. Then, suddenly, as he adjusted to being a first classman, Tom matured overnight. He became philosophical, his already sharp wit improved to a finely-honed edge, his considerable intellectual capacity manifested itself. He survived to graduation. Glory be!

Tom wed Woots that summer of 1949 at Scott Air Force Base, where her dad was Commanding General. Their union was blessed with one child, Thomas Turner (Corky) Stockton, who is now a successful businessman in Massachusetts.

Tom spent his military career in the Cavalry trade, sometimes as a comptroller. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University in 1963. In 1967-1968, he served honorably and well in Vietnam as a Brigade Executive Officer in the First Infantry Division and then as a battalion commander in the First Cavalry. According to his USMA roommate, Herb Turner, "Tom felt a very personal obligation to serve a combat tour in Vietnam. His unwavering objective there was to inflict maximum damage on the enemy while holding his own unit's casualties to zero or, at least, to the absolute minimum. Tom was not politic in the service, but he was diligent, tenacious and aggressive. His ultimate loyalty was always to his country, his troops, his family and his close friends."

Following his 1978 retirement from active duty, he joined forces with Herb Turner in the real estate and property development business in the San Diego area. Tom and Woots were happy and fulfilled in Solana Beach. Both were active in the development of their residential community. Tom played the best golf of his life. He was the constant and sure support of our dad, Brigadier General (Retired) M. L. Stockton, during Dad's final years. Then, in December 1986, Tom was diagnosed with a prostate complication. By the end of the holidays it was already too late; the cancer had spread via his lymph glands to his liver. Never in overpowering physical pain, he nevertheless began to fail rapidly, finally surrendering his soul early on the morning of 1 February 1987.

Tom is survived by his widow, Margaret Kiel Stockton of Del Mar, California; his son, Thomas Turner Stockton; his sisters, Barbara Stockton Chapman and Sally Stephanie Stockton; and myself, his brother John.

I will close with Woots' words about her beloved husband: "Tom had very high moral standards which he expected others to follow. He gave 100% to every endeavor he undertook and expected his associates to do likewise. Of all his many wonderful traits, the most notable to me was the joy he took in just plain being alive. He was a marvelous companion and my best friend."

John Buchanan Stockton USMA Class of June 1943