Collection: Signature: Stockdale, James

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale was born on the 23rd of December 1923 in Abingdon, Illinois and, in 1946 following a brief period at Monmouth College, attended the US Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland from which he graduated with the class of 1947. During the Vietnam war Stockdale led aerial attacks from the carrier USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)) during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. While Commander of Carrier Air Wing 16 aboard the carrier USS Oriskany (CV-13), on September 1965, Stockdale ejected over enemy territory from his A-4E Skyhawk, which had been disabled from friendly fire after the mechanical malfunction of his wing-mans ordanance. Stockdale ejected and parachuted into a small village, where he was severely beaten and taken into custody. James Stockdale was the highest-ranking naval officer held as a POW in Vietnam. He was awarded 26 personal combat decorations, including the Medal of Honor and four Silver Stars. From October 13th, 1977, until August 22nd, 1979, Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale became the President of the Naval War College. Stockdale also became a candidate for Vice President of the United States duirng the 1992 presedenial elections – Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale succumbed to Alzheimers desease and died on the 5th of July, 2005. In January 2006, the Navy announced that the USS Stockdale DDG-106, an Arleigh Burke–class guided missile destroyer, would be named for him.