Faces Bio

Dee ("Bud") W. Stone, Jr. was born on February 17, 1943, and lived in Brielle, NJ. He graduated from Manlius High School in 1960, a military school in New York, and also attended West Point. "Bud" entered the US Army where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT).

Stone went on to attend helicopter school at Fort Wolters, TX, and earned his rotary wings in 1965. He went to Vietnam in June 1966. He was assigned to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company and was stationed at Camp Hollaway in Pleiku.

On November 11, 1966, Stone was flying his Cobra attack helicopter escorting troop movements when camouflaged anti-aircraft guns were spotted and he began attacking their positions. Although under heavy attack, he managed to destroy three of the eight guns. However, the repeated hits his helicopter took severely damaged it and it crashed into the jungle. Three days later, his body was recovered. He was 23 years old.

Stone was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters (over 250 missions), the Purple Heart, the National Order Medal of the Republic of Vietnam, and the Gallantry Cross with Palm of the Republic of Vietnam.

Information provided by Paul Inwight (nephew) and NJVVMF.