Born:  Charleston, S. C.

Education: Avery Institute, Charleston, S. C

AA Degree, Social Services, Cochise College, 1981

Military Duty in: Korea, Germany, Vietnam, and Asmara, Ethiopia.

Military Awards: Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star,

Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (6 Awards), National Defense Service Medal/w Bronze Star, Korean War Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal, Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation and Republic of Korea Unit Citation. 

Combat Veteran, Vietnam, 1966-1967

Retired Army First Sergeant

Retired Federal Civil Servant, Chief, Recreation Division, MWR, Fort Huachuca, AZ

Current Position:  President, Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, (SWABS), Inc.-Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Family

   Thomas (Tom) P. Stoney, Sr. was born on 28 December 1934 in Charleston, S. C. to the parents of Oliver and Vivian Stoney. They were both born on Johns Island, S. C. in 1907 and 1908 respectively. Thomas was one of six children. Two are deceased. The eldest brother, Oliver Stoney Jr. served in the24th Infantry Regiment (All Black) and the 25th Infantry Division. During the Korean War he was listed as Missing in Action on 28 November 1950 during the offensive to the Yalu River. In 1953 following the end of the Korean War, the Chinese Forces reported that their forces captured him on 28 November 1950. The Chinese also reported that he had died as a POW in May 1951.  He was 20 years old at his death. The Chinese returned his remains in June 1955.  He is interred at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort S. C.

    Military Service:  Thomas graduated from Avery Institute of Charleston, S.C. in of May 1952. He enlisted in U. S. Army in May 1952. He did his Basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and Fort Benning, Ga. He is a Combat Veteran of the Korean War. He Served with Company C, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division from December 1952 to April 1954. He was Honorably Discharged from Army in May of 1955. In March of 1957 he returned to active duty with U. S. Army Signal Corps and was assigned to 16th Signal Battalion (Combat Area), Fort Huachuca Arizona.

       In September of 1961 he was shipped out to Germany with the 16 Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca during the Berlin Crisis. He stayed there until September 1964. He was then returned to Fort Huachuca. He did a tour of duty in Vietnam from September 1966 to September 1967 during the Vietnam War. In April 1968 he preformed Riot duty in Washington, D. C following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In August 1976 he retired as Army First Sergeant (E-8) with nearly 23 years of active duty.

    After the military, Thomas attended Cochise College and in May 1981 he received an Associate Degree in Social Services, at the college in Douglas, Arizona. From May 1977 to November 1994 he was Federal Civil Service. First, as Sports Director for Army Intramural Sports and he retired November 1994 as Chief of Recreation Divisions of Morale Welfare and Recreation, Fort Huachuca, AZ.

    He is married to Margit E. Stoney of Bad Nauheim, Germany. He has 5 Children and 10 Grandchildren. He loves working with children and he organized the first NAACP Youth Council in Sierra Vista in 1974.  He served as advisor to the Council for eight years

    He also loves researching Military History and spearheading the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, Inc. drive to save from demolition and completely rehabilitate the Mountain View Colored Officers Club located at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Their goal is to turn the building into a Museum and Historical Research Center to preserve the Military History of Black Men and Women from 1866-1951. Mountain View Building is a very famous and historic building that was built in 1942 during WW II for Colored Officers.  It is the only Club built for Black Officers in the history of the U. S. Army, a time when the Army and Armed forces were segregated. Thomas is very proud of his work spearheading the drive to save a piece of Black and American History that will live on for generations to come. “Mountain View has a story to tell of the brave black men and women who served this nation with honor, despite the indignities suffered because of prejudice, segregation and overt racism. It must tell the story of the official segregated armed forces from 1866 to 1951. I am most proud of the work we are doing to save the building.” Stated Mr. Stoney.