Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes, A Soldier's Story
Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes, A Soldier's Story
Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes was born on September 24, 1970, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While he was still in grade school, he and his family relocated to Riverside, California, where he spent much of his youth. He attended Ramona High School, where he played football and sang in the school’s madrigal choir, balancing athletics with the arts.
In 1989, Stokes enlisted in the United States Army to earn money for his college education. He was trained as a cavalry scout and assigned to the 32nd Armor Division. During the early years of his enlistment, he was stationed in Germany, part of the U.S. military presence in Europe during the final years of the Cold War.
In November 1990, Private First Class Stokes deployed with his unit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Gulf War. Like many service members of his generation, his deployment came quickly as the conflict escalated.
On February 26, 1991, during combat operations, Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes was killed when his armored vehicle was struck by enemy mortar fire. His death occurred just days after the official end of major combat operations, underscoring the continued dangers faced by those serving on the ground.
Private First Class Stokes is laid to rest at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California. An additional memorial honoring his service stands at Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, Louisiana, ensuring his sacrifice is remembered both in the place he grew up and the state where his life began.
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
