A Soldier's Story: Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes


Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes was born on September 24, 1970, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his family relocated to Riverside, California, when Private First Class Stokes was still in grade school. He attended Ramona High School, where Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes played football and sang in the school's madrigal choir. 

He enlisted in the US Army in 1989 to earn money for his college education and was assigned to the 32nd Armor Division as a Cavalry Scout and spent the early years of his enlistment in Germany.

Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes deployed to the Persian Gulf with his unit in November 1990 in response to Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War.

He died during his service on February 26, 1991, when his armored vehicle was struck by a mortar. Private First Class Adrian Leonard Stokes rests at the Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California. An additional memorial is also placed at the Port Hudson Nation Cemetery in Zachary Louisana.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Riverside, CA, USA

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