News Links & Articles
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Jeff (Webmaster & friend)
Previous Postings
Jeff Duncan - Nashville Tennessee Introduced to Tom thru one of his good friends Gary Hanson in the 70's and followed his life through Gary thereafter. Tom was a very good man, I appreciate what he did for people he met and for the country he served, I know he will be missed by many. I also prepared this web site at Gary's request and funding. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
One of my best friends for thirty-two years. I miss you.
Tom was my cousin, (more like a brother since 1988). He had an uncanny ability to know when someone needed him. It was always great to pick up the phone and be greeted by his cheery, "Hey, sugar." It was especially wonderful when the call came from some distant country.
Here's what I wrote in an email to my friends and family about Tom the day after he died: My friend Tom Stone was killed by small arms fire in Afghanistan yesterday. He'd been serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan for a couple of years and I had assumed he was home by now. He was an amazing, amazing human. He was the third person ever to walk around the world (see http://www.aldha.org/pomfret.htm about a portion of his journey). Tom sent me tapes he made while he was walking, so I've got those, a few climbing pictures and a postcard from him that shows the before/after of the Taliban's work of blowing up that ancient Buddha statue. I made a couple tapes for him while I was on my Tom-inspired walking journey in New Zealand. He was the best friend of my ex-boyfriend, Gary Hanson. Tom's beloved brother, a journalist, was captured and presumed killed in the Vietnam war. Tom's parents have also died. Anyway, the Taliban got a good one yesterday. I want to share this loss with you all because it seems like a small way in which I can honor Tom. I know there will be tears flowing in many countries as the word spreads. They're certainly flowing here. Tom lived his life to the fullest and died doing something he loved -- helping people in a Third World country and serving ours. Most Sincerely, Marla
Tom shared some of his adventures with us at Creare. He had quality I've seen in only a few people in my lifetime, an acceptance, a calm, a humor, a determination, a gentleness, a fierceness.
I met Tom in 1976 on a trip that took him with me and our friend Gary to Alaska. I'll add more to the forum later...
I am Tom's cousin. Tom was a huge part of our lives. He was an amazing man with a very positive "can do" attitude. He truly believed in making a difference and especially when it came to children. We are interested in starting a Tom Stone Memorial Foundation which would assist children in war torn areas. We had spoken to Tom about doing something for the Afghani children in the past, but it never happened. We are open to all suggestions and any help to get this started and to make it a success. Tom was known all around the world and I think if this is done correctly the impact could be tremendous. Please contact me via email at asahazen@aol.com
I didn't know Tom Stone personally, but from all that I have read about the man, he is a truly inspiring individual. I just want to pay my respects to his family for I know the loss they are feeling. God Bless you Tom. It is nice to know you touched so many people positively in their lives. JJ Wilson, Special Operations, Retired.
I am one of Tom's cousins. I spent many pleasant summers with Uncle Bob, Aunt Connie, Dana, Bobbie, Tommie and the cats, both in White River and also in Hardford. I remember Tom as a skinny little kid about half my size. It was startling to meet him about 1990 and find him bigger than me! As Uncle Fred said at the time, "He's a real *man* now!". I will always have fond memories of Tom and his family. May he rest in peace.
I sent a photo with some words, I'm not a technical wiz so I hope it worked. Tom was and is my soulmate. I love him fiercly, then and now.I don't know how to live without him.
Tom was my cousin. He was a very special person with the ability to make you feel like you were THE most important person on earth. We were all blessed to have had him in our lives and I know that I will miss him terribly. His passing leaves a huge hole in my life.
Tom and I met in '83.. Being the nice guy he was, he answered the phone for his landlord and talked me into renting the other room of the Mystic house where he then lived. We had an arrangement; I would run him so he could beat everybody on his PT tests for the Guard, and he would impart to me various basic life skills... like being able to ski in public without danger of embarrassing myself or others. There were many other such exchanges between then and now, however I was usually on the receiving end. I miss him greatly.
Here are a few other links/articles/pics in case folks haven't seen them... http://www.militarycity.com/valor/1657655.html http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060403/NEWS/604030310/1021/EDUCATION05 http://www.examiner.com/By_State-a71008~Missing_Brother_Motivated_Fallen_Soldier.html http://thatsrich.blogspot.com/2006/04/sgt-tom-stone-yet-another-national.html http://www.vtguard.com/PublicAff/pressReleases.htm
I met Tom through Wes Burns. Wes brought Tom along to our annual new years cross-country ski trip in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state in the mid 80s. Tom showed up for that annual gathering several times in the past 20 years. Usually, we would e-mail an invitation and not hear from him. We figured there was no way he would be on the same continent as us, much less in the same small, remote cabin. But amazingly, he often showed up. He walked to our wedding in April 2000 in Rochester, NY by starting eastward from Vermont about 6 years earlier. Tom taught me many important life lessons. The guy had an amazing capability to entertain (and be entertained) by kids. Tom taough our own kids and many others on the new years ski trips not only how to ski, but how to really have fun. I was surprised to read that Tom's favorite poem was about the guys who don't fit in. If anybody ever felt comfortable and made others feel comfortable in ANY situation, it was Tom Stone. We will all miss him. The Karn family
Tom and I were in the same unit in the VT Army National Guard. He became a dear friend. There is no other to compare. I remember when we were working together on 9/11 and looked at each other in disbelief as we watched the planes crash into the Towers on his small TV and knew our lives in the National Guard had changed. I saw in his eyes at that moment that he would go wherever he was needed and do what had to be done. And so he did.
"No one is more professional than I..." (NCO CREED) The most dynamic, intelligent, and genuinely caring individual I have ever known. I will miss you Tom.
We met Tom in Malaysia about ten years ago in Malaysia when he was on his 'Long Walk'. He stayed with us for several weeks later on, on his way back home to Vermont. We have just learned of his death, alongside a young Canadian soldier from B.C., and are deeply saddened. We loved him from the moment we first tasted his peanut butter sandwiches which seemed to be his staple food on that walk! Resourceful, peaceful, intelligent and humorous, he impressed everyone he met, one and all. We knew he was in Afghanistan but had lost touch over the past year or two. We often imagined him applying his great gifts in a war zone, and can only join the thousands who admired him immensely to say "God speed, Tom. Ýour loss is felt worldwide."
Unfortunately, I never met Dana's little brother Tom. All I can think is how very proud Dana would be of "Jones" and the man he grew up to be and the way he walked in his brother's paths even unto death. Dana's favorite poem was Housman's To an Athlete Dying Young from A Shropshire Lad and he delighted in reciting it...and sometimes it is a comfort to know that Dana and now Tom will never grow old like the rest of us...but, like the young athlete, will be forever stuck in our memories in those delightful "snaps" [as Dana called his phtos] when we were all so young and daring.
I met Tom while he was traveling through Japan and then Australia. He stayed with me in Melbourne for a couple of weeks before he moved on to New Zealand. As many have already said he was a gentle man with a dry sense of humour. I enjoyed having him as a housemate and hearing of his many adventures. He certainly touched many lives and in a positive way , whether it was traveling or in the army. Although it's been a few years since I heard from Tom it was saddening to hear of his untimely death. I will never forget him and the copy of Commanche Moon he left me will hold a special place on my bookshelf. Rest in Peace Tom Stone.
I met Tom just after he'd survived crossing a flooded stream - he was tough to survive as it was more like a waterfall! I'm honoured to have met him.
A wonderful friend, a joy to be around, and a great climbing buddy since the early 70s. We'll miss you Stoney! One note from Tom below, on his walk east on the Iditarod Trail;.............. Anchorage Alaska 9 May 1999 >Hi Guys > I'm back in Anchorage. Spent 30 days on the "Iditarod Trail," or sometimes called the "Idiot Trail," when you get a real late start at the end of winter. Wanted to ski to Nome some 1131 miles. Never made it. After 700 miles, just outside a small native village of Galena the trail dissolved into a mass of flotsam and jetsam. I was very disappointed in not making Nome. Next to being wrong, or loosing, I hate not getting my own way. The trail conditions were terrible. The snow was slow and punchy, often I had to break trail. I had far too much equipment and crap to try and cram into a pack, so piled it all into a sled to pull behind me. Backplowing with a 75lbs.. sled is not a whole lot of fun. The sled soon became my nemesis, trying to drag me down when going up hill, and then on the down hills it would try to push me into the next world. Dragging a 75 Lbs%2e. sled over tundra and time can be both, wild and wonderful, and a real pain in the butt thing. At Rainy Pass I crossed the Alaskan Mountain range. After a mile or so of descending I passed several yellow diamond highway type trail signs that would say "Dangerous Trail Condition Ahead," one simply and very succinctly said "Watch your ass." Directly in front of a warning sign the trail vanish over what looked like a cliff. It was a cliff. I said my prayers, revised my will and tried to see how gently I could coaxes two skies and a sled to creep down the hill in a safe and controlled manner. I was never even close. I left the launch pad like a Scud missile. Knowing where ever I was going to end up, it would be in some spectacular faction. I skied over rocks. I skied between trees. I skied passed abilities of mere mortals. I was doing fine. The sled however had other plans. It wedged its self between two of the largest trees this side of Canada, slamming me into the ground, breaking a backup ski tied to the sled. I carried it in case I was to brake a ski. The irony did not go unnoticed. At times things resembled something out of a Shakespearean tragic comedy and other times something out of the book of "Exodus" only this time done on skis. Even before leaving Anchorage I had serious doubts about the weather holding. Had two nights of rain in the first hundred miles. I would crawl into the sleepingbag feeling extremely sorry for my self. Wolves weren't the only ones crying on those night. Traveling so late in the season often meant I had the trail to myself. At times I would be two hundred miles away from seeing any one. The interior of Alaska is wild and beautiful, and still just as remote as when Robert Service wrote about it a hundred years ago. With the light from a full moon (blue moon) reflecting off the snow, I could ski as late as I wanted. Two nights I fell asleep under the northern lights. I saw moose, caribou, even buffalo. In fact I had breakfast with a buffalo calf. It wondered into camp as I sat half in the sleepingbag, awake with my hands wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate, wishing the camera was so far out of reach. Others were using the trail as well. For two days I followed the tracks of a wolf pack as they ran the trail. An early rising bear, that as far as I was concerned still should have been hibernating used the trail as an high speed avenue of approach to where ever he was going. Forty miles out of the small village of Nikolai (population sixty-seven) I skied through a buffalo camp. Came upon a couple of fellows each with their own snowmachine, about to tow another snowmobile that had broken down weeks earlier, back to the village. We talked a while they gave me information on distances and passable overflow (open water) . Being a trained mountaineer and more that a little familiar with knots I help them rig the snowmachine by staying out of their way. Five or six miles later a small tree was placed across the trail marking a can of coke that had been left for me. The next day a husband and wife rode out by snowmobile to meet me, wondering if I might like some moose stew, that they just happen to have with them. I was hauling food for another three or four days, but nothing I had was going to taste anywhere near as good as their hot stew. Whenever I came to a village I could always found a place to spend the night. However seldom get much rest, too many interesting stories to waste time sleeping. I met goldminers, trappers homesteaders, Indians Eskimos, Whites, even a workaholic Russian hippy. The interior of Alaska is still a bastion of frontier life style. I'm pulling my freight in the morning boys it't over the hill or bust you can never tell if it's going to be heaven or hell,so I'm taking the trail on trust. Robert Service Hope all is well. love Tom
Tom passed through New Zealand on his walk round the world. He was a man who broke the mold - a peace-loving soldier, a book-loving dyslexic. He stayed in our houses and made them warmer, calmer places.
We'll miss you old man. See you on the next mountain walk
I had the great pleasure of working with SFC Tom Stone at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in 2001. Tom was one of the ARNG soldiers supporting the stand up of 17 CSTs. His professionalism and friendly caring greatly aided an exhausting effort. His stories of his "walk" were informative and enjoyable. I will miss him. Bill Johnson
Stoney has been apart of my life and part of my family for over twenty-two years. He shares the same bithday as my son Asa and was resposnible for our chosing Asa's birthname. The most astounding characteristic about Stoney is that everyone feels the same way about him--he is everyone's best friend, a part of everyone's family, and everyone has their own special story about their relationship with him. Although I grieve the loss of Stoney's physical presence, he is still apart of my daily life. I see his unique smile in my mind when funny things occur each day. I buckle down and take on a challenge when it presents itself in the manner I know Stoney does--by leaning forward and putting one foot in front of the other until the chore is done. So while I will miss having him beside me in the physical world, I know he is beside me in spirit as I make my way through life. Thanks Stoney for bringing out the best in me. Your friend for life and beyond--Will.
I first met Tom after his walk around the world (in 2000). I was so amazed that one man could do that. When I first found that out, I knew I would love him. I met him at my friends the Hazens, Tom's cousin Asa's family. Asa's son, Eric, is my best friend. We are both twelve now. One time when Tom was visiting the Hazens and I came over, we played hide-n-seek. We had Tom hide first. We counted and then searched for him. We searched EVERYWHERE outside. Or so it seemed. After about fifteen minutes, I finaly spotted him in the highest tree in their yard. He was all the way in the top of it. I was half amazed and half shocked. I will still always remember that event and will tell the magnificent story to my children about the man who traveled around the world and was in the army, all in one lifetime, Tom Stone. I will really miss him.
Stoney was one of the finest people I have ever known. I soldiered with Tom at the Mountain Warfare School in Vermont for nine years. Tom could be as tough as leather but as gentle with all the cadre's kids. He was the finest "uncle" that our kids could want. Stoney's smile was contagious; it could make you nervous wondering what kind of mischief he was up to and yet it could bring a smile to your face and bring calm during a tense moment. Stoney was the epitome of an American soldier and he exemplified what Vermont Guardsmen are all about. God Bless you, Stoney, you will be deeply missed.
Stoney was one of the finest people I have ever known. I soldiered with Tom at the Mountain Warfare School in Vermont for nine years. Tom could be as tough as leather but was as gentle with all the cadre's kids. He was the finest "uncle" that our kids could want. Stoney's smile was contagious; it could make you nervous wondering what kind of mischief he was up to and yet it could bring a smile to your face and bring calm during a tense moment. Stoney was the epitome of an American soldier and he exemplified what Vermont Guardsmen are all about. God Bless you, Stoney, you will be deeply missed.
Posted Sat 08 April 2006 09:18 I am proud to number myself among the tens of thousands of people who can lay claim to knowing Tom Stone. And while not exactly his priest/confessor, I was his book dealer during his numerous stops in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and that is sort of a sacred role, or so I’d like to think. I wish I could say he was my best friend but unfortunately there wasn’t time to get to know him that well. In fact, I don’t think there ever could be enough time to know him that well. I read in one of the newspaper accounts that one of Tom’s cousins said that Tom was searching for a purpose in life…or words to that effect. I don’t mean to downplay his cousin, but of all the people I have met and come to know I am confident that Tom is one of the very few who knew the purpose of life…and lived that purpose to it’s fullest. How many people do you know who were in the prime of life for 35 years? In this life I will never meet his equal. I’m gonna miss that smile. And I’m confident that I will see it again. Bert Hoak Posts: 1 | Registered: Sat 08 April 2006
Only met and worked with Tom for 3 months at FLW and was one of the best guys to work with. You will be missed by many.
I met Tom while when we were both visiting my parents. We went for a hike in the mountains behind North Vancouver. He was a great guy and I enjoyed hearing his stories about his travels.
I served with Tom in Masar-e-Sharif in late 2003. I was in command of the Special Forces detachment whose base Tom worked in. He helped us run a medical clinic that was under staffed. His help was greatly appreciated by both those who served with him and the local Afghanis that he aided. I offer my deepest condolences to his friends and family, Tom left a great impression on all those who served with him. God Bless, Paul.
I along with Bill Johnson, Wayne Stroud, and Jeff Kirsch had the pleasure of working with Tom in"lovely" Fort "lost In the woods". It was a pleasure to know him and listen to his stories about his walk about. He will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those he called friend. Elaine Copher
I met Tom in New Zealand. In 1999 I got a phone call from a friend who had been hiking in the Copeland valley where Tom was swept down stream in a flooded sidecreek to the huge Copeland river. She asked me to visit him in Greymouth hospital. She had been involved in his helicopter rescue. As she had to return to her home in Wellington she was anxious that someone in Greymouth befriend him and help him out as he had been badly knocked about and had lost everything in the creek. I was happy to do so, and visited him in hospital. Once he was discharched, he came to my home to recuperate. He stayed for a couple of weeks until he felt strong enough to walk again. He wanted to go back up the valley to see if he could find any of his gear, so I lent him a pack, sleeping bag etc and he made the trip. He found a very battered groundsheet, nothing else. He stayed with me a bit longer and then eventually continued his walk up the Westcoast. During his time with me I found him to be a genuinely caring and thoughtful person. He loved the company of my two children and would spend ages shooting hoops with my 11 year old and taking an interest in his mountain biking. He loved rough and tumble with my youngest, aged 7. he would sit with the kids each evening when I was reading them "Call of the Wild" I think he cherished the time being part of a family. I was sad to see him go. I am so sorry to hear of his death. He was so full of life. Please accept my deepest sympathy and know that he will be remembered in a little corner of New Zealand as being an inspirational and special person. Love Marion
I WAS STONEYS 1SG IN AFGANISTAN.A TRUE FRIEND,A SOLDIER,MEDIC,WARRIOR,AN A BROTHER.STONEY WAS A ROCK...ROCK STEADY,ROCK READY. ALWAYS GROUNDED TO THE SUROUNDINGS.A LOYAL FRIEND,SOLDIER,MEDIC,WARRIOR,& BROTHER.ROCK-ON. FIGHT'N FIVE. SEMPER-FI STONEY 1SG. BUCK FELCH.
Our hearts are aching, too. We invited Tom to stay with us when we spotted him walking west on M-28 in Marquette County. It was getting on to Spring and a storm was predicted and the next town was two days away. Our local newspaper had run an article about him and he was easy to spot with that 'house on his back'. He came back to our place and stayed with us for a week. Tom graciously accepted an invitation to speak at a couple of schools in our town. The teachers were delighted with his wit and how well he related to even the smallest of children. He was like a movie star in our midst. I asked him he was going to write a book about his travels and he said he had no plans to do that. I told him that kids need heroes, they need to know people who are extraordinary, those who are bigger than life. Tom IS bigger than life. He IS a hero and the children of this world need to know him. It would be a gigantic task to nail his true personality down on a piece of paper, but it is certainly worth the effort. We dropped Tom off at the exact spot we had picked him up so he could continue his journey. He walked out of town, anxious to get back to the children in Vt. before school let out, but he never left our hearts and I don't think he ever will and we will all be the better for it.
We are terribly saddened by the news we received today. We met Tom whilst travelling through China, and worked our way through Tibet and Nepal with him in 1994. He subsequently stayed in our home in Perth for a week or so during his walk across Australia. Tom proved to us that great things are possible in life and he has been our ongoing inspiration. I wish our children could have met a man with so much knowledge and compassion. We have some great slide films of Tom from these times. We will try and track some down to upload onto this site. Our deepest and sincerest sympathy to those close to him back home. Our thoughts and love are with you. Phil Gresley
Stoney was one of the indiviuals in my life that inspired me to be better than I was. Through his unique instructional style, to visiting with me and my family for dinner after work. I will miss him...
Like Tom, I grew up in the Upper Valley. He was my second cousin and 10 years younger than I. My first memory was of a little tow-headed kid playing under the lilac bush in the back yard of his parents' house when they still lived in White River Junction and that my mother said his mother was frustrated because all he wanted to eat was marshmallow fluff and jelly sandwiches. His diet must have improved or he wouldn't have become so awesomely fit. When I moved back to the Upper Valley I enjoyed seeing him at events related to his trek around the world. He was truly special. I feel privileged to have known him and grateful that I was a relative so that I had opportunities to know him. I am also very grateful to Sally Britton for her part in all of this.
Tom was my friend and I loved him. I met Tom on a sidewalk in Seattle in 1976. He was just finishing deep sea diving school and our friend Gary Hanson and Mary Council and I were on our way to Alaska. Tom was our fourth driver. We lived in the back of a pickup truck on our trip up the Al-Can Highway. It was early October and sometimes the water we would boil for hot chocolate in the morning would freeze a skim of ice on top before we got it poured into our cups. We worked at a motel in Tok Junction, AK for awhile. Tom left for parts south after a few months. He returned to Seattle for his car to discover he'd left it parked on a side street filled with his stuff for 3 months unlocked. All his stuff was still there. After a stint in Texas and some rigger work in Louisiana he rejoined Gary and me in Montana for several months in about 1979. We lived on a ranch in Camas Prairie, near Hot Springs... I have memories of fixing barbed wire fence with him, eating rattlesnake one night, and birthing calves. He used to take off walking and friends would find him miles down the road. His mother and mine died within a year of one another in 1987 and 1988. We reconnected about that time and caught up our friendship.. he introduced me to Vermont, to maple syrup operations, his extensive family.. I joined him on his worldwalk in Amsterdam and parts of Holland (we stayed over a bar in the red light district and rode bicycles on an island off the coast). We spent a month driving from Sydney down around the south coast road out to Kangaroo Island and up to Darwin through the Outback. We went swimming with freshwater crocodiles in Catherine Gorge (smaller teeth, supposedly) and standing under waterfalls. Like many other friends, we traded tape recordings during his trip. I loved hearing talk while he walked along some road, about life, the scenery, politics, poetry. After my partner and I adopted our first child from Cambodia we took a train up to Vermont to introduce Ean to Tom. He never met my daughter, Ellie, also from Cambodia. We got to know friends of Tom's in Cambodia during those adoptions. It was always my dream that Ean would get to learn about life from Tom someday in a "summer camp with Tom in Vermont" boyhood experience, just as he told stories of his childhood. Now I hope I can pass on some of his wisdom and stories. He will always be alive in my heart and soul, drinking hot chocolate for breakfast, reciting poetry, heading us on another adventure. To me, he was a treasure in my life. Lia suhn howee, Tom. K'nyom srawlaing bong.
A true buddy, comrade, compadre. An outstanding medic and a good teammate. He'd give the shirty off his back, the shoes off his feet and the last drop in his canteen to anyone he saw in greater need. He saw most of the world and left it a better place, which is all any of can ask, and so few accomplish. Dosvedonia, drusia!
On the same day that Tom's service was being held in White River Jct., I was singing, in concert, Raph Vaughan Williams' Cantata, "Dona Nobis Pacem". It was the poetry of Walt Whitman set to music. Link to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. The part I could not get through without tears is the "Dirge for Two Veterans." The words and music together were a powerful cry for peace. I'm asking my brother David Hazen to scan in the words of the poetry for the web page, because if I had been able to fly across the country I would have wnted to share those words at his service. Rebecca Hazen
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Tom Stone. I am a wife of 2LT Jasen Boyd, one of the soldiers that is presently serving in Afghanistan and worked with Tom. I know that he will really be very missed by all. Jasen has spoken very fondly of him on many occasions and wish that I could have been priviledged enough to meet him. Take care Yours Katherine Boyd
I knew 'Stoney' through the military (specifically the Mountain Warfare School/Medical). I considered him a personal friend and comrad. Tom touched so many lives, he was (an is, as he lives on in our hearts) a man's man. The best of the best. He touched so many lives in a positive way, he cared deeply about others was a free spirit and a genuine human being.
I was a member of the 15th CST with Stoney for 1 1/2 years. He's the best. I was struck by every photo of Tom and Rose, how perfect they looked together. Just awesome.
Stoney, I will miss you brother.
I knew Tom since 1990. We got acquainted when he was looking for a Russian interpreter who might be willing to help him to organize his trip across Russia as a part of World trip. So, I got connected to the well known Russian travelers, organized meetings with them when Tom came to Russia. Later I was a tour guide for Tom and his friend Gary Hanson in Moscow and St. Petersburg. I tried to keep in touch with him during the trip and helped him as I could. He stayed at my mother's house in Russia Tom was a great friend and an outstanding person. I am sure, I am not the first person and not the last who mentioned it, but this is the truth about him. .
I did not know Mr. Stone, but my father was in the Gaurd with him and he sent me thsi website. Mr. Stone sounds like a very special and unique individual; wish I could have met him. My condolences to his family and friends.
I did not know Mr. Stone, but my father was in the Gaurd with him and he sent me this website. Mr. Stone sounds like a very special and unique individual; wish I could have met him. My condolences to his family and friends.
Met Tom on a sunny day in our beautiful town on the south shore of Lake Superior. He stayed at my home for a few days. His strength was his gentleness.
I was directed to this site by my brother, John James Burns, who served with Tom on a tour in Afghanistan. Tom was described as a man worth knowing about, and from reading the news articles, I see what my brother meant. I would like to offer my thanks to Tom for his many different types of service to his country and to the world as a whole; my condolences to Tom's family and friends, and my congratulations to that same group for having had the opportunity to know him.
It is Tom's Birthday today. Let's remember him on this day. I am sure if he will be alive it would be a great day for him, but it is still another reason to celebrate his life. You are always with us Tom and we think about you. We think that we are just lucky to know you and we will go back in our memories and talk to you and get your wisdom for many years to come.
I had the pleasure of serving under/with Tom with the 15th CST as well as two contingency operations with the VTARNG. His knowlegde, leadership, proficiency and compassion drew me to him. When I first met him I was not sure what to think, he was one of the most interesting people I had ever met, yet often seemed distant to me. Only after spending time with him did I realize that if I could only get him talking of things he had done and knew of, I was in for a great treat. I will never forget how I felt when he looked me in the eye and we somehow connected. My son still remembers a round of mini-golf they played together when he was only 4. You simply do not forget Tom Stone. I was fortunate to know him and he will inspire me to always do more that I think I can for the rest of my life. His passing hurt, but I am proud to have known such a compassionate mand who did what he knew he had to do and did not let fear or uncertainty stand in his way. My heart goes out to Rose.
I met Tom in the early 80's when we both worked for the Aldous Funeral Home & Ambulance Service in Rutland. He was, without question, the most likeable guy I ever met. My wife and I had two toddlers back then and they loved him too, and of course it was reciprocated. One day he knocks on my door and says" I'm going to France to join the foreign legion, you can have my motorcycle, it's in the barn in Pomfret." Six months later there's a knock at the door, " they wouldn't take me and I'm not allowed back in Belgium, I guess i need the bike back." What a character.
I am Asa's daughter and I'm 11 years old. Tom Stone was my cousin. I had so many great adventures with Tom. He was given a key to our house, so he would often show up unexpected. We were always excited to have him here. Tom even came to my class after he had walked around the world! He talked to my class about his great experiences. Tom will always be a superstar to me!!!
I have known Tom when he had been in Russia in earlies 90-th. He had been my guest at my home. I am very sorry. Vladimir.
"Who the hell is this pilgrim...and who let him out of his backyard without a responsible adult to watch him??" Those were the first thoughts that went through my head when back in my bookstore in Phnom Penh in '98. I was busy shelving books when a man approached me and asked about the possibility of walking across Cambodia. "How could anyone be so ignorant and uninformed about Cambodia as to think of walking across a country that was still at war and half of which was still in the hands of the Khmer Rouge?? And how did this naive, ignorant pilgrim get this far in the first place???" " I heard that you are the person to talk to to get the best information on Cambodia." He politley said. It was only the fact that he was so humble and respectful that kept me from laughing in his face or burst out calling him the ignorant moron greenhorn pilgrim that he apparently was. But there was something about him that made me want to let the poor innocent down gently, so I calmy tried to talk some sense into his head. And so began a friendship that will extend beyond the here and now. Dear God Tom, I feel your presence. I know you are here.
visited us a few years ago, on his walk thru oz. Our son, then about 4 years old, remembers Tom singing to him..."I'm just a piece of tin, no one knows where I have bin..." a great man, a great spirit...
Each day you expect the pain of Tom`s passing to lessen....it doesn`t.Our friend was so full of caring and life it dwarfs the day...the moment.He was,and remains,a remarkable presence.God Bless and keep you,Tom!!
I am Tom Stone’s cousin, Eric Hazen. At his funeral I mentioned that I am raising monies as my Bar Mitzvah project in memory of Tom. After careful consideration and research we have chosen AmeriCares as they are willing to send the money for something that we know Tom was passionate about. This money will go to provide medical assistance to the Afghanistan people and will carry on the great work that Tom started. Tom was a huge part of my families life and we miss him every day. We hope this will be just the beginning of the legacy we can create in his memory. Donations may go to AmeriCares,88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 Attention: Kathy Bequary. PLEASE NOTE you must put Remember Tom Stone or RTS on the check memo in order for it to be placed in the proper account for Afghanistan. Tom, we miss you everyday!
The Men that Don't Fit In
There's a race of men that don't fit in, a race that can't stay still,
They break the hearts of kith and kin and they roam the earth at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood and they climb the mountain
crest,
Their's is the curse of the gypsy blood and they don't know how to rest,
If they just went straight they might go far, they are strong, and brave,
and true,
But they're never content with the things that are and they want the strange
and new,
Each says should he meet his proper groove what a deep mark he might make,
So they chop and change and with each fresh move is only a fresh mistake,
And each forgets as he strips and runs with a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, the quiet, the plodding ones that win in the lifelong race,
And each forgets that his youth has fled, forgets that his prime is past,
"Til he stands one day with a hope that's dead in the glare of the truth at
last,
He has failed! He has failed! He has missed his chance. He has just done
things by half,
Life's been a jolly good joke on him and now is the time to laugh,
Ha,Ha! He is one of the legion lost...he was never meant to win.
He's a rolling stone...it's bred in the bone,
He's a man that won't fit in.
This was Tom's favorite poem and written by the Scottish Poet Robert Service whom Tom admired. When Tom left on his 8 year round the world hike he gave me a book... "The Best of Robert Service" .He pointed this poem out as his favorite. God Bless you Tom......you are irreplaceable ....a remarkable human being. Godspeed, Lish Morgan
Learned about Tom from Jeff Duncan. He told me some of the story and directed me to this site. What an awesome example he sets for all of us.
Tom Instinctively knew that if you want to make the world better, you do it one person at a time, you be the example, and always show human compassion and honesty. Tom lacked the need to pretend to be, and had a need to drink deeply of life. Not the imitation life our society values, but the real life and what is truly important. I have never seen someone without ego and the need for material possession and frivolous comfort. Tom was that inspirational person. He lived in the moment and didn’t worry about tomorrow. The funny thing is that he often wondered if he was getting too material (impossible). As many many people can say, I will always miss him, and will never have a friend I think so highly of.
I have waited quite awhile to add my thoughts to this web site as it has taken me this long to come to grips with the fact that Tom will not be walking into our house anytime soon to tell me it was a “big mistake” . Tom entered my life through my husband –Asa (Tom’s first cousin). I met Tom close to 18 years ago when I was meeting Asa’s family. Immediately, Tom made me feel part of the family and I grew quite close to him. Tom spent the week, leading up to our wedding, doing my errands with me. He actually helped me choose a garter belt, a “sign-in” book, helped me pack for the honeymoon, and kept Asa and me so busy laughing, we had no time to be nervous for the wedding. Tom had keys to our apartment in NYC and, thereafter, to our house in Connecticut. He dropped by unexpectedly often and when he left to walk around the world we were part of his send-off party. By the time Tom returned to the States, we had 3 children (6, 4, and 3) and we surprised Tom up-state New York by sending the children in to a restaurant and going right up to Tom and saying “Hi. Tom”. The look on his face as he tried to figure out why these 3 blond children knew his name was priceless. When Asa and I showed ourselves, his reaction was even more amazing – and typical Tom. He advised us that he had to be in Pomfret, Vermont on a certain date but had time for a short visit (as long as we promised to return him to the spot we picked him up from). He spent the next several days bonding with our children, doing laundry (after flooding our basement twice), chopping wood, fixing a broken garage door and enjoying my home-baked goods! When he left I did what I always did – begged him to stay longer and made him promise to return soon.
As we were preparing for our son’s bar mitzvah (which took place this past September), we went through hundreds of photographs and were amazed how often Tom was actually with us. We threw him a small birthday party before he was 50 (and heading back to Afghanistan for a second time), we saw the “gates” in NYC with him; enjoyed hiking up snow-covered Vermont peaks with him, and he called me, on more than one occasion, to tell me he was in NYC (on leave), and could he come home with me for a few days. There was never enough time when he visited us – I, unlike the stoic Vermont family he was born into, was not above crying every time he left.
When word came of his death, our first concern was how the children would react. He was an integral part of their lives and they had so many future plans that Tom was a part of. His absence is enormous - our son changed his mitzvah project (a good deed all Jewish children must perform as part of their bar or bat mitzvah) to honor Tom. He has been working to raise money for Americares in honor of Tom. Tomorrow, our city Veterans Day parade takes place, and this year our family will be holding a huge banner to “Remember our Fallen Hero”, Tom Stone.
I’m so blessed to have known him and had him in my life for close to 20 years; I feel sorry for those people who never knew him. I know he died in a place he wanted to be, doing something he felt so strongly about.
So many memories and, yet, not nearly enough!
Today is the 1st anniversary of Tom's death..
I am in Cambodia.. we gave food and lotus flowers in Tom's memory to the monks this morning... fried pork chops, french fries and chocolate pie.. as the monks chanted we said Tom's name and it is the buddhist belief that the food will be sent to the person named to sustain them... his friend Sakith said it was his favorite meal here.. imagine...
Best, Alice
From:
Jodie Saunders [mailto:js2135@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 3:31 AM
Subject: My dear friend Tom.
After being in touch with Tom for 5 years we finally seemed to lose touch
through both of our constant wanderings. My home and email address changed on
numerous occasions and there were times when i was abroard for quite long
periods. It is to my eternal sadness that i let things slip, especially when
through no reply from Tom's email i decided to do a bit more digging only to
find that Tom my dear friend and kindred spirit had been killed.
We met in The Cameron Highlands of Malaysia in autumn 2006 and kept in touch by
letter, tape and susequently email. Our contact was usually intermittent, not
through intention but through circumstance, but we packed tonnes into our
letters.
I knew Tom was a restless soul and believed it may take 10 or even 20 years but
i honestly believed that our paths would cross again. We would sit chatting,
drinking coffee, eating chocolate cake and catching up on all that had
happened. Which was exactly what i did when i last saw Tom.
I only knew Tom for a very short period of time but he left a deep and lasting
impression on me. This experience has taught me not to be so lax in trying to
spend time with people who mean an awful lot to you.
I am a huge football(soccer to you) fan and my team anthem is "you'll never walk
alone". Tom may have done so in body but he never did in spirit.
Deep condolences to all who knew and loved Tom.
Tom, you'll never walk alone.
Love
Jodie
John DeModena
Sternberg Lab
California Institute of Technology
Division of Biology 156-29
Pasadena, California 91125
I thought I would write a brief note to you. I was going through some of my travel pictures and addresses from when I spent a year or so in SE asia in the mid 90's, and I came across the 'business card'
Tom gave me. I always smiled at the "except weekends" on it. I
only spent part of one day talking to him; talking about travel and places he had gone and was going... a bit of shared philosophy of life... nice conversation. I was in awe of him and what he was doing. I have kept his card all these years, and looked at it many times, wondering how his trip went and if he ever went to Cambodia.
(where he told me his brother, a photographer as i recall, was killed during the war). A web search tonight found an article that showed his return after 8 years. A more in depth one found this site.
Even though the meeting was brief, he left a lasting impression on me. And I feel a loss, even though I barely knew him. Clearly, from reading comments on your site, he was an even more amazing person than I imagined. He touched many lives.
Thank you for putting up the website.
Sunday 2/3/2008
I never met Tom Stone but I did come across this story.
Two summers ago two friends and I rode motorcycles from Vancouver to the Yukon and a bit of Alaska. On our return route we happened to end up spending the night near Teslin on the Alaska Highway at a place named, as I recall, Dawson Peaks Resort. A grand name for a modest establishment consisting of a few simple cabins and a café that served good food. The owner was a gregarious and interesting man and we easily struck up a conversation. That seems to happen when you travel by motorcycle…people talk to you.
That owner told us a story about a man who, years earlier, had walked into the café. He literally meant walked, as in walking the Alaska Highway and as in walking around the world. The walker had a meal and headed off towards his home in Vermont. But he returned a few hours later. New boots were causing him some problems. In any event he stayed at Dawson Peaks for a couple of weeks doing odd jobs in exchange for room and board and then departed again leaving the offending boots behind, which are apparently still there.
The owner baked cinnamon buns every morning and got into the habit of corralling a southward bound customer every day, giving him or her a bun and providing instructions to look for a man walking down the highway and to deliver the bun. So for a couple of weeks a trail of cinnamon buns was heading down the Alaska Highway seeking out a man who was walking around the world.
At one point the owner mentioned the walker’s name…Tom Stone. This meant nothing to me until he also told us that Tom had spent time in Cambodia searching for information about his brother who had disappeared there during the Vietnam War. I’m very interested in photography and I’ve been involved for many years on the board of a public art gallery that exhibits mainly photography. I knew the story of Dana Stone’s disappearance and it all clicked.
A nice story about an extraordinary person.
Norm Wexler Norm Wexler [nwexler@ewlaw.bc.ca]
Vancouver, B.C.
Jan 9, 2008
I lived with Doc Stone for two weeks at our mudhut in Sangin, and was there the morning he died. Since we were together all the time during those two weeks, I came to know him fairly well. He was the most down-to-earth person I ever met in my entire life, and I learned a lot about myself by exchanging philosophies and stories with him. He was extremely compassionate of the local people, and often would risk his own life to help them.
Roger Dube [rldube@gmail.com]
January 10, 2008
I was the Field Ordering Officer (a Navy supply officer who was also tasked to be an embedded trainer) they sent to help buy fuel, food, and repair parts. I worked with both the small band of SF guys and the other ETT's, and had the chance to know most everyone (naturally, I came to know the ETT's the best since I was staying at their camp)
Since I was standing watch from about 6:00 p.m. until midnight on 3/28/06, I was asleep when the firefight started. I was sleeping in an area which was taking enemy fire and had friendly fire flying overhead -- I felt it would be best to stay covered. Therefore, I didn't witness the actual incident. Unfortunately, nobody did in our camp. In fact, Max, who Stoney was tending to, had no idea how either one of them was hit. It was dark, and there was a lot of commotion. However, I do know that the SF guys knew their sector of fire. They were not 20-something year old Green Berets -- they were mainly in their 30's / early 40's. What I believe happened was the Afghans they hired to work base perimeter security got totally confused (they're diet doesn't help their eyesight either, especially without NODs). They were not ANA, but ex-holy warrior types that were paid by SF to man the entry control point with their AK-47's. The ECP was in line with our new generator and food tent. Both of these things were full of holes after the fight. The SF camp was almost diagonal from the generator and tent -- it seemed impossible SF could hit these things from their position. Therefore, I am convinced it came from one of the Afghans. What gets me is that the press report mentions it was a round from a 240B that hit him. The SF HMMWV's had this gun mounted on them, and they were positioned upward on a ramp to fire, but they were not in line with our camp. If the autopsy definitively proved it was a 240B round, then I'm absolutely baffled.
From:
Jodie Saunders [mailto:js2135@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 3:32 PM
I was just wondering whether the remebertomstone site is still active and
whether any more people have found the site and have wanted to leave comments.
I think of Tom often. And like many others am very saddened that our paths will
never cross again.
Having this website allows me and others to dip into Tom's very full life. To
cheer up a sad moment or just to remember the person Tom was. I would be
interested to know whether anyone else has added any thoughts of Tom.
Regards
Jodie
From:
Fuller, Gordon L. [mailto:Gordon.Fuller@ic.fbi.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 2:21 PM
To: Jeff@WB3B.com
Subject: Tom Stone
It was my great honor and privilege to be Tom’s commanding officer during October thru December 2001 when we trained and certified the 17 CST teams. I was extremely sad the day I was told that Tom had died. At the end of that 3 month period I felt like I had known him all my life, and could actually count him as a friend. He truly represented all the great qualities of a US Army non-commissioned officer, and was just a downright all around great person.
Gordon
Gordon L. Fuller
Unit Chief
Domestic Security Alliance Council
Criminal Investigative Division
FBI
W: 202-324-4936
C/BB: 202-731-5645
From: Stone, Mariah A [mailto:mariah.a.stone@us.army.mil]
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 3:01 PM
I am so grateful for this website, it brings tears to my eyes every time I read the wonderful things everyone has to say. I have been looking at it for years now and I would like to add my own words if possible. If you could add whatever of the following that seems appropriate I would appreciate it greatly! I will try to keep it less than novel length.
SPC Mariah Stone
_____________________
Tom Stone is my Father, Richard Stone's, first cousin. My earliest memory of Tom will never leave me. It was at his going away party, before thataround-the-world walk. I was a seven year old, overwhelmed by the crowds of people who turned out to wish him good travels. Tom made me feel like the only person there. He would seek me out to see how I was doing, and as the party came to an end I could be found ridding around on his shoulders. His energy was infectious, his connection honest and intense, and his heart so kind.
Tom sent us postcards regularly during his travels and me and my brother awaited them enthusiastically. His humorous anecdotes stayed on our refrigerator for months. I counted the years to his return impatiently. He was my real life super hero, living off of peanut butter. When he finally did return, more wrinkled and tan than I remembered, he was the one to remind me of that party, how much he had enjoyed my company.
Years passed with sparse contact. I heard bits and pieces of his deployments, but was never to see him again. I joined the Vermont National Guard on May 5th, 2006. I had told my parents I was considering this move but their concerns for my safety lead me to enlist without telling them. I went to see my mother a short time latter, having mustered the courage to tell her I had joined. I told her I had big news, and she said she had big news too and went first. She told me that they had just found out Tom had been killed in Afghanistan. I then had to proceed with my news as I fought back tears.
I am sad that I could not share this new phase in my life with him. I would give anything to have seen him home again, to have stood in my uniform just once and shaken his hand. Reading about Task Force Stone, and Camp Stone in Afghaninstan makes me so proud. He has touched so many. Thank you to all who have shared their stories.
From:
Justin Davis [mailto:Shakyamuni@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 4:34 AM
To:
Jeff@WB3B.com
Subject: Tom Stone
I was very much touched by reading about Tom's amazing life, and deeply sadden by his untimely death.
I believe his wonderful life teaches us about the important of the joy's of nature and the outdoors, the generally warm hearted and decent nature of people around the world. His untimely death, I believe teaches us about the evil propaganda behind all wars that leads good men to their needless deaths, heavy underlined by his death being caused by one of his fellow soilders.
No doubt your life is richer from having known Tom Stone personally. I hope you consider writing a book about this great man, and let his life's adventures truly serve his country for the understanding and benefit of all.
Yours Sincerely
J.Davis
New Zealand
From:
AUBREY EDGE [mailto:edgeaubrey@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2009 6:41 PM
To: Jeff@WB3B.com
Subject: {Spam?} Thomas!!
Long Tom.... My
Best Friend and co -conspirator in arms! WE sat across from each other in
English class in 1969-71 ..I helped him to spell .WE played Left and right end
on the football team at Woodstock High together four years runnin'! Mike Smith
and I practiced our sidestroke together in his fram pond in Pomfret before
joining the Navy SEALS...and finishing.......
.We
spent days camping out in the Los Padres National Park above Santa
Barbara,Calif.We counted Calif. Condors together in the Condor Preserve above
Ojai ,Calif....drank cheap wine by the fire and howled joyously at the Moon. God
Bless you Bud.!!! Miss you horribly. God Bless, Lish Morgan(now teaching younger
generation SEALS in art of survival...-)) Onward Tom......onward My
Friend................"Lisha"
From: Valentine, Marisue [mailto:Marisue.Valentine@tuck.dartmouth.edu]
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 1:02 PM
Subject: Tom Stone
I had known Tommy all of my life he was like a brother to me. Our families were very close and I have special memories being at the Stone Farm in Pomfret. I was and always will be proud of Tommy, I looked up to him and admired all of his accomplishments. I was so very hurt to have picked up the paper on a cold spring morning in 2006 to find that Tommy had lost his life! I still can't believe that this is real, he had so much to offer others. Why did this happen? I am not sure if his companion knew how close we were to him or how much he meant to our family. My brother and Tommy grew up together and remained best friends. They traveled the world together in hopes to find news about the whereabouts of Tommy's brother Dana. When my dad passed Tommy was there with love and support, when my mom passed he was in Afghanistan but called me from there. That was the kind of friend he was!! I do and will miss him forever and there is not a day that doesn't go by where he is not in my thoughts. My only wish is that I got to tell him how much he meant to me, my children and my parents. I hope Tommy knows all of the hearts he touched. You are missed John Thomas Stone and you will never be forgotten.
All my love,
Marisue Blanchard Valentine
From:
Montessoridad [mailto:montessoridad@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 9:00 PM
To: Jeff@WB3B.com
Subject: Remembering Tom Stone
|
Hello, I only today came across this Website about Tom Stone. I met him, though only for one evening, in Bangkok, Thailand. Tom showed up at my workplace, as I recall, as Bert of Bert's Books had given him my business card. I had met Bert back then as I then worked for a company, Asia Books. I quickly realized that this was a man on a 'quest', and that it is our obligation to take care of such travellers when they cross our path. I took him out for dinner, and my version of a tour of the town. Tom told stories of his travels and people he knew. I still have his 'traveller's' business card. For years, after I returned to Canada, I would tell people about this amazing guy I had met who was WALKING AROUND THE WORLD ! I guess I had met him a decade and a half ago, or so, and this was a guy who was a strong enough human presence to still be the source of a good story after all those years. I don't know why I never Googled him before...but I did today and was saddened to hear of his death. I was also amazed, or maybe I wasn't actually, that there are so many others out there, around the world, who remember this amazing guy as well. Thank you for maintaining this Website. Christopher Mardon Vancouver, B.C. |
From: C Van <vandakar80gs@gmail.com>
Date: April 7, 2019 at 7:54:47 PM CDT
Subject: John Thomas Stone Monument Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
To a friend or family member of John Thomas StoneI work with Colin of the 15th CST Team in Vermont to raise money for this monument to Tom.I met him in the National Guard Civil Support Team program in 2000. We felt his ground breaking efforts to start this teams that have helped in some many national disasters such as 9-11, Hurricane Katrina and more - were required some level of memorial. The monument is located at the Terry Facility were we continue to train National Guard team members and others to help Americans in need. Tom was an inspiration to me and many others and his legacy endures.Chris Van Alstyne907-202-3755
Planting trees in Afghanistan - Rose Love
