Growing up in a military family, you are raised on stories with real heros. Sure, you aren’t immune to the media and hearing about sports figures and actors and public figures, but in a military family, they are not typically revered as they are in regular society.

In military families you grow up hearing of Rickovers and Chesty Pullers… and Admiral James Stockdale’s.

The daughter of a Naval Aviator who served in ‘nam, I knew of James Stockdale before the rest of America knew of him… and America only knew him as a guy who ran with Ross Perot and happened to not look great on TV.

What a loss to any American if they never bothered to get to know who he really was… the brilliant mind and true hero, although I am sure he would not have been happy to be considered one… as true heros are also amazingly humble.

As the readers of my blog know, I have attended many a forum where the speaker was a POW from Vietnam. The last one I attended in April, where the gentleman spoke with such passion about the men he was imprisoned with in ‘nam. One of them was James Stockdale. Admiral Stockdale gave them hope when they felt there was none. He led where others would never have been able. He made them realize that it was alright to break at the hands of their captures… as nobody was immune.

My throat closes off in grief that this great man is gone. It is truly a great loss to our society. He was a hero among modern heros… and for his leaving us, I cry.

Go HERE for an article about his passing. If you want to know more about this great man… no need for me to link. Just google Admiral James Stockdale and you’ll find a wealth of information.

UPDATE: Link HERE for Admiral Stockdale’s official site.