"I made two deployments, one to WestPac, helping people, and the second was delivering naval gunfire up and down the coast of Vietnam.”
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Stumpf, USMC
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the July 2019 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Stumpf. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Stumpf at the USS Topeka CLG-8 reunion at Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the summer of 2018.
Thomas Stumpf enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve upon graduation from high school in August of 1950. After attending his first summer camp training, he was ordered to Camp Lejeune and Quantico Virginia. Stumpf attended advanced combat training and was assigned to become a drill instructor in San Diego before returning to civilian life as a reservist. He then attended the Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 1958. Upon graduation, Stumpf became a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He progressed up the ranks and was assigned to different stations where he learned valuable lessons which would impact his future commands.
His first service at sea was aboard the USS Topeka as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment. Stumpf recalled, "we had responsibilities for landing parties and my main responsibility was to protect our nuclear weapons." While on board, Stumpf participated in two different Western Pacific cruises, he remarked, "I made two deployments, one to WestPac, helping people, and the second was delivering naval gunfire up and down the coast of Vietnam.”
Following his service at sea, Stumpf was ordered to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. In Vietnam he first commanded a rifle company and participated in different search and destroy operations to disrupt the enemy operations. While in Vietnam he was promoted to Company Commander in the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Due to wounds sustained on his second tour he was ordered home and served in Force Logistics Command.
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Stumpf, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.
To view this interview please visit the USS Topeka CLG-8 Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.
Interview of Thomas Stumpf Part One Joining the United States Marine Reserves During the Korean War
Interview of Thomas Stumpf Part Two Memories Commanding the Marine Detachment on the USS Topeka CLG 8
Interview of Thomas Stumpf Part Three Service in Vietnam in the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Division
Interview of Thomas Stumpf Part Four Service in Force Logistics Command and Final Assignments in the United States Marines