The American Legion is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2019. In addition to national and statewide activities commemorating this milestone, American Post 328 of St. Joseph is planning a number of festive and patriotic activities for the community.
One of those special events will be profiles of St. Joseph-area veterans published in each Newsleader during 2019. The Newsleader is joining with Post 328 to recognize veterans and Legion members who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of conflict and Cold War tensions.
by Tom Klecker
St. Joseph American Legion
Gilbert Joseph Stock, 87, U.S. Army, Korean War era
Gilbert was born and raised on the family farm in rural St. Joseph. For five generations the Stock family has farmed this particular land.
Gilbert was one of 13 siblings. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1950.
Being a farm kid, Gilbert was not unfamiliar with hard work. Putting up firewood for the winter one year, he was hit in the head by a double-bit ax. Lesson learned: don’t get too close to your work.
Gilbert was drafted on Feb. 3, 1953. He was 22 years old. Actually, Gilbert went down to the local draft board with his brother and volunteered to take his brother’s place, so his brother could manage his aunt’s farm.
Gilbert was inducted into the army at Fort Sheridan, Ill. After processing, he was put on the train for Camp Chaffey, Ark. From there he was sent to Fort Sill, Okla., for 16 weeks of basic training and artillery training. Finally, he was ordered to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to the 247th Field Artillery – Missile Battalion. In the army, the artillery is the supporting element for the infantry and armor units.
In 1952, the 247th, in addition to operating 105 howitzer cannons, became responsible for developing skills for the Corporal missile system. At that time in the ongoing development of weapon systems, this was tantamount to Gilbert being introduced to a “Buck Rogers” or the “Flash Gordon” world of battlefield options.
The Corporal-guided missile was 83 feet long and could travel 100 miles. The Corporal was this country’s first nuclear missile.
The reader can well appreciate the technical training required of Gilbert given the sophistication of that particular weapon system.
Gilbert spent the rest of his military tour at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Reflecting upon his army days, Gilbert recalls the food as “pretty bad.” “When we had liver it was green, Some of us thought it was horse liver.” Gilbert recalls meeting a lot of different people, different ethnic groups, those not necessarily found in Stearns County at the time.
Fort Bliss, near the Mexican border, had its share of dust storms. Often the fine sand would find a way to blow into the barracks, thus requiring a “sand detail.”
Gilbert says he felt “overall” the army was a good experience. “The army helped me grow up and learn leadership.” He said he felt fortunate in that a third of his basic training group went to Korea.
With minimal reluctance to share, Gilbert relays a situation in which he became embroiled in an argument with his sergeant. The situation quickly accelerated into a pushing and shoving match. As a consequence of this altercation, Gilbert had the unenviable distinction of being promoted from PFC to corporal the very same day he was demoted from corporal back to PFC. “I lost a pay raise of $21 a month that day.”
Gilbert was discharged from army active duty on Feb. 3, 1955. “An Army buddy drove me to Owatonna and from there I took a bus to St. Joseph.”
Upon returning to civilian life, Gilbert worked as a carpenter for two-and-a-half years whereupon he resumed his life-long love of farming. In addition to farming, Gilbert was a full-time rural mail carrier for 33 years.
Gilbert married Theresa in 1957. They were married for 57 years. Theresa passed away in 2011. For six years prior to her death, Gilbert cared for her at home. From this union, Theresa and Gilbert had seven children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In 1990, Gilbert turned the farm over to a son, built a comfortable home on the property and “somewhat retired.”
In retirement, he has many interests. Gilbert has been active in American Legion Post 328- St. Joseph for 62 years. Last year was the first time he could not march on Memorial Day. For three years Gilbert was the American Legion Post commander and served five years as vice commander.
A good man never to be held down, Gilbert is recovering from a recent hip-replacement surgery.
Gilbert Stock in 1953, age 22.
Gilbert Stock.
