In Memory of Master Sergent Joseph Gary Stansell lost to Agent Orange in 2015.

Joseph was in the United States Army and served in Vietnam in 1968. On May 1, 1968 Specialist First Class Stansell proved his mettle. In the back of a UH-helicopter during the battle of Phouc Yen in Quang Dien Province in Vietnam, he was responsible for the delivery system of a riot control.

While the helicopter made the first low pass over known enemy position, violent small arms and automatic weapons fire was directed at the aircraft. My father kept his cool and without hesitation continued to operate the chemical delivery system. His actions directly contributed to the saving of many American lives and assisted in inflecting great casualties on the enemy force.

His heroic actions that day earned him an Air Medal with the “V” device for valor. Throughout the year as the Mission Operations Sergent in the 101st Airborne Division Chemical Section, his hard work, efforts at improving CBR training systems, flexibility in constantly changing counterinsurgency operations and clam demeanor under hostile conditions earned him the Bronze Star.

My father served 22 years in the US Army and retired December 32,1976 from Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland after serving his final year in the Army as the Chemical Operations sergent at the Manufacturing Techology Directorate.

Joseph passed away August 9, 2015 from multiple complications. He was 100% VA disabled due to Agent Orange and had been bedridden for almost 5 years.

I honor his service to this country and others, while grieving for him and the many others who have lost their lives because of this service.

Lisa Stansell