Lieutenant General Henry Charles "Hank" Stackpole III passed away May 29, 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

General Stackpole was born on May 7th, 1935 in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Princeton University in 1957 with a B.A. in English. Soon after, he began an illustrious career in the Marine Corps, spanning more than 30 years. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart with gold star, the Government of Japan Order of The Rising Sun, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company I, 3rdBattalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.

Between May 10 and June 13, 1991, he was the commander of Joint Task Force Sea Angel, one of the largest military disaster relief forces ever assembled, tasked with aiding the people of Bangladesh in the wake of the destruction of the tropical cyclone Marian.

Lt. Gen. Stackpole retired from the Marine Corps on September 1, 1994. His last active duty assignment was as the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, headquartered at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Stackpole served as president of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and remained a public figure in Hawaii. He took every opportunity to attend official MARFORPAC ceremonies in addition to being continually recognized as the oldest Marine in attendance at the MARFORPAC Marine Corps Birthday Balls.

The General was also recognized by Navy League Honolulu Council with the distinction of being an “American Patriot”. He was honored for his work, leadership and lifelong commitment to the country and to the United States Marine Corps.