Ronald R. Van Stockum

Ronald Reginald Van Stockum (July 8, 1916 – April 24, 2022) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. A veteran of Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima campaigns, Van Stockum was most noted for his service as director of the Marine Corps Reserve and later as commanding general of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (Forward) on Okinawa during the Vietnam War.

Early career Van Stockum was born as Ronald Reginald Bareham on July 8, 1916, in Newton, Cambridgeshire, England, the son of Reginald George Bareham and Florence Rosetta Freestone. He never met his father, who was killed in action, while serving as sergeant with the British Army during the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, a week after his 22nd birthday and a week before Ronald's birth. In early 1918, his mother Florence joined the newly established Women's Royal Air Force, serving as an ambulance driver until a few months after the end of World War I, when the WRAF was deactivated.

Because his mother Florence was not a U.S. citizen, she was denied entry to the United States. The obvious solution to the problem was marriage with Anton. They were married on May 20, 1920, and Florence and infant Ronald were allowed entry into the United States. Ronald was later also adopted by Anton and renamed Van Stockum.

Post-war career Van Stockum returned to the United States in April 1945 and assumed duty as an instructor, Troop Training Unit, Pacific Fleet at Camp Pendleton, California, under Brigadier General Harry K. Pickett. He was engaged in training of Army and Marine units in Amphibious Operations until January 1947, when he was ordered to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for duty as Inspector-Instructor with 4th Marine Reserve Infantry Battalion.

With the increasing deployment of Marine units to Vietnam, Van Stockum visited III Marine Amphibious Force headquarters under Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt at Danang and 3rd Marine Division combat bases at Chu Lai and Phu Bai. Van Stockum completed his observation tour in Saigon. He distinguished himself in this capacity and received the Legion of Merit.

During his tenure with Louisville Armed Forces Committee, Van Stockum hosted President Gerald Ford in May 1976 during President's visit to Louisville. By the early 1990s, Van Stockum had retired to his farm in Shelbyville where he and his sons organized his papers to be donated to The Filson.

General Van Stockum was married to Susanne de Charette Van Stockum (1915–2000) for 51 years. She was a granddaughter of the French General, Baron Athanase-Charles-Marie Charette de la Contrie, Commander of the Papal Zouaves in Rome and hero of the Franco-Prussian War. Through her grandfather she was a direct descendant of King Charles X of France. Van Stockum was the parent of three children: a daughter Michele, and sons Reggie and Charlie.

Work He was the author of several historical books and in addition to his books, Van Stockum wrote over 260 historical columns published in the Shelby County, Kentucky's Sentinel-News and numerous other articles in other publications.

His books:

Kentucky and the Bourbons: The Story of Allen Dale Farm Squire Boone and Nicholas Meriwether: Kentucky Pioneers Remembrances of World Wars Coming to Kentucky: Heaven is a Kentucky of a Place My Father: British Sergeant Reginald G. Bareham (1894–1916) and The Battle of the Somme La Maison de Charette de la Contrie

Decorations Here are the decorations of Van Stockum: