We are very saddened by the news of the passing of retired U.S. Marine Corp Lt. Gen. Henry “Hank” C. Stackpole. He served as the President of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (1998-2005) and most recently as a Chair of the Foundation for the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
Before his time at the Center, Lt. Gen. Stackpole honorably served in the Marine Corps for 37 years and was the recipient of many distinguished awards to include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and the Defense Superior Service Medals. A Princeton Alumni, Hank held numerous commands in the Marine Corps to include Commander of Marine Forces Pacific and Fleet Marine Force and the Joint Task Force Sea Angel.
A number of staff members who served with him at the Center while he was the Director shared their thoughts on how they remember him:
“When I think of Lt. Gen. Stackpole, I see a leader with grace.”
“I have the highest respect for Lt. Gen. Stackpole. I saw a man who would fight to the death for his people.”
“He was a good mentor and a great guy for the Center. He set the standards in the beginning. A super nice guy who wanted to always do the right thing. He understood the value of the Center’s unique role in building relationships with international partners. He was big in developing these relationships face-to-face.”
“Something you may not know about Lt. Gen. Stackpole, he did such an awesome job as the JTF Commander for Operation Sea Angel that the people from Bangladesh named a school after him!”
“While at Princeton, he excelled in football and baseball. I remember how well he spoke and I asked him about that one day. He said it came from the time he was at Princeton and was a sports announcer for their hockey and basketball games.”
“He was a great leader who was never afraid to speak his mind and always had the courage to tell the truth no matter what the consequences.”
“Last awesome reflection on Hank by one of our ohana – he was actually listed Killed in Action (KIA) during his time in Vietnam. A Chaplain noticed a hand twitch from one of the cadavers in the morgue. After closer inspection, they realized that the person was alive. That person was CAPT Hank Stackpole, USMC! That Marine recovered, continued to serve and ended up getting 3 Stars. I didn’t hear that story from General Stackpole, I heard it from a Medal of Honor winner who was singling Hank Stackpole out at a Memorial Day service. … Hank got a standing ovation.”
In a statement to Center employees, Director Pete Gumataotao said: “We will miss you Hank and as evident from the reflections by those that served with you at our Center – you were already light-years ahead in living Ike Pono one small Aloha step at a time. Semper Fi Hank, Semper Fi Marine!”
Our deepest condolences to Mrs. Vivien Stackpole, his wife of more than 55 years. Our thoughts and prayers for her loss.
We will not see another one like LtGen Hank Stackpole again. He was a warrior’s warrior, a scholar, a great Marine, but more importantly a first class gentleman of the highest order. Bev and I can only offer our prayers from the mainland.
Rest in Peace General. Condolences to his family and loved ones, friends and kind aides. He was one of the very few of a kind, became one of my top favorite stars to this day. Very memorable serving with you and you while with 9th MEB and III MEF Command Element included were the restless days and sleepless nights during the prep through SEA ANGEL 1991, yes, with Navy Surgeon Captain Coombs, Commander Godby and the Marines, (then later was ordered to FIERY Vigil ’91 and then on to I MEF. Cherished the moments you have me seat next to you during those long flights and the stories you shared. I wish we could have made a stopover on Batan Island where I grew up and could have shown the more ancient life there back then, but, more important was a stopover of our USMC air wingers during flights between Oki and Luzon. Thank you for all that you did for our nation. Thank you for allowing us to meet your family during Oki days. It was a great honor to serve a great man which is you. Thank you and THANK YOU forever… from an old FMF Doc Castano Oorah! Long live the US Marines.
I was his “clerk” in Vietnam. I was one of his infantrymen but Capt Stackpole drafted me because I could type. I was wounded a couple days before he was and only heard later when I returned how lucky he was to survive. I checked the wall to ensure he survived and was later surprised to learn he not only survived his wound but spent 30 more years in the Corps. Just wanted to say Goodnight Captain. See you again soon…..
I was the USAID Director in Bangladesh during the 1991 cyclone and worked closely with General Hank Stackpole during Operation Sea Angel. He made an incredibly positive impact on all he met: a brilliant natural leader, friendly, supportive, down to earth, genuine, warm. The JTF was a big success greatly appreciated by the Bangladeshis and by the US Embassy and USAID. This all happened in about 6 weeks of 18-hour days, but I remember it – and Gen. Stackpole – as if it was yesterday. My sincere condolences to his loved ones. And colleagues.