Stokes retires after 38 years

By Yvette Smith, Fort Campbell CourierDecember 12, 2014

Stokes retires after 38 years
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Members of the Fort Campbell community and distinguished guests bid a fond farewell to Van Stokes, deputy director for the Fort Campbell Morale, Welfare and Recreation department, at his retirement luncheon ceremony Monday at Cole Park Commons.

Stokes will retire after 38 years of civilian service, 29 of which was served at Fort Campbell as the MWR sports director, chief of community recreation and deputy director for MWR.

"I feel blessed and extremely grateful to have had the type of fulfilling job I had," said Stokes. "I will always be a cheerleader for Fort Campbell and I will always stand up for our military men and women in uniform."

Stokes vividly remembers his arrival to Fort Campbell in 1985, an arrival that was marked by tragedy. On Dec. 12 of 1985, 248 Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, were killed when their plane crashed near Gander, Newfoundland, as they returned home from their six-month peacekeeping mission to the Sinai Peninsula.

"I know exactly where I was when I found out," said Stokes. "I also know the pain and the grief that covered this community after that tragic loss. And I never forgot that. My office is located right across the street from Gander Memorial. I see it every day I come to work, and it is a visual reminder of how important our Soldiers are and how we cannot take a single one for granted and when we go out to provide service and try to help them to become stronger Soldiers and more resilient, we can never do enough -- period."

During his time as the sports director, chief of community recreation and deputy director for MWR, Stokes has enjoyed working with Soldiers and their Families and worked closely with the military and the civilian communities in support the installation's MWR programs.

During his tenure, Stokes is most proud of Fort Campbell's significant improvements to outdoor recreation, which included numerous construction and renovation projects.

"We recently opened the new physical fitness center, near Gate 10 which is a state-of-the-art facility and I am very pleased that that facility is on line and serving Soldiers and their Families," said Stokes. "Since I've been here, we have constructed Freedom Fighters Physical Fitness Center, put two softball complexes in place, have made a number of improvements in outdoor recreation, modernized ESTEP wellness center and we have had a lot of constructions and renovations go into our pools."

"I am very proud of all the programs and facilities that we have been able to put together, to raise the level of morale for Soldiers and their Families," said Stokes.

Stokes has also dedicated his time to the promotion, education and broadcast of the sport of wrestling nationally and internationally and was named USA Wrestling's Man of the Year in 2008 for his contributions to the sport.

He was a post team leader at the 1995 Pan American Games and served in leadership positions in international competitions in France, Russia, Argentina and Cuba, among others. Stokes also served as the assistant producer during the World Wrestling Championships in 1995 and 2003 and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he was responsible for announcements, medal ceremonies and overall event presentation.

Locally, Stokes serves as a sports broadcaster for Austin Peay State University, something he hopes to continue to do during retirement.

"The decision that led to my retirement is the opportunity to spend more time with my grandkids and continue to pursue things I have been doing," said Stokes. "I really enjoy sports announcing and have been doing baseball and football for Austin Peay State University for the past several years. I hope to continue that. I also look forward to working with the Olympic community during my retirement."

Stokes will be replaced by Gary Burton, a former vice president at AAFES, who will have big shoes to fill. Evident by the amount of people present at the jam packed luncheon, Stokes has made a deep and lasting impression on many during his time on the installation, including Fort Campbell MWR marketing director Melissa A. Schaffner.

"Van was my Leadership Fort Campbell mentor and continued as my mentor long after I graduated," said Schaffner. "The thing that he said to me that I apply and use most often is -- why would anyone want to be lead by me -- in other words, it is my responsibility to be a person that others want to follow, that people choose to follow, in terms of leadership. You get respect and followers by your position but you want to be a leader that people choose to follow. That's the kind of person he is. He uses his heart and emotions and is invested in people."

As he prepares to transition into retirement, Stokes acknowledges his permanent and heartfelt tie to the Fort Campbell community.

"I am not leaving the area and I look forward to supporting Fort Campbell as a volunteer or in any way I can," said Stokes.

His purposeful retirement date -- today -- serves as testament to his personal and emotional tie to the Soldiers and Families of Fort Campbell.

"Friday is the Gander anniversary and so I will always link my career with the Gander anniversary," said Stokes. "I will take a lot of memories away with me and I will always remember our Soldiers as they prepared for deployment and went forth and did the nation's business -- I will never forget that."

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