Jim “Stoney” Stone

Name: Jim Stone             

Road Name: Stoney

FNG Year: 2007

How many times have you been All the Way? 7         

And how many times have you been a Participant? 3

On Which Route (Routes) did you ride? Southern

What is your favorite Run for the Wall memory?

So many memories… 5 May 2009 flying from London to DFW I met a Flight Attendant whose brother went down 3 December 1969…. 10 May 2009 I met a Road Guard named Baron, the pilot who took Marty’s place on 4 December 1969…   Leading RFTW XXVII Southern Route and laying the Wreath at The Tomb are two of the great privileges of my life and things I shall NEVER forget

Have you held any positions as a volunteer on the Run?  If you have, which Positions have you held?  Road Guard, 2009 – 2014,2016 and 2020; ARC 2014 and RC 2015

Are you a Military Veteran, or do you have a military background or a relationship with a member of the Military?  Navy Vet, son of a Marine (Mom) and an Army FO (Dad) Vets

Are you a Gold Star or Blue Star family member? No

What inspired you to participate in the RFTW the first time?  Rolling Thunder XX

What brought you back?  The people and The Mission

Have you participated in Rolling Thunder? 2007 and again in 2009 with my Wife and Daughter.

Are you planning on participating in Rolling to Remember (the AMVETS event that replaces Rolling Thunder)? No

Give us a few words about “WHY YOU RIDE.”

In April 1975 I participated with HC-1 Det 2, on board USS Midway, in Operation Frequent Wind and I have always felt we did not get all the right people out.  My first trip to The Wall was in 2000.  I bought a bracelet for Robert Alan Clark of VA-115, shot down off Midway on 10 January, 1973. 

In 2005 I was in DC and ran into a bunch of gray-haired bikers participating in Rolling Thunder, ‘A demonstration for the MIA’s…’  I bought my first Harley in 2006 with the intent of participating in RT XX with some friends from Kalifornia.  When they could not ride in 2007, I searched the Internet and found RFTW.  I sent a note to Tadpole on his day one and he asked me to meet him in Weatherford, TX… since 2007 I have only missed The Run because of Back Surgery, an unfortunate mounting mistake enroute to RFTW XXX and my daughter’s wedding in 2019!

I have ridden each year for the Vets I have met around the world who could not participate and those who are still not home.

I ride to Continue The Mission.

Charlie Mike

Stoney