By Staff
Special to The Star
June 13, 2001
Col. John O. Stone of Meridian has retired after a 32-year military career.
During his farewell banquet held in Jackson last month, Stone was awarded the Legion of Merit medal, the highest peacetime award given in the military, and the Horatio B. Gates medal, which is the highest award given to an Adjutant General soldier.
Brigadier General Michael D. Rochelle, Commanding General, U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute, presented Stone with the Gates medal. Only 200 soldiers have received the award and Stone is only the second Army reservist to be a recipient.
Stone, 51, works as an account manager with Trest and Clopton in Meridian.
Family, friends and work associates attended the celebration.