The debt we as a nation owe to the older generation cannot be understated, and Judson Stone knows this firsthand. As the son of a WWII veteran who continued to serve his country for decades after the war, Judson had an up-close and personal view of the older generation. Readers may not know the name of Colonel Frederic A. Stone, but he certainly led an extraordinary life, and in this new biography of his father, Judson Stone highlights the qualities that made his father, in many ways, a typical American and others. an extraordinary man.
Like most biographies, A Final Chapter of the Greatest Generation begins with a bit of family history, which I found fascinating. The Stone family can trace their lineage back to the Mayflower, and theirs is a story that has seen many significant moments in American history and they have rubbed shoulders with many of America’s greatest men, including Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. And yet these were also typical middle-class Americans who simply worked hard to earn a living and be good citizens. Perhaps most notable is the family’s consistent faith in God, which ultimately led to Judson Stone becoming a minister.
As for Colonel Frederic Stone himself, his story is one of growing up in New York in the 1920s and 1930s, falling in love, trying to decide what to do with his life, and ultimately becoming an aviator in WWII. Some of the most interesting moments in the book describe how Stone was part of the campaign to fly over the hump in Asia.
After the war, Colonel Stone returned home and decided to practice medicine while he remained in the Air Force and was stationed in various parts of the country. One of his greatest accomplishments was serving as part of the medical recovery team for three lunar missions, Apollo 7, 9 and 10, the last being a dress rehearsal for landing a man on the moon.
While Judson Stone details the important events in his father’s life, he also places them in the larger context of how national and international events affected his family, ever since the Surgeon General’s warning against smoking in 1964 that made his parents quit smoking, even how the Kennedy assassination stunned the nation and the changes in opinion about race in America.
After his retirement, Colonel Stone remained an extraordinary man, and his wife joined him in his efforts. They became missionaries in Africa, and their medical skills served them well in their quest to help others while spreading the Gospel. One of the most surprising and moving moments in the book comes when, in gratitude for Colonel Stone’s medical service, the local chief proceeded to roll on the ground in front of him, as a sign of respect for a guest of honor, an honor that the boss had only been awarded once before in his life.
Adding to Colonel Stone’s professional life are Judson Stone’s personal memories of his father, including their various vacations together, his father’s advice, and ultimately the care that Judson provided for his parents at the end of their lives.
A final chapter of the older generation is, in many ways, the story of an American family that is very much like you and me. At the same time, it is the story of an extraordinary man who was there to serve his nation, his God, and his fellow men when needed. It is a book that reminds us that we are all capable of greatness in our daily lives, and it is especially a testament to the love of a father and son for one another and an inspiration to all of us.