MTSU True Blue Day at Sounds game honors decorated Vietnam-era war hero Stogner

Horace Stogner, left, a highly decorated Vietnam-era war veteran, meets Nashville Sounds’ manager Rick Sweet, right, as Stogner’s wife, Catherine, and Keith M. Huber, Middle Tennessee State University senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, observe Sunday, May 25, during pregame activities for the MTSU True Blue Day and Sounds’ Salute to Armed Forces game at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. The game was called after 1½ innings because of rain. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Horace N. Stogner Jr., of Murfreesboro, earned a Silver Star, four Bronze Stars (three for valor) and three Purple Hearts while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam in the 1960s.

On the eve of Memorial Day, a federal holiday honoring and mourning military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, Capt. Stogner was recognized Sunday, May 25, by the Nashville Sounds during the True Blue Day and Sounds’ Salute to Armed Forces game presented by Middle Tennessee State University.

The Nashville Sounds recognized decorated Vietnam-era veteran Horace Stogner of Murfreesboro before the start of the Sunday, May 25, Salute to Armed Forces game at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. Shown, back row from left, are national anthem singer Rachel Lipsky; Stogner, an Army captain and former MTSU academic advisor; Keith Huber, senior advisor for veterans and leadership initiatives and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general; and MTSU mascot Lightning; and front row, from left, Catherine Stogner, retired Middle Tennessee State University human sciences associate professor, and Sounds’ mascot Brewster the Rooster. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Horace N. Stogner Jr., decorated Vietnam war hero — Horace N. Stogner Jr.

Stogner was joined by family members and close friend Laurie Witherow, vice provost for MTSU Enrollment Management, during ceremonies.

The game between the Sounds and the visiting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at First Horizon Park, was eventually called because of rain after 1.5 innings.

The Sounds and MTSU made it a special day for veterans and active military personnel until heavy rained forced the postponement.

Future partnership games this season for MTSU and the Sounds, the International League Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, include:

As a U.S. Army infantryman in Vietnam in 1968, Horace N. Stogner Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and formerly from Raeford, N.C., received a head injury when struck by an enemy mortar shell (his dented helmet shows the effect), earning him one of three Purple Heart awards. Stogner, a former Middle Tennessee State University academic advisor, will be honored Sunday, May 25, during True Blue Day and Salute to Armed Forces at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. (Submitted photo)

• Scout Night presented by MTSU, first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, July 19, for the Sounds game against visiting Indianapolis.

• First Responders Night, first pitch 6:35 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, when the Sounds face Gwinett.

Sounds’ players, manager and coaches wore special military jerseys for Sunday’s game and will again for the Sept. 11 game.

The MTSU Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center worked with the Sounds for a special T-shirt/ticket purchase. For details, visit https://www.milb.com/nashville or call 615-690-4487.

Middle Tennessee State University ROTC color guard members, from left, Keira Warren, Ridge Boehms, Shaun Debien and Samuel Carlson bring the American and state flags onto the field before the playing of the national anthem during the Sunday May 25, MTSU True Blue Day and Sounds’ Salute to Armed Forces game that eventually was rained out at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Hero turned academic advisor

A Raeford, North Carolina, native, Stogner enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17. He needed parental approval since he was underage. He graduated from high school early, taking summer classes in order to enlist.

Stogner initially went into the infantry following basic training. He arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in April 1966 and joined the Army’s 1^st Battalion/7^th Calvary Regiment.

He received a severe head wound from being shot in the head in 1968 and was sent back to the U.S. for recovery. This marked his second Purple Heart since deploying to Vietnam.

Released from medical care and healthy, Stogner returned to Vietnam, this time as part of the 110th Cavalry. He was shot again (earning a third Purple Heart) and sent home. Army policy was that after the third Purple Heart, the service member had to return stateside.

With machine gun ammunition strapped to his shoulder, then-U.S. Army infantryman Horace N. Stogner Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and formerly from Raeford, N.C., walks across a war-torn Vietnam field during a break from fighting North Vietnamese enemy in the late 1960s. Stogner, who would a Silver Star, four Bronze Stars (three for valor) and three Purple Hearts, will be recognized for his heroic efforts Sunday, May 25, during the MTSU True Blue Day at the Nashville Sounds’ Salute to Armed Forces game at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. (Submitted photo) — With ammunition strapped to his shoulder, then-U.S. Army infantryman Horace N. Stogner Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and formerly from Raeford, N.C., walks across a war-torn Vietnam field during a break from fighting North Vietnamese enemy in the late 1960s. Stogner, who would a Silver Star, four Bronze Stars (three for valor) and three Purple Hearts, will be recognized for his heroic efforts Sunday, May 25, during the MTSU True Blue Day at the Nashville Sounds’ Salute to Armed Forces game at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tenn. (Submitted photo)

Stogner’s term of service ended in 1969. He left the Army and went to college, graduating from Brigham Young University in 1971.

He met his future wife, Catherine, at Duke University. They married and started a family.

Stogner reenlisted in 1972 and was assigned to the Army’s 82^nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C. He was an honor graduate in all military schools and received a direct commission in 1974.

He moved from Fort Bragg to Fort Benning in Georgia, where he became a top-rated jumpmaster. He commanded a Reconnaissance Unit for the 82^nd in Granada, commanded Airborne School at Fort Benning and was a Pathfinder — highly specialized soldiers tasked with preparing the area for airborne operations and providing navigational support to the aircraft.

Capt. Stogner retired from military service in 1996, with approximately 25 years active duty between his enlisted and officer times.

The Stogners moved to Murfreesboro, where he was an academic advisor for 10 years in the Academic Support Center at MTSU before retiring and Catherine Stogner was an associate professor in the MTSU Department of Human Sciences before retiring.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)