APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – For Retired Sergeant Major Tony Stockman, the Marine Corps has been more than just a career; it has been his life.
“It’s surreal, I was a Marine longer than I’ve been a civilian,” Stockman said.
Stockman’s journey started after he was inspired by his boss at a local hardware store. And when Stockman was late to his shift, he was given an option.
“My boss told me that either you can be fired or you can do 10 pushups for every minute you were late, so that shift I probably did 300 pushups,” Stockman said.
Stockman joined the Marines out of high school, and from the moment he graduated from boot camp, he knew he had found his calling.
“It’s the first time your drill sergeant will come up to you, shake your hand, and place an anchor in your hand, and it’s instant water works,” Stockman said.
Throughout his 20 years of service, Stockman wore many hats. He was a drill instructor, recruiter and was deployed multiple times; however, one role stands out.
“Probably one of my most rewarding jobs as a Marine was shaping future Marines and making Marines myself,” Stockman said.
Click here for more Hometown Heroes stories
Stockman says that watching their careers unfold is the most impactful.
“Everyone remembers their sergeant… following their careers afterward was amazing,” Stockman said.
Photo provided by Tony Stockman
Photo provided by Tony Stockman
His 20 years of service earned him the highest title a Marine can have, becoming a Sergeant Major.
“Becoming a Sergeant Major at 18 years is unheard of. They promote you off your future potential, not off your past success,” Stockman said.
What he earned from his time in the service were the memories he will never forget.
“You make a lot of good memories on the deployments and remember the bad ones,” Stockman said.
Hometown Heroes: Purple Heart recipient Richard Daseke shares his heroic story
Now, as Stockman is officially retired from the Marines, he is focused on his most important mission yet: being a dad.
“We want to go camping, fishing more, do all those things we didn’t get to do,” Stockman said.
