Richard A. Stoll

STOLL, Richard A., a WWII Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient who fought and was wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima, died peacefully at his Delhi home on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at the age of 95. But his family remembered him as a kind and gentle man who rarely spoke about his military service until much later in life. His daughter Linda Graviss of North Bend, Ohio, recalled stories of his youth growing up in South Fairmount. \"Dad talked about what a big event it was when the Western Hills Viaduct opened. They could walk from Fairmount over to Mohawk, where his grandparents had a saloon. And there was an ice cream store over there where they could get really good ice cream cones. He also told us about rowing a boat down Queen City Avenue during the 1937 flood.\" His son Richard, of Covedale, said, \"I wouldn't know anything about fishing or hunting if Dad hadn't taught me. He was great at spotting rabbits in the brush. Even after he pointed them out sometimes I still couldn't see them. He could spot one and get it with a clean shot before I knew what happened. When he was a boy, he would go rabbit hunting up on Bald Knob. He put a lot of food on their table during the depression.\" His daughter Janice Weston of Delhi recounted memories of going to the Father-Daughter Dance at Our Lady of Angels High School. \"We went to dinner at the Gregory Steakhouse with some of my friends and their fathers and to the dance. Dad made it a really special evening. And he always wanted to take care of us and make us feel safe.\" His daughter Sally Stoll of Delhi remembered him as a gentle man who loved animals. \"He tucked me in, squeezed my toes and told me he loved me every single night until the age of 22 when I left home. After he retired, he came over to my house every day to take my dog Casey out while I was at work.\" He told his beloved late wife Aggie that she reminded him of a largemouth bass he'd caught, fully intending it as a compliment, although she didn't always take it that way. Mr. Stoll was in the first wave of Marines who landed at Iwo Jima, as a member of C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Regiment, 5th Division. He served under Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, who was killed on Iwo Jima. In a November 8, 2006 Price Hill Press article, Mr. Stoll spoke about Sgt. Basilone, saying he didn't have to go to Iwo Jima, but he volunteered to do so. \"He was proud of us. He called us his boys.\" During a cigarette break from a distance far out on the island, he saw both the first and second flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi, which was captured in the iconic photograph by Joe Rosenthal. Twenty-five days into the battle, Mr. Stoll was hit by shrapnel. In a March 22, 1995 Price Hill Press interview he said, \"It was in the morning and we were going down this narrow road. We could see the ocean. We were kidding each other. Then, all of a sudden there was an explosion.\" He was wounded in the leg and shoulder. Two other men from his platoon were killed in front of him. He was evacuated to Guam and then Honolulu for treatment. After recovering he returned to active duty in Japan. \"He didn't talk much about his service when we were growing up and we really didn't understand when we were little how much he went through. We just knew he had this funny hole in his shoulder that we could poke our fingers into,\" said his daughter Linda. \"But it stayed with him. My brother's middle name is John, in honor of Sgt. Basilone.\" In 2009, Mr. Stoll went on a veterans Honor Flight to Washington D.C., accompanied by his son. \"Dad really enjoyed visiting the monuments, especially the Marine Corps Memorial, and talking with other veterans who experienced what he did.\" Mr. Stoll was graduated from Roger Bacon High School in 1938. After returning from the war he worked for the US Post Office. Mr. Stoll is survived by his children Linda (Dave) Graviss, Janice Weston, Sally Stoll, and Richard (Jennifer) Stoll, his grandchildren David (Kendra) Davis, Erin (Rob) Jennings, and Rick Davis, and six great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Agnes, grandson Michael Davis, son-in-law David Weston, and brothers George and Robert. Visitation will be held at B. J. Meyer Sons Memorial Center, 4841 Glenway Avenue (next to St. Teresa Church) on Thursday, July 9 from 8:00AM to 10:00AM, followed by Mass of Christian Burial 10:30AM at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1175 Overlook Avenue. Donations in his memory may be made to Honor Flight Tri-State, Headquarters, 8627Calumet Way, Cincinnati, OH 45249. www.bjmeyer.com