Bruce Stoney

Bruce Stoney’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Bruce Stoney (ASN: 1870522), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 371st Infantry Regiment (Attached), 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ardeuil, France, 29 September 1918. With three other soldiers, Private Stoney crawled 200 yards ahead of our lines under violent machine-gun fire and rescued an officer who was lying mortally wounded in a shell hole.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 1896, Allendale, SC, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: African American
  • Death: 21 July 1935 Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [Medical Detachment]
  • Infantry Regiment: 371st
  • Division: 93rd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Bruce Stoney was born to Stephen Stoney (1860-?) and Susan Fields (1860-?) in Allendale, South Carolina on an unknown month/day in 1896; he was the third of four children, Mamie (1884-?), Frank (1895-?) and Lucelle (1901-?). The family lived in Allendale, where Stephen Stoney farmed rented property.

In the 1910s, Bruce Stoney worked as a bottler for the Denmark Coca Cola Bottling Company in Denmark, South Carolina.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Stoney enlisted in the U.S. Army on 23 February 1918 from Bamberg County, South Carolina. Private Stoney was initially assigned to Sanitary Detachment, 371 Infantry, 186 Brigade, 93rd Division, leaving Newport News, Virginia aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship President Grant on 7 April 1918. Private Stoney was re-assigned to Medical Detachment, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, AEF before the Fall of 1918. Stoney received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Ardeuil, France on 29 September,

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Bruce Stoney (ASN: 1870522), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 371st Infantry Regiment (Attached), 93d Division, A.E.F., near Ardeuil, France, 29 September 1918. With three other soldiers, Private Stoney crawled 200 yards ahead of our lines under violent machine-gun fire and rescued an officer who was lying mortally wounded in a shell hole.”

Private Stoney and his Company left Brest, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Leviathan on 3 February 1919, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey on 11 February. Stoney was Honorably Discharged on 11 March.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Stoney’s whereabouts in the early 1920s are unknown. In 1924, he married Bertha Leola Walker (1900-1993) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple moved to New York in the 1930s, living in Central Harlem (211 W 146th St.) where Stoney worked as a porter.

It is unknown if Stoney and his wife were together upon his death of Hypertensive Cardiovascular Renal Disease (Cardiac and Renal Failure) on 21 July 1935- Stoney’s sister, Lucille, is stated as the informant, and his marriage status is listed as ‘single’. Stoney is buried in Philadelphia National Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Interestingly, Bertha Walker Stoney is buried in Calverton National Cemetery with a stone reading, “Wife of Stoney, Bruce, Pvt, WWI”, who is situated in Philadelphia National Cemetery.