Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1986 Lucky Bag:

Anthony W. Stancil

Tony blinked into the Academy and left behind his hogs, dogs one, two, and three, and coon hunting. Tony was famous for his ability to utterly confuse everyone before EE tests (the rotor and the stator). He had an uncanny knack of being able to pull himself out of potential academic trouble with final exams. Tony studied SEAL tactics to figure out how to deal with his profs. He leaves us to go into Marine Corps aviation. We wish him luck. The Boys

Loss

Anthony was lost on July 27, 1990 when the UH-1N Huey helicopter he was co-piloting crashed in the Chocolate Mountain Bombing Range, about 55 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. The pilot was also lost.

There were a total of four aircraft on site when the accident occurred. Two Cobras were flying high, popping flares for illumination, while two Huey’s were attacking simulated ground targets. As the first Huey was breaking off the second Huey was rolling in hot when a mechanical failure occurred and the aircraft crashed. Both pilots were killed on impact. Three other crew members sustained moderate injuries and were medevaced to Yuma Regional Medical Center. Allen Herring, Involved

He was a member of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz: “Tony graduated from Whiteville High School in 1982. Transfer-Northampton Co. H.S.; Beta Cl. 2, 3; NHS 4; Math Cl. 4; Science Cl. 4; Band 1,2,3; Football Statistician 2; Basketball Statistician 2; Golf 1; Regional Math Comp. at UNCW 4.”

From the North County Times on August 2, 1990:

Captain Anthony W. Stancil was born in Greenville, North Carolina, on June 1, 1964. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 1986, earning a degree in engineering.

Captain Stancil was commissioned on May 21, 1986, and was assigned to The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion, he was assigned to Marine Aviation Training Support Group, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, to begin flight training. Captain Stancil successfully completed flight training and received his Naval Aviators Wings of Gold on May 20, 1988. Captain Stancil was subsequently assigned to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 for flight training in the UH-1N Aircraft On November 29, 1988, he reported for duty to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 and assumed the duties of a Squadron Pilot. Additional duties included those of Squadron Responsible Officer. Captain Stancil deployed with the squadron to Okinawa, Japan, in June 1989 and was assigned the duties of UH-1N schedule writer upon the units return. Captain Stancil was a section leader and ordnance instructor and showed great potential for additional qualifications.

Captain Stancil is survived by his parents, George and Brownie Stancil, and his brother, Scott.

He is buried in North Carolina.

Photographs

All photographs are from his high school yearbook.

Mr. Wayne King and Tony Stancil discuss a computer program on the school’s new computer.

"National Honor Society clown, Tony Stancil, entertains spectators during the Homecoming Parade."

"Named one of 12 outstanding seniors, he served as a Marshal his junior year and was a member of the NHS. His growing interest in math and science led him to take courses in Basic and Advanced Computer Programming."

Tony Stancil assists Mr. King on a program for his in-service credit class at SCC (Southeastern Community College.)  Advanced Math is strictly to antagonize the senior “preparing” for college. Incorporated with many “King jokes” it ascends into the world of trigonometric functions (never to return.)

"Tony Stancil hurriedly studies for a pop test in Mrs. Barefoot’s physics class."

Memorial Hall Error

Anthony’s headstone gives his rank as Captain; Memorial Hall has 1LT.

The Combat Helicopter & Tiltrotor Association has Captain, and also USMCR. There is no other indication he was a member of the reserves, however.