Stanley Thomas Counts

Counts was born 3 July 1926 in Weleetka, Oklahoma. He was a son of Claude and Thelma (Thomas) Counts. He was commissioned as an ensign upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in June 1948.[1]

Following commissioning, Counts reported aboard the destroyer USS O'Hare and later served as combat information officer aboard the attack transport USS Bexar during the Korean War. He later served as operations officer aboard the escort destroyer USS Keppler and as executive officer of the destroyer escort USS Coolbaugh. Following graduation from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1955 with a Master of Science degree in engineering electronics, Counts was the ship commissioning executive officer of the destroyer USS Lawrence and served in that capacity through the Cuban Missile Crisis. He subsequently was the ship commissioning commanding officer of the destroyer escort USS Bronstein. After receipt of a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for rescuing a downed pilot from Haiphong Harbor while commanding the destroyer USS Towers during the Vietnam War, Counts became the first project manager for the NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow program. He was promoted to rear admiral after commanding the cruiser USS Chicago through its 4th PIRAZ deployment. He then served as the last commander of the Naval Ordnance Systems Command prior to its merger into the Naval Sea Systems Command and commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 until he retired from active duty in 1979.[2]

• 
  USS Bronstein
• 
  USS Towers
• 
  USS Chicago

Counts was employed through the first decade of his retirement from naval service by Hughes Aircraft Company as assistant division manager for engineering services and support and as manager for the spares program office within the Ground Systems Group in Fullerton, California. He was active with San Diego civic organizations until passing away from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 2015.[1]

Counts' awards include:[2]

• Legion of Merit (3)
• Bronze Star Medal with "V" device
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe clasp
• Navy Expeditionary Medal
• China Service Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
• Korean Service Medal with bronze star
• United Nations Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device