David Howard Stem was born on January 23, 1938 in Easton, PA and lived most of his early years in Mine Hill, Dover, NJ. Dave was proud of his German heritage. His lifelong love of chocolate pie began with his Mom’s cooking. His Dad had a cabin at the Delaware River Gap where Dave fished for eel at night and had a tasty breakfast the next morning. He was very popular in high school and won awards for excellence in both academics and athletics. His biggest desire was to go to West Point.

Dave attended West Point directly out of high school. Academics were easy and he was excused from most WGRs at term end. He was quite serious, and for three plus years he had no demerits. When serving as “room orderly,” he made his roommates fold their laundry immediately so he could not be quilled for “room out of order.” Dave was a cow corporal and an officer during firstie year. He was the L-2 lacrosse goalie cow year when it won the regimental championship and coached the West Point Lacrosse Team firstie year. He was a member of the Cadet Chapel Choir and several other clubs. Stage show music or German World War II marches often could be heard coming from his room during “Call to Quarters.” He enjoyed playing pranks and once helped fill a poncho with water, so his roomie got wet when he jumped from the upper bunk at “First Call” for supper. 

Upon graduation as a second lieutenant, Infantry, Dave served with a mechanized infantry company in Germany (1961-62). Within two years, he received a branch transfer to the Military Police Corps and an assignment as the local MP detachment commander (1962-63). Dave served with distinction in several command and staff positions: CO, 57th MP Company and deputy provost marshal (PM) at West Point (1964-67); PM, 3d Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam (1968-69); staff officer, Army CID Agency (1970-71); CO, Military District of Washington CID Field Office (1971-72); criminal intelligence officer and operations officer, 2d Region CIDC (1973-76); CO, 95th MP Battalion (1976-77); chief, Law Enforcement Division, ODCSPER DA (1977-79); CO, 2d Region CIDC (1981-84); and staff and faculty leading to Commandant, MP School, Fort McClellan, AL (1985-87). 

After MP schooling, Dave attended CGSC and was a student and faculty officer at the Army War College. He received an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University, attended the FBI National Academy and the Drug Enforcement Agency drug course, and taught criminal justice courses at Northern Virginia Community College. 

Tragically, as Dave aimed for a second star and becoming commander of Fort McClellan and commandant of the MP School, he was killed in an aircraft collision on January 20, 1987. His remains are interred at his beloved West Point.

Brigadier General Stem’s numerous accomplishments include the formation of the Military Police NCO Academy and designation by the Polygraph Institute as the executive agent for the Department of Defense. He oversaw the activation and was the first chief of the Military Police Corps Regiment, revitalized the Military Police Regimental Association, instituted Worldwide Military Police Proponency conferences, and developed force packages responsive to the Army’s needs. Dave’s superior efforts and his dedication to the units he served, the U.S. Army, and his country earned him the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army General Staff Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Dave was a great man. He was quiet and unassuming with an infectious personality, wide smile, and a broad vision willing to attack and overcome any obstacle. One colleague described him as “a most common uncommon man.” His aide said, “He was a great man and positive role model. He was visionary and brilliant, but the word care continues to remain the primary ingredient of his greatness.” The word “care” conveys volumes about Dave. With his deep sense of fairness, he truly cared and shared his blessings with so many. He was fiercely loyal to his family, the Army, those he served with, and his classmates and friends. Dave was devoted to his wife, Margaret, sons Mark and David Jr, stepson John Harrison, daughters Christine Sweetman and Yasmin Stem, and five grandchildren. He loved the troops and quickly earned their respect and admiration. 

Numerous memorials exist to honor him. A hall was dedicated to Dave at the PM Office at West Point, and a wreath-laying ceremony is conducted annually at his gravesite to pay tribute to a great soldier. The Autobahn Kaserne in Mannheim, Germany was renamed Stem Kaserne with a monument erected in his honor, later relocated to Kieber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern near the newly dedicated Stem Investigative Building. Another memorial at Fort McClellan now rests along Military Police Regimental Walkway at the entrance to Stem Village at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Stem Village trains both MP soldiers and Marines at all levels in tactical and garrison law enforcement duties. Additionally, the Brigadier General David H Stem Award is presented annually to the best MP unit in TRADOC. Brigadier General Stem was inducted into the Military Police Regimental Association Hall of Fame, and several streets and roads have been named in his honor, including one near the fatal crash site. 

Brigadier General David H. Stem, from all who respected, loved and admired you, we can only say: “Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”

— LTC(R) Jack Humes