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'''Ansel Martin Stroud, Jr.''', often called '''Buddy Stroud''' (April 5, 1927  – July 1, 2016), was a  [[United States Army]] [[major general]] from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], whose career extended from 1944 to 1997. He was particularly known as the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard during the administrations of [[governor of Louisiana|Governors]] [[David C. Treen]], [[Edwin Edwards]], [[Buddy Roemer]], and Mike Foster.

'''Ansel Martin Stroud, Jr.''', often called '''Buddy Stroud''' (April 5, 1927  – July 1, 2016), was a  [[United States Army]] [[major general]] from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], whose career extended from 1944 to 1997. He was particularly known as the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard during the administrations of [[Governor]]s [[David C. Treen]], [[Edwin Edwards]], [[Buddy Roemer]], and Mike Foster.

==Background==

==Background==

Stroud was the younger of two children and the only son of A. M. Stroud, Sr. (1890-1968), who died in Cullen in Webster Parish, and the former Grace Killingsworth (1904-1988).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Stroud&GSfn=Ansel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=95746937&df=all&|title=Ansel Martin Stroud|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}/ref>

Stroud was the younger of two children and the only son of A. M. Stroud, Sr. (1890-1968), who died in Cullen in Webster Parish, and the former Grace Killingsworth (1904-1988).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Stroud&GSfn=Ansel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=95746937&df=all&|title=Ansel Martin Stroud|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

He was reared in Dixie, an unincorporated community in Caddo Parish and graduated from nearby Belcher High School in Belcher. In April 1944, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Army. Two years later he was commissioned a second lieutenant after the completion of officer candidacy school. He attended [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Texas]],  and [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station]].<ref name=obit/>

He was reared in Dixie, an unincorporated community in Caddo Parish and graduated from nearby Belcher High School in Belcher. In April 1944, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Army. Two years later he was commissioned a second lieutenant after the completion of officer candidacy school. He attended [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Texas]],  and [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station]].<ref name=obit/>

==Career==

==Career==

Stroud received a Bachelor of Science degree from the [[University of the State of New York]] and studied as well at the Command and General Staff College in [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]], and the Army War College in Carlisle, [[Pennsylvania]]. He joined the Louisiana National Guard in June 1947. In 1962, he was named president of the National Guard Association of Louisiana. In 1989, he was appointed director of the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. He was president too of the National Guard Association of the United States and president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States.  Under Stroud, some 6,400 Louisiana National Guard personnel in 1991 were mobilized during [[Operation Desert Storm]], in which [[Iraq]]I forces were quickly expelled from [[Kuwait]]. Units under Stroud trained and participated in joint military exercises with other countries world-wide. Stroud worked to develop the Youth Challenge Program, which operating in thirty-seven states has sought to rehabilitate troubled young people and to give them the skills to render productive lives.<ref name=obit/>

Stroud received a Bachelor of Science degree from the [[University of the State of New York]] and studied as well at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, [[Kansas]], and the Army War College in Carlisle, [[Pennsylvania]]. He joined the Louisiana National Guard in June 1947. In 1962, he was named president of the National Guard Association of Louisiana. In 1989, he was appointed director of the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. He was president too of the National Guard Association of the United States and president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States.  Under Stroud, some 6,400 Louisiana National Guard personnel in 1991 were mobilized during [[Operation Desert Storm]], in which [[Iraq]]I forces were quickly expelled from [[Kuwait]]. Units under Stroud trained and participated in joint military exercises with other countries world-wide. Stroud worked to develop the Youth Challenge Program, which operating in thirty-seven states has sought to rehabilitate troubled young people and to give them the skills to render productive lives.<ref name=obit/>

In 1972, Governor Edwin Edwards in the first of his four terms in office, named Stroud the assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard. Edwards' first successor and two-time opponent, [[David C. Treen]], elevated Stroud to adjustant general in 1980. 

In 1972, Governor Edwin Edwards in the first of his four terms in office, named Stroud the assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard. Edwards' first successor and two-time opponent, David Treen, elevated Stroud to adjutant general in 1980. In 1991, Stroud spoke out for the fourth election of Edwards against [[David Duke]], the former [[Ku Klux Klan]]sman and [[Republican party|Republican]] gubernatorial candidate that year.

Stroud was also a farmer and [[business]]man and the first director of the Red River Economic Development Corporation in Shreveport, through which he worked to obtain federal grants for agencies in northwestern Louisiana. He was affiliated with the [[Masonic lodge]], the [[Shriners]], and the Ellerbe Road [[United Methodist]] Church in Shreveport.

Stroud was also a farmer and [[business]]man and the first director of the Red River Economic Development Corporation in Shreveport, through which he worked to obtain federal grants for agencies in northwestern Louisiana. He was affiliated with the [[Masonic lodge]], the Shriners, and the Ellerbe Road [[United Methodist]] Church in Shreveport.

Stroud died from complications of a medical procedure.<ref name=obit/> He is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery at 3700 St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport. Stroud described himself "a God-fearing man that did his best, and have asked for God's mercy and forgiveness."<ref name=mph>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/ex-louisiana-national-guard-adjutant-gen-ansel-stroud-dies/|title=Ex-Louisiana National Guard Adjutant Gen. Ansel Stroud dies|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Stroud won many military medals; his obituary focuses on his patriotism, which "knew no limits, and he was fully committed to the defense of the [[Constitution of the United States]] and to the defense of our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic."<ref name=obit/> General Frank Grass, the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau, attributed much of the success of the Louisiana Guard to Stroud's leadership: "He was a tremendous visionary. He just set us on the path for so many things."<ref name=mph/>

Stroud died from complications of a medical procedure.<ref name=obit/> He is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery at 3700 St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport. Stroud described himself "a God-fearing man that did his best, and have asked for God's mercy and forgiveness."<ref name=mph>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/ex-louisiana-national-guard-adjutant-gen-ansel-stroud-dies/|title=Ex-Louisiana National Guard Adjutant Gen. Ansel Stroud dies|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Stroud won many military medals; his obituary focuses on his patriotism, which "knew no limits, and he was fully committed to the defense of the [[Constitution of the United States]] and to the defense of our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic."<ref name=obit/> General Frank Grass, the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau, attributed much of the success of the Louisiana Guard to Stroud's leadership: "He was a tremendous visionary. He just set us on the path for so many things."<ref name=mph/>

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:Methodists]]

[[Category:Methodists]]