Hervey Stockman was born on February 24, 1922, in Andover, New Jersey. He attended Princeton University for two years before enlisting in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on September 17, 1942. Stockman was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on August 30, 1943. He was assigned to the 504th Fighter Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group in England during World War II, flying the P-51 Mustang. During the war, Lt Stockman was credited with destroying 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and flew 68 combat missions before leaving active duty and joining the Air Force Reserve on November 5, 1945. He then attended the Pratt Institute of Art Shool, where he majored in Industrial Design, followed by work at General Motors as an automotive design stylist. Stockman was recalled to active duty on April 1, 1951, and was assigned to the 561st Fighter-Escort Squadron of the 12th Fighter-Escort Wing (later redesignated the 561st Strategic Fighter Squadron and the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing) at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, where he flew F-84 Thunderjets until May 1953. Stockman then transferred to the 522nd Strategic Fighter Squadron of the 27th Strategic Fighter Wing, also at Bergstrom, where he served until January 1956, when he became one of the six original U-2 pilots, flying clandestine CIA missions over the Soviet Union between 1956 and February 1958, including the very first mission over the USSR on July 4, 1956. He next flew F-102 Delta Daggers with the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland, from February to July 1958, followed by duty with the 482nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, from July 1958 to February 1961. Stockman next attended Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from February to July 1961, and then served with the 1141st Special Activity Squadron at Ramstein AB, West Germany, from July 1961 to August 1964. He served with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California, from August 1964 to December 1966, when he began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at DaNang AB in the Republic of Vietnam. Col Stockman was made commander of the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron at DaNang in May 1967, and he was forced to eject From his F-4 Phantom II over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War while flying his 310th combat mission on June 11, 1967. After spending 2,093 days in captivity, Col Stockman was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He recovered from his injuries at Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews AFB until August 1973, when he began Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. After graduating in August 1974, Col Stockman served with NATO in Europe followed by service as Director of Joint Test and Evaluation with the Air Force Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, where he retired from the Air Force on December 31, 1978. Hervey Stockman Flew West on February 22, 2011, and was buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation reads:

Lieutenant Colonel Hervey S. Stockman distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F4C Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 11 June 1967. On that date, Colonel Stockman successfully protected five flights of F-105 aircraft from hostile attack while they were delivering ordnance on an important military target in this dangerous and highly defended area. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Colonel Stockman has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.