▁western ▁Europe ▁and ▁served ▁pre domin antly ▁in ▁the ▁Rh in eland ▁campaign . ▁Upon ▁his ▁dis charge , ▁he ▁was ▁decor ated ▁with ▁an ▁American ▁Def ense ▁Service ▁Medal , ▁European - A fr ican - Middle ▁Eastern ▁Camp aign ▁Medal , ▁and ▁Good ▁Con duct ▁Medal . ▁ ▁While ▁leaving ▁the ▁military , ▁Sto kes ▁met ▁B ess ie ▁Lee ▁Knight , ▁his ▁future ▁wife , ▁of ▁Camp ▁Hill , ▁Alabama ▁when ▁she ▁was ▁att ending ▁T usk eg ee ▁Institute . ▁Army ▁records ▁indicate ▁that ▁he ▁was ▁married ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁of ▁his ▁dis charge ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁So on ▁after , ▁they ▁moved ▁to ▁Kansas ▁City , ▁Missouri , ▁where ▁Sto kes ▁was ▁employed ▁as ▁a ▁part - time ▁auto ▁mechan ic . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁they ▁moved ▁once ▁again , ▁to ▁W au k eg an , ▁Illinois ▁where ▁he ▁found ▁temporary ▁employ ment ▁as ▁a ▁pipe ▁and ▁sheet ▁metal ▁worker . ▁ ▁Between ▁late ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁Sto kes ▁was ▁employed ▁as ▁an ▁order ly ▁at ▁the ▁Chicago ▁V eter ans ▁Administration ▁Hospital , ▁specifically ▁in ▁the ▁T uber cul osis ▁San it arium . ▁It ▁was ▁during ▁this ▁time ▁that ▁he ▁first ▁saw ▁the ▁negative ▁health ▁effects ▁of ▁the ▁city ' s ▁poll ution . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁he ▁left ▁the ▁hospital ▁and ▁found ▁work ▁at ▁B rule ▁Inc ., ▁an ▁inc iner ator