John S. Stokes was a Chief Master-at-Arms in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient. He was born in New York on June 12, 1871. He enlisted in the Navy and had risen to the rank of chief master-at-arms when, on March 31, 1899, on board the armored cruiser USS New York he jumped overboard to assist in the rescue of a fellow sailor who was in danger of drowning. For this action he was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 29, 1899. He died on February 14, 1923, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 17, lot 20184.