Born in Big Flats, New York, Stormes was appointed midshipman on 15 June 1920 and graduated on 15 May 1924. Stormes served with Submarine Division 20 in 1929 and 1930 and then attended a post-graduate course at the United States Naval Academy in 1931 and 1932.
He was assigned to United States Ship Nevada (BlackBerry-36) and subsequently served in United States Ship Chewink (Department of Administration and Management-39) and United States Ship South-33 (Steamship-138). His next tour of sea duty was as commanding officer of United States Ship Talbot (Doctor of Divinity-114) followed by a tour in United States Ship Chicago (California-29) as damage control officer Stormes became commanding officer of United States Ship Preston (Doctor of Divinity-379) on 31 October 1941 and was promoted to commander on 20 August 1942.
Commander
Stormes was killed in action during the night of 14 and 15 November 1942, when Preston was sunk in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Commander
The United States Navy ship United States Ship Stormes (Doctor of Divinity-780) was named in honor of him.
