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Vietnam War United States Army Special Forces general (1912–1966) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brigadier General Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr. (March 6, 1912 – July 25, 1966) was a United States Army general best known for his service in United States Army Special Forces and the United States Army Support Group in the Vietnam War.
Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Joseph W. Stilwell Jr. at West Point in 1933 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Jumping Joe" "Gunner Six" "Cider Joe" |
| Born | March 6, 1912 Syracuse, New York, US |
| Died | July 25, 1966 (aged 54) Pacific Ocean |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1933–1966 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | 23rd Infantry Regiment XVIII Airborne Corps United States Army Support Group United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center United States Army Special Forces Command |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (4) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (26) |
| Relations | General Joseph Stilwell (father) |
Stilwell was born in Syracuse, New York, one of five children of General Joseph Stilwell. He attended West Point, graduating in the class of 1933. Stilwell later graduated from the Army and Navy Staff College in 1945 and the United States Army War College in 1951.[1]
Stilwell served as a lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment (United States) in China in 1937. During a troop movement from Qinhuangdao to Tianjin on July 29, 1937, Stilwell's unit came into contact with a battle between Chinese and Japanese forces. Major William F. Lee, First Lieutenant Stilwell and four of their men each received the Soldier's Medal for protecting the unit and its equipment from injury and damage.[2]
During World War II, Stilwell served in the China Burma India Theater, earning his first awards of the Legion of Merit and the Air Medal.[3]
Stilwell served as commander of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1952 to 1953, earning his second award of the Legion of Merit and first award of the Bronze Star Medal.[3]
Stilwell served as commander of United States Army Support Group, Vietnam (renamed United States Army Support Command, Vietnam from March 1, 1964) from August 26, 1962, until June 30, 1964.[4]
He was a controversial figure, during the 2nd Chindit campaign he earned the ire of several successful and popular British commanders for his abrasive manners and probably cost hundreds of British soldiers their life.
Stilwell was lost at sea on July 25, 1966, when flying a C-47 to Hawaii with longtime friend and pilot Hal Grimes of Air Ferry International. Harold Fossum was the navigator. The C-47 was to continue on to Thailand; however, Stilwell was only intending to travel as far as Hawaii to increase his instrument rating qualification. The Coast Guard, USAF and US Navy (including three destroyers and the USS Yorktown) searched an area of 105,000 square miles (270,000 km2) without finding any trace of the aircraft.[5] A memorial to Brig. Gen. Stilwell was erected at the West Point Cemetery next to the gravesite of his parents.[6]
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