Joseph W. Stilwell Jr.

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Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr.
File:Joseph W. Stilwell, Jr. USMA class of 1933.png
Joseph W. Stilwell Jr. at West Point in 1933
Nicknames"Jumping Joe"
"Gunner Six"
"Cider Joe"
Born(1912-03-06)March 6, 1912
Syracuse, New York, US
DiedJuly 25, 1966(1966-07-25) (aged 54)
Pacific Ocean
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
Service years1933–1966
RankBrigadier General
Commands23rd Infantry Regiment
XVIII Airborne Corps
United States Army Support Group
United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center
United States Army Special Forces Command
ConflictsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal (4)
Purple Heart (2)
Air Medal (26)
RelationsGeneral Joseph Stilwell (father)

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.

Early life and education

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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]

Military career

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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]

Death

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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]

Awards and decorations

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File:U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster
File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
File:Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and Valor device
Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster
File:Air Medal ribbon.svgFile:Award numeral 2.pngFile:Award numeral 6.png Air Medal with award numeral 26
File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster
File:China Service Medal ribbon.svg China Service Medal
File:American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg American Defense Service Medal
File:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal
File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
File:Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg Korean Service Medal
File:Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal
File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg United Nations Korea Medal
File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
File:US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif Master Parachutist Badge

References

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