Years of service 1933-1966 | Name Joseph Stilwell, | |
Nickname(s) "Jumping Joe or Gunner Six" Born March 6, 1912New York ( 1912-03-06 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War IIKorean WarVietnam War Awards Combat Infantryman BadgeSoldier\'s MedalDistinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit (2 awards)Bronze Star (4 awards, one for Valor)Purple Heart (2 awards)Air Medal (26 awards) Died July 25, 1966, Pacific Ocean Commands held 7th Infantry Division, China Burma India Theater | ||
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 US Army Support Group in the Vietnam War.
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Early life
He was born in Syracuse, New York, one of five children of General Joseph Stilwell. He attended West Point class of 1933.
Military career
He served as a Lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment (United States) in China in 1937.
He served as commander of US Army Support Group, Vietnam (renamed US Army Support Command, Vietnam from 1 March 1964) from 26 August 1962 until 30 June 1964.
Death
He was lost at sea on 25 July 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 (CV-10)) searched an area of 105,000 square miles without finding any trace of the aircraft.