Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr.


Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr. 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

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.

Military career

Stilwell served as a lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment in China in 1937.
Stilwell served as commander of United States Army Support Group, Vietnam from August 26, 1962, until June 30, 1964.

Death

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 searched an area of 105,000 square miles without finding any trace of the aircraft.

Awards and decorations