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Stilwell, Joseph Warren "Uncle Joe"

Date of birth:
March 19th, 1883 (Palatka/Florida, United States)
Date of death:
October 12th, 1946 (San Francisco/California, United States)
Service number:
0-1912
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Military career:

15 June 1904: Second Lieutenant
3 March 1911: First Lieutenant
1 July 1916: Captain
5 August 1917: Major
26 August 1918: Lieutenant Colonel
6 May 1919: Colonel
14 September 1919: Captain
1 July 1920: Major
6 May 1928: Lieutenant Colonel (permanent)
1 August 1935: Colonel (permanent)
1 July 1939: Brigadier general
1 October 1940: Major General
25 February 1942: Lieutenant General
1 September 1943: Major general
1 August 1944: General

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit:
4th Army Corps, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1919
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Joseph Warren Stilwell (ASN: 0-1912), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, 4th Army Corps, during the St. Mihiel offensive, and later during the operations in the Woevre, Lieutenant Colonel Stilwell displayed military attainments of a high order. With great energy and zeal he pursued the developments of the enemy activities on the corps front, securing invaluable information which assisted in a marked degree to the planning of the operations. He contributed by the excellent performance of his task to the success of the operations.

War Department, General Orders No. 78, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2
Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant General
Unit:
China-Burma-India Theater (CBI), U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1943
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant General Joseph Warren Stilwell (ASN: 0-1912), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous bravery in action while in command of the Chinese Forces in Burma during the Spring of 1942. General Stilwell's presence and personal example in an exposed position in the front lines of a Chinese division on 23 April 1942, inspired the unit to a renewed effort which resulted in the capture of Taunggyi. While at this position, General Stilwell was exposed to concentrated rifle, machine gun and mortar fire which inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese troops in the immediate vicinity. On 28 April, while visiting the entire front of two Chinese divisions, he spent considerable time with one of them and, while on the ground, directed the readjustment of the forces. During the entire campaign he personally directed operations in positions which were subjected to continuous enemy aerial strafing and frequent air bombardment, with utter disregard for his own personal safety. General Stilwell's outstanding example of courage and leadership in direct contact with the enemy prolonged, at a critical time and place, the resistance of the forces of the United Nations against a better armed and determined enemy, who still maintained the powerful impetus of initial assault against the Allied forces.

War Department, General Orders No. 3
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant General
Unit:
Tenth Army, U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1945
Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
General Joseph Warren Stilwell (ASN: 0-1912), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, TENTH Army, at Okinawa in 1945.

This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leave to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant General
Unit:
Tenth Army, U.S. Army
General Joseph Warren Stilwell (ASN: 0-1912), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, TENTH Army, at Okinawa in 1945.
Legion of Merit - US Military
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1946

1st class
Combat Infantryman Badge
Philippine Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With 1 Bronze Star
American Defence Service Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With 1 Silver Star and Oak Leaf
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

Sources