General Richard G. Stilwell

General Richard G. Stilwell served as Acting Commander of the US Army, Pacific from September to December of 1974. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1917, he attended Brown University before graduating from West Point in 1938 with a commission into the Corps of Engineers. He subsequently attended the US Army War College.

During World War II, Stilwell participated in the Normandy invasion, and briefly served under General Patton immediately after the war during the occupation of Europe. From there he was a special military advisor to the US Embassy in Rome before serving in the Central Intelligence Agency. During the Korean War, Stilwell commanded the 15th Infantry Regiment, and was a senior advisor to the I Republic of Korea (ROK) Army Corps. In Vietnam, General Westmoreland appointed Stilwell as his Chief of Staff.

Major commands for General Stilwell include Commander of the US Military Assistance Command, Thailand (MACTHAI) from 1965-1967. From there he commanded the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1967-1968. After his return to Vietnam, Stilwell commanded the XXIV Corps from 1968-1969. He later served as Commanding General, Sixth US Army, at the Presidio from 1972-1973, followed by Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command in Korea.

Other significant assignments for Stilwell were Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force in Vietnam during 1968, and Deputy Chief of Staff for US Military Operations at the United Nations from 1969-1972. His major awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and numerous foreign decorations.