Richard G. Stilwell

General Richard Giles Stilwell (February 24, 1917 – December 25, 1991) served as Commander, United States Forces Korea from 1973 to 1976, and Acting Commander of the U.S. Army, Pacific from September to December 1974. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1917, he attended Brown University before graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1938 with a commission into the Corps of Engineers. He subsequently attended the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 Stilwell included Commander of the U.S. 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 United States 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.

After retiring from the military, he served as U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy from 1981 to 1985

As a Brigadier General, General Stilwell was Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. while General Westmoreland was Superintendent during the early 1960s.