Y3201

Distinguished Americans

General Joseph  W. Stilwell

Collins Cover Announcement 

General Joseph W. Stilwell

"Vinegar Joe"

General Stilwell spent most of World War II as Chiang Kai-shek's chief of staff in China and as commander of U.S. forces in China/Burma/India. He had one of the toughest assignments of any World War II general as he was responsible for keeping China in the war against Japan while, at the same time, commanding three separate theaters of war - each of which was a separate political entity with interests that conflicted with the others.

He had a brusque, no-nonsense manner which earned him the nickname of "Vinegar Joe." Stilwell established training centers in China to improve the combat efficiency of the Chinese army as they battled the Japanese. While working directly with the Chinese government, he also had responsibility for representing United States and British interests in the area. Perhaps his best single achievement was to keep U.S. supplies moving to a besieged China. At first he used the famous Burma Road, and after that route was cut by the Japanese, he founded the Ledo Road (later known as the "Stilwell Road") to funnel supplies to China via India.

The Asian contributions of this U.S. general during World War II were instrumental in achieving the ultimate allied victory. I am pleased to offer this hand painted cachet as a tribute to "Vinegar Joe" General Joseph W. Stilwell. Item #Y3201 - $12.50.