Joseph Warren Stilwell

Stilwell, Joseph Warren (1883–1946), U.S. commander of the Allied forces in the Far East in World War II, sometimes referred to as “Vinegar Joe” because of his acerbic comments. Driven back to India by the Japanese in 1942, he rebuilt his forces and counterattacked through Burma to China (1943–4). He was recalled in 1944 after disagreeing with Chiang Kai-shek, under whom he was serving. An excellent history of his era is recounted in Stilwell and the American Experience in China (1971) by the historian Barbara Tuchman.

See also: World War II.