Joseph W. Stilwell nació el 19 de marzo de 1883 en Florida, Estados Unidos. Estuvo casado con Winifred A. Smith. Murió el 12 de octubre de 1946 en San Francisco, California, Estados Unidos.
Four-star American army general nicknamed "Vinegar Joe" for his sour
demeanor and lack of tact (he made no secret of the fact that he detested Gen. Douglas MacArthur, considering him a poor leader, a sub-par tactician and a self-serving egomaniac). Gained fame in World War II for his campaign against the Japanese in Southeast Asia, mainly Burma. Portrayed in the Steven Spielberg film 1941 (1979) by Robert Stack.
[in 1946, about Gen. Douglas MacArthur] He got his first star in 1918 and that means he's had almost 30 years as a general--30 years of people playing to him and kissing his ass, and doing what he wants. That's not good for anyone.