About Our Chapter

This chapter's mission is four-fold:

• Support the Soldiers of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, located at the historic Presidio of Monterey.

• Foster positive relations and community involvement between the local community and DLI.
• Provide a forum for educational and social interaction between Soldiers, Civilians, Retirees and family members.
• Educate members and prospective members about our chapter and the Association of the United States Army. 

Recent Awards

The Stilwell chapter was recently awarded two AUSA chapter awards and two streamer awards for outstanding performance during the 2004-2005 business year.  These awards were presented to Chapter President Ronald E. Kruse by 6th Region President COL (ret.) Dave Appling and California State President MG (ret.) John Crowe during a General Meeting on November 15, 2005.  Our chapter was lauded by AUSA as both a Merit Chapter and a Star Chapter.  Also awarded during the meeting were an Army Birthday streamer and the Lewis & Clark streamer.  Additionally, the chapter presented NCO of the Quarter and Soldier of the Quarter awards to SGT Swearingen and SPC Smith.

Biography of a Legend:  General Joseph W. Stilwell

Our chapter is named in honor of General Joseph W. "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell.   A 1904 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, GEN. Stilwell served in World War I as an intelligence officer for the Fourth Army Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding achievements.

GEN. Stilwell was the military attache at the U.S. Embassy in Peking from 1935 to 1939 and became fluent in Chinese.  Named chief of staff to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in 1942, GEN. Stilwell was the senior American military commander in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II.  Nicknamed "Vinegar Joe," in part for his blunt candor, he was known for his willingness to share the hardships of the common soldier.  They called him "Uncle Joe."

When Japan forced the Allied withdrawal from Burma in May 1942, GEN. Stilwell, at age 59, led a group of some 100 soldiers and civilians on a daring 140-mile march through the Burmese jungle and safely into India.  He later commanded U.S. and Chinese forces in the reconquest of Burma.

GEN. Stilwell received his fourth star on August 1, 1944, the same month Allied troops reclaimed northern Burma.  He was constantly at odds with Chiang Kai-shek over the use of Chinese forces, which eventually led to his removal at Chiang's request in October of 1944.  CBI was split into the China Theater of Operations (CTO) and the India-Burma Theater (IBT).  The Ledo Road was opened in January 1945 and together with a portion of the improved Burma Road was renamed Stilwell Road at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek.

Following CBI, GEN. Stilwell was assigned as commander of the Tenth Army in Okinawa and was training his troops for the invasion of Korea when the atomic bombs ended the war in August of 1945.  Later in 1945 he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Oak Leaf cluster of the Distinguished Service Medal.  In 1946 he was appointed commander of the Sixth Army in charge of Western Defense Command.  He died October 12, 1946 in San Francisco, California.  He is remembered as one of America's great generals.

General Stilwell died on October 12, 1946 in San Francisco.  His ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.