Blunder or Deception? General Joseph Stilwell's Controversial World War II Leadership
General Joseph Stilwell’s suppression of intelligence reports on Japanese troop strength at Myitkyina led to controversial tactical decisions and strategic outcomes.
Here's What You Need to Know: In a scathing military commentary long after the war, U.S. Army Colonel Scott McMichael wrote, "Inexplicably, in a display of gross military incompetence, Stilwell completely failed to take advantage of this coup-de-main."
General Joseph W. “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell and his Sino-American Myitkyina Task Force (MTF), in a coup de main attack, seized the vital Japanese-controlled airfield just west of the town of Myitkyina on the great Irrawaddy River in northern Burma on May 17, 1944.