Richard Stilwell; Former Commander in Korea

Gen. Richard G. Stilwell, former commander in chief of U.S. forces in Korea, has died, the Army said. He was 74.

Stilwell, who retired from the Army in 1976, died Wednesday of cardiac arrest at Fairfax County Hospital in suburban Virginia.

He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. He also was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, where he later served as commandant of cadets.

From 1949 to 1952, he served as chief of the Far East Division of the CIA and later took command of a regiment in Korea, where he remained until December, 1953. Twenty years later, Stilwell was named commander in chief of the U.N. Command in South Korea, as well as commander in chief of U.S. forces there and commander of the 8th Army.

He served in that post for three years, longer than any of his predecessors, the Army said in the statement announcing his death.

Stilwell served twice in Vietnam, the first tour in 1963 when he was appointed chief of staff to Gen. William Westmoreland, and the second in 1968 when he assumed command of troops in the northern provinces of South Vietnam.

His army career spanned 39 years. In 1981, he returned to the government to work four years as a deputy under the secretary of defense. He was president of his own consulting firm based in Virginia.

Stilwell’s decorations included the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and Purple Heart, as well as awards from foreign governments, including Vietnam, Greece, Italy, Belgium, France, Russia, Thailand and South Korea.