Return to Pointer View home page May 21, 2004

A century of connection: Stilwell cadets prepare for graduation

Story and photo by Jim Fox
Assistant Editor

Cadets 1st Class Jacqueline Stilwell and David Bunce are second cousins and the great-grand-children of Gen. Joseph Stilwell, USMA Class of 1904.

The two Class of 2004 members each come from opposite ends of the country.

Cadets 1st Class Jacqueline Stilwell and David Bunce have rarely strayed into each other’s presence during their 47-month cadet-learning experience here. They never shared a class together and only once did they even bunk in the same building, though separated by five floors.

However, as they count down the days until graduation, the second cousins can feel a century of history bearing down and bringing them together.

It was exactly 100 years ago that their great-grandfather, Gen. Joseph Warren Stilwell, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. Stilwell and Bunce will join “Vinegar Joe” May 29, as members of the “Long Gray Line.”

The Stilwell family’s history of military service stretches back to the Revolutionary War. Jacqueline and David will become its fifth generation to have attended the academy.

“I am honored to graduate 100 years after (Gen. Stilwell) and continue what has become a family tradition,” the 22-year-old Fairfax, Va, native said. “I know that during World War I and II he was quoted for not being fond of women in the military.

“I have a feeling if he were alive today, he would be proud,” she added.

Stilwell said she would also love to share this moment with her grandfather.

“In many ways, I wish that both he and my grandfather (Brig. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, Jr., USMA 1933) knew I was following in their footsteps,” she added.

Bunce, a military arts and science major, whose mother and Jacqueline’s father (Joseph W. Stilwell, III, USMA 1960) are first cousins, said he too is honored to carry on the family tradition.

“It’s great to know I’m following in his footsteps,” the 23-year-old from Portland, Ore., explained. “It’s also amazing to learn that after graduation he went to the Philippines to fight an insurgency.

“I will most likely go to Iraq soon to do the same thing,” Bunce added.

Both cadets said it was their colorful family history that influenced them to come to West Point .

“I heard the stories about Gen. Stilwell growing up,” Bunce said. “They always impressed me and eventually inspired me to want to be an officer in the Army.

“There’s no better place to do that than West Point ,” he added.

Stilwell said the relatives and ancestors on both sides of her family made her choose an Army career.

“I loved hearing stories and looking at pictures,” she explained. “I always watched the Army-Navy game and wanted to be part of it.

“I wanted to carry on the family tradition and wanted to see if I could do it,” Stilwell added.

She did and so did Bunce as they prepare for next week’s graduation ceremony. After that, they’ll go back into separate mode as Stilwell reports to Fort Rucker, Ala., for the aviation officer basic course and Bunce reports to Fort Benning, Ga, for the infantry officer basic course.