wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

12/06/08
I have just completed reading Mr. Webster's excellent book "The Burma Road". In early October, 1946, I was an 18 year old RA Army Private newly assigned to the Chaplain's Office at Letterman General Hospital in the Presidio of San Francisco. I reported to the Roman Catholic Chaplain and Director of the Office, Lt. Col. Thomas L. McKenna. Within days, I was asked by Col. McKenna to accompany him to the bedside of a very sick, important and prestigious US General . (This is what I was told).The likelyhood is that it was General Stillwell.
I was asked to place my right hand on the General's left shoulder and act as a"stand-in" for him during the conducting of the ceremony.
I have no idea as to the nature of the event; i.e., a bedside conversion to Catholicism, Catholic last rites, or a "standard" Army universal last rite for the dying.
According to your book, General Stillwell..."family gathered around him in Carmel"... which would mean that he had transferred out of Letterman to his home in Carmel sometime after October 3rd, 1946.
The Internet Biographies of General Stillwell identify his place of death at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Russell F. Vizzi