Joseph A. McChristian

Joseph Alexander McChristian (October 12, 1914 – May 13, 2005) was a United States Army Major General and the assistant chief of staff for intelligence, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (J-2, MACV) (then commanded by General William Westmoreland) from July 13, 1965 to June 1, 1967. As J-2, MACV, he predicted that the North Vietnamese would attack in full force, which they did during the 1968 Tet offensive. His prediction was unpopular because the official policy was that US and South Vietnamese forces were winning the war.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Miami, Florida, McChristian enlisted in the Army on July 2, 1933. He was subsequently appointed to the United States Military Academy, earning a B.S. degree in 1939. McChristian later graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1951 and the Army War College in 1955.

Military career

During World War II, McChristian served with the 10th Armored Division in Europe earning a Silver Star Medal and four Bronze Star Medals.

From 1949 to 1950, McChristian was a member of the Joint Military Assistance Group in Greece. During the Korean War, he served on the faculty at the Military Academy. After learning Greek, McChristian returned to Greece as Army attaché from 1956 to 1960. From 1960 until 1962 he commanded the Armor Training Center. After that he became a member of the Staff of the Department of the Army where he served in the Intelligence Branch. Between 1963 and 1965 he was the G2 for the US Army, Pacific. The following two years he served in Vietnam as Chief of the J2 (Intelligence) Department of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

Between July 1967 and July 1969 he commanded the 2nd Armored Division. Afterwards until his retirement on April 30, 1971, he was assistant chief of staff for intelligence in the Department of the Army.

McChristian received two Distinguished Service Medals and the Legion of Merit. He is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

Personal

McChristian was the son of Robert Lee McChristian Sr. (February 14, 1888 – September 9, 1955) and Lillian (Alexander) Stone (August 28, 1892 – September 28, 1971). They were married on June 7, 1910 in New York City, but were divorced in 1929. The family moved to Chicago after their first son was born, and then to Miami after their third son was born. McChristian's older brother Robert Lee McChristian Jr. (August 1, 1912 – August 22, 1995) worked in the sport fishing industry and invented a fishing reel mechanism, while his younger brother Stanley Earl McChristian (February 10, 1918 – June 18, 2018) was a World War II veteran and retired Air Force major.

After his death in Jupiter, Florida, McChristian was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on July 29, 2005. His wife Dempsie Catherine (Van Fleet) McChristian (August 15, 1918 – April 1, 2013) was interred beside him eight years later. She was the daughter of General James A. Van Fleet.