Joseph A. McChristian
Encyclopedia
Joseph A. McChristian was a US Army Brigadier General
and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
(J2, MACV) (then commanded by General William Westmoreland
) from July 13, 1965 to June 1, 1967.
From August 5, 1968 to his retirement on April 30, 1971, he served, in the rank of Major General
, as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army.
As J2, MACV, he predicted that the North Vietnamese would attack in full force, which they did during the Tet offensive of 1968. His prediction was unpopular because the official policy was that the war was being won by the US and South Vietnamese forces.
General McChristian is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
(J2, MACV) (then commanded by General William Westmoreland
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
) from July 13, 1965 to June 1, 1967.
From August 5, 1968 to his retirement on April 30, 1971, he served, in the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army.
As J2, MACV, he predicted that the North Vietnamese would attack in full force, which they did during the Tet offensive of 1968. His prediction was unpopular because the official policy was that the war was being won by the US and South Vietnamese forces.
General McChristian is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
The Military Intelligence Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame established by the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army in 1988 to honor soldiers and civilians who have made exceptional contributions to Military Intelligence...
.