Carmel's legendary war hero, General Joseph Stilwell, died fifty years ago after serving as the commander of American forces in the China Burma India theater of World War Two. Some long time Carmel residents say that the brilliance and spirit of the general did not just end in October l946 when he succumbed to stomach cancer at age 64.

That spirit was honored locally last month to a capacity crowd at the Monterey Institute of International Studies by the showing of a recent documentary on the general's illustrious career. The film's producer, the Chinese Consul General, 92 year old China expert Dr. Claude Buss, and various family members delivered tributes to the former Carmelite whose home still stands on Inspiration Way, not far from Tor House.

Among those most inspired by the general's spirit of cooperation towards the Asian people, is Marjorie Wurtzman of Carmel. A friend of the general's and his wife Winnie, Marjorie and her husband Fritz were for decades active in Carmel's cultural heritage. Fifty years ago Mrs. Stilwell confided in the Wurtzmanns by recalling a trip she and the general made to the home of Mrs. Becker on San Francisco's Twin Peaks.

Becker was a spirit medium, the head of a small church in that city. The general was skeptical, to say the least, of seances and ghost stories, even though they were a popular part of the Taoist lore that the Stilwell family learned in the thirties when they lived in Peking. Some Taoist spirits were said to be the specters of former generals, now serving as protectors for those who most venerate them, and scrolls depicting such spirit generals were common in Taoist temples.

"Vinegar Joe" Stilwell's hard edged skepticism softly dissolved in Mrs. Becker's darkened living room. At first he heard the swish of silken robes as a spirit approached him, kowtowing three times on the floor before him -- a Manchu sign of respect. Then the Stilwells heard the clear voice of a general who Stilwell had known from his days in China, a Taoist general killed fighting the Japanese invaders. As Stilwell had personally known this patriotic Manchu, his dialect and his distinct voice, he was amazed to hear it recount times the two men had shared long ago.Detailed recollections of military events that the two men had observed were recalled, and inquiries were made into the activities of family members known by both. Both Stilwell and his closest aid, General Dorn of Carmel, had been recognized in China as the reincarnations of patriotic Chinese heroes who had died after courageously serving their people. The Manchu ghost honoring Stilwell, it seems, was between incarnations, and still eager to serve his homeland.

After Joseph Stilwell's ashes were tossed to the wind currents above Carmel Beach, his wife invited Marjorie and Fritz Wurtzmann to accompany her to Mrs. Becker's home one evening. A highly skeptical Fritz heard the voice of Becker's deceased little girl, Molly, greet him in the darkness then introduce him to his own mother who fondly spoke with the exact German accent Fritz heard while growing up. She lovingly called him Fredl, a name no one else used when addressing him, and she recalled his loving home life long ago.

Then Molly walked up to Winnie and introduced her to the general. Mrs. Stilwell was widely recognized in Carmel as an exceptionally bright woman who "telepathically" communicated with her beloved husband when he was away fighting Japanese fascism. He, in turn, would clearly visualize her in their home on Inspiration Way, sending loving messages of his own. Her "intuitions" would receive these messages, along with well-written letters that were later published after his death.

Thus Winifred was well aquatinted with his peculiar vocal mannerisms, pet phrases, and specific references to the activities of their five children. The compassionate tone of his voice she recognized from decades of helping him solve a myriad of ordinary problems, and his final messages to her reflected the depth of insight for which he was renowned. Marjorie and Fritz listened attentively to the Stilwell's converse for a half an hour, and they two recognized his distinct voice and gentle humor.

The general spoke so fondly of his beloved Carmel that little Molly, in her high piping voice, blurted out that she wanted to go to Carmel -- asking Winnie if she could ride back with them. "Good idea," the general chuckled. Then the Stilwell's closed by expressing their affection, using intimate terms singular to their extraordinary love and loyalty to one another.

On the drive back to Carmel, Fritz sat behind the wheel while his wife and Winnie talked eagerly about their core spiritual beliefs and about what had transpired that evening, Far past midnight Fritz stopped for coffee, then the two sleepy women got back in the car and were mostly quiet during the last part of the long drive south.

Then from the dark back seat, Molly's cheery voice greeted them with "Hello!" Goose bumps rose from all three, their eyes widening in amazement. "Did you hear that?" Fritz whispered, and the two women nodded.

Today Marjorie recounts with a sparkle in her still youthful eyes "So it seems Molly got to visit Carmel after all." Mrs. Stilwell also sensed visits from her invisible husband, setting a place for him at the table and confiding her inner most thoughts to him in very private moments. These final messages between the two lifelong lovers became part of the family's complex legacy, underlining their firm belief that life does not begin and end at birth and death, but rather, it is more complex, mysterious, and magical, than anyone realizes.