Matthew Bunker Ridgway (1895 - 1993)

Born 3 Mar 1895 in Fort Monroe, Elizabeth City, Virginia, United States

Died 26 Jul 1993 at age 98 in Fox Chapel, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Matthew Ridgway is Notable.

General Matthew Bunker Ridgway (March 3, 1895 – July 26, 1993) was a senior officer in the United States Army, who served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1952–1953) and the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1953–1955). He fought with distinction during World War II, where he was the Sixth Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, leading it in action in Sicily, Italy and Normandy, before taking command of the newly formed XVIII Airborne Corps in August 1944. He held the latter post until the end of the war, commanding the corps in the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Varsity and the Western Allied invasion of Germany.

Ridgway held several major commands after World War II and was most famous for resurrecting the United Nations (UN) war effort during the Korean War. Several historians have credited Ridgway for turning the war around in favor of the UN side. His long military career was recognized by the award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 12, 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, who stated that: "Heroes come when they're needed; great men step forward when courage seems in short supply." ^{[1] [2]}

See also: 82nd Airborne Division Commanders

Notable Assignments

War Plans Division - 24 December 1941 to 19 February 1942

Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Infantry Division - 19 February 1942 to 26 June 1942

Commander, 82nd Airborne Division - 26 June 1942 to 27 August 1944

Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps - 27 August 1944 to October 1945

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean - October 1945 to 1946

US Army Representative to the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations - 1946 to 1948

Commander, Caribbean Command - 1948 to 1949

Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration - 1949 to 24 December 1950

Commander, Eighth United States Army - 26 December 1950 to 11 April 1951

Commander, United Nations Command Korea - 12 April 1951 to 12 May 1952

Commander in Chief, Far East Command - 12 April 1951 to 12 May 1952

Commander, United States European Command - 1 June 1952 to 10 July 1953

Supreme Allied Commander, NATO - 1 June 1952 to 14 August 1953

Chief of Staff, United States Army - 17 August 1953 to 30 June 1955

Sources

1. ↑ Arthur, Billy A., Obituary: General Matthew Ridgway, The Independent, 1993-08-10
2. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-general-matthew-ridgway-1460281.html

See also:

• Wikipedia: Matthew Ridgway
• Wikidata: Item Q494930, en:Wikipedia