On March 3, 1895, Matthew Ridgway was born at Fort Monroe, VA. Ridgway graduated from West Point in 1917, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regiment while the Regiment was stationed at Camp Eagle Pass, TX. In the Old Guard he commanded a company, before being recalled to West Point as an instructor the following year.
As Ridgway’s career progressed his commands included:
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82d Airborne Division
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XVIII Airborne Corps
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Eighth Army
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United Nations Forces-Korea
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Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Topping off his military career, Ridgway was named Army Chief of Staff in 1953 until he retired in 1955. Ridgway was featured on the cover of Time magazine three different times (April 2, 1945; March 5, 1951; July 16, 1951).
Ridgway died in July 1993 and was laid to rest by members of his first command in Arlington National Cemetery (Section 7, Grave 8196-1).
Old Guard History 