Matthew Bunker Ridgway was born at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on 3 March 1895 *** graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1917 *** was commissioned a second lieutenant in April, a first lieutenant in May, and a temporary captain in August 1917 *** was a company commander and adjutant of the 3d Infantry, 1917-1918 *** was instructor in Spanish and athletics executive at West Point, 1918-1924 *** was promoted to permanent captain, 1919 *** graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning and served with the 15th Infantry in China and the 9th Infantry in Texas, 1925-1927 *** served on the American Electoral Commission in Nicaragua and the Bolivia-Paraguay Commission of Inquiry and Conciliation, 1927-1929 *** married Margaret Wilcox, 1930 (divorced 1946) *** served with the 33d Infantry in the Canal Zone, 1931-1932 *** was technical adviser to the governor general of the Philippines, 1932-1933 *** was promoted to major, October 1932 *** graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, 1935, and the Army War College, 1937 *** was assistant chief of staff, G-3, of Sixth Corps Area, Second Army, and Fourth Army between 1935 and 1939 *** served in the War Plans Division of the General Staff, 1939- 1942 *** was promoted to lieutenant colonel, July 1940, and to temporary ranks of colonel, December 1941, brigadier general, January 1942, and major general August 1942 *** commanded the 82d Airborne Division in operations against Axis forces in Sicily Italy, and France, 1942-1944, and the XVIII Airborne Corps in European operations, leading to Germany's surrender, 1944-1945 *** was promoted to temporary lieutenant general, June 1945 *** commanded the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander there, 1945-1946 *** married Mary Anthony, 1947 *** was representative of the United States to the United Nations Military Staff Committee and chairman of the Inter- American Defense Board, 1946-1948 *** was commander in chief, Caribbean Command, 1948-1949 *** was deputy chief of staff for administration, 1949-1950 *** commanded the Eighth Army against Communist forces in Korea, 1950-1951 *** was promoted to general, May 1951 *** was American and Supreme Allied Commander in the Far East, 1951-1952 *** was Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, 1952-1953 *** was chief of staff of the United States Army 16 August 1953- 30 June 1955 *** dealt with postwar demobilization, training of the South Korean Army, strengthening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, establishment of a NATO line of communications, potential crises in Indochina and Formosa, and the effects of budget cuts upon the Army's capability to carry out its mission *** retired from active service, June 1955 *** resided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until death, 26 July 1993. From: COMMANDING GENERALS AND CHIEFS OF STAFF, 1775-1982, William Gardner Bell, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1983 Transcribed and edited by: Larry W. Jewell jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu