Description
First edition of Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway, inscribed by the author to Gen. Charles Bolte, his Vice Army Chief of Staff.
Octavo, [12], 371pp. Red cloth, blue cloth spine, title in red and gilt on spine. Stated “First Edition” on copyright page, with “C-F” date code. Dampstain to both cloth covers, limited impact to pastedowns, no impact to text block. Offsetting to endpapers from dust jacket. Numerous underlined passages throughout. In the publisher’s first state dust jacket, $5.00 retail price on front flap, two tape repairs to verso along the spine, rubbing to the spine, bright illustrations, a very good example. Gift inscription on the front pastedown, above the author’s signature.
This copy is signed by Matthew Ridgway on the front free endpaper: “To Charlie Bolte / With abiding admiration and appreciation of service shared / Faithfully, Matt / 30 April 56.”
General Charles Bolte (1895-1989) was a U.S. Army officer whose career spanned both World Wars and the early Cold War era. A 1916 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served in France with the 58th Infantry during World War I, earning the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism. In World War II, Bolte commanded the 34th Infantry Division in the Italian Campaign, leading operations at Monte Cassino and along the Gustav Line. Promoted to lieutenant general, he later served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations and in 1948 became Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army under General Ridgway.
Ridgway notes in this memoir that the two had been friends for 30 years, and that Bolte was his “alter ego…with absolute integrity, professional competence proven in combat, and the right personality” for the position. (Page 343)
