(Ridgway, Matthew) | A significant group of artifacts and memorabilia from General Ridgway's tenure as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, including his command in the Korean War

(Ridgway, Matthew)

A small archive of manuscripts, photographs, and military notices relating to General Matthew Ridgway's appointment as Supreme Allied Commander in the Far East (1951–1954)

"Guest Register office of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers," 18 April 1951 to early 1952(?), large 4to blank book (318 x 288 mm) bound in brown calf and gilt-lettered on front cover, plain endpapers, gilt edges; extremities a bit scuffed. 34 pages at front accomplished with the signatures and affiliations of military, diplomatic, and civilian (including journalists) visitors to headquarters, including representatives of Great Britain, Korea, China, Italy, France, Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Spain, The Philippines, and Indonesia, and more; as well as high-ranking officers of all branches of the United States Military and numerous U.S. Senators and Congressmen [with:] 6 Army Signal Corp press photographs (190 x 205 mm) of Generals Ridgway and MacArthur in Korea, January–April 1951, with official captions and credits attached; together with 6 other photographs, mostly of Ridgway [and:] A broadside manuscript birthday card (382 x 258 mm) for Ridgway "from All Ranks at Headquarters, Louveciennes, 3 March 1953," the borders decorated with the flags of the fourteen Allied Powers and signed by representatives of the 20 departments under his command.

An insightful archive of ephemera from General Matthew Ridgway's appointment as Supreme Allied Commander Europe—known most for his efforts in championing the United Nations amidst the Korean War.

Graduating from West Point in 1917, Matthew Bunker Ridgway became one of the most distinguished U.S. Army officers of the twentieth century. In 1939, George Marshall assigned Ridgway to the War Department General Staff, where he remained until the United States entered World War II. He was given command of the 82nd Airborne Division and led the paratroopers during the invasion of Sicily and the allied landing at Normandy. During the Korean War, and by now a lieutenant general, Ridgway revitalized the Eighth Army, and, after President Truman relieved Douglas MacArthur of command, was promoted to general and became the United Nations commander in April 1951. In May 1952, he replaced Eisenhower as supreme commander of NATO forces. The present guest register and other items in this lot come from this pivotal period in Ridgway's career. Ridgway was named army chief of staff in 1953.