Charles L. Bolte

Charles L. Bolte
General Charles L. Bolte
Born	May 8, 1895(1895-05-08)
Died	February 11, 1989(1989-02-11) (aged 93) Virginia
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916-1955
Rank	General
Commands held	U.S. Army, Europe 69th Infantry Division 34th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart

General Charles Lawrence Bolte (May 8, 1895 - February 11, 1989) was a U.S. Army general and World War I and World War II veteran.

Military career

Bolte graduated from what is today the Illinois Institute of Technology with a degree in chemical engineering.^[1] He began his military career in 1916 when he earned a commission in the Army as a second lieutenant. Two years later, he shipped off for France and saw combat in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive as a member of the 58th Infantry, 4th Division.

Bolte returned to the United States as a captain in 1919, completed the Infantry Advanced Course at Fort Benning in 1930, and graduated in 1932 from the Command and General Staff School. Bolte completed his education at the Army War College and remained there as an instructor until 1940.

In 1941, Lieutenant Colonel Bolte journeyed to London as head of a group of Army observers and, early in 1942, assumed the position of Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces in the United Kingdom. As a major general, he commanded the 69th Division in 1943 and then, in July 1944, took over the 34th Infantry Division in Italy, guiding it through successful actions, including the drive through the Apennine Mountains and the capture of Bologna. Bolte earned two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart for his exploits.

Bolte served in Washington after the war and in 1953, as a lieutenant general, became Commander in Chief, U.S. Army, Europe. Later that year, General Bolte returned home to serve as Army Vice Chief of Staff under General Matthew B. Ridgway. Bolte retired from active service in 1955.

Post military

Following retirement, he worked as special assistant to the chairman of the board of American Car & Foundry Industries from 1955 to 1958. He then became Chairman of the Board of Advanced Growth Capital Corporation, retiring from this in the 1960s. He was also active in charitable work, and served as President of the Army & Navy Club.^[1] He died February 11, 1989 at Mount Vernon Hospital, Virginia, after a stroke, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal
	World War I portal
	World War II portal

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Arlingtoncemetery.net entry

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "[1]".

Military offices
Preceded by Manton S. Eddy	Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe April 1, 1953 to September 29, 1953	Succeeded by William M. Hoge
Preceded by Manton S. Eddy	Commanding General of the Seventh United States Army August 1952 to April 1953	Succeeded by William M. Hoge
Preceded by Gen. John E. Hull	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1953 – 1955	Succeeded by Gen. Williston B. Palmer

Persondata
Name	Bolte, Charles L.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army general
Date of birth	May 8, 1895
Place of birth
Date of death	February 11, 1989
Place of death	Virginia