Charles L. Bolte

Charles L. Bolte

Born	May 8, 1895 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	February 11, 1989 (aged 93) Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916–1955
Rank	General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment 69th Infantry Division 34th Infantry Division Seventh Army United States Army Europe Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart

General Charles Lawrence Bolte (May 8, 1895 – February 11, 1989) was a senior United States Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. In World War II he distinguished himself as commander of the 34th Infantry Division during the Italian Campaign, for which he was twice awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Later promoted to four-star general officer rank, his final post was Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

Bolte graduated from what is today the Illinois Institute of Technology with a degree in chemical engineering. He began his military career in 1916, during World War I (although the United States was still officially neutral at this stage), when he earned a commission as a second lieutenant into the United States Army's Infantry Branch.

Two years later in 1918, after the American entry into World War I, which occurred on April 6, 1917, he shipped off for the Western Front to reinforce the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) under General John J. Pershing. Serving as a company commander in the 58th Infantry Regiment, part of the 4th Division, he saw combat in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, where he was wounded in action on September 19.