Charles W. Ryder

Charles Wolcott Ryder

Nickname(s)	"Doc"
Born	January 16, 1892 Topeka, Kansas, United States
Died	August 17, 1960 (aged 68) Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1950
Rank	Major General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Division IX Corps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Purple Heart World War I Victory Medal American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Order of the Bath
Relations	Charles W. Ryder, Jr. (Son)

Major General Charles Wolcott Ryder CB (January 16, 1892 – August 17, 1960) was a senior United States Army officer who served with distinction in both World War I and World War II.

Born in Topeka, Kansas in mid-January 1892 and was a Topeka High School graduate. In 1911 he entered the United States Military Academy (USMA), at West Point, New York. He graduated four years later as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch of the United States Army as part of the West Point class of 1915, also known as "the class the stars fell on". Among those he graduated with were Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, James Van Fleet, Joseph T. McNarney and many others who, like Ryder, would also attain general officer rank. Ryder's first assignment was with the 30th Infantry Regiment and, later, was on border duty near Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He then served with the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in New York and, by the time of the American entry into World War I he was a company commander in the 16th Infantry Regiment.