Ridgely Gaither
| Ridgely Gaither | |
|---|---|
Ridgely Gaither as commander of the 11th Airborne Division in 1952
|
|
| Born |
February 23, 1903 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Died |
October 26, 1992 (aged 89) Annapolis, Maryland |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1924–1962 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant General
|
| Commands held |
Army Parachute School 82nd Airborne Division 11th Airborne Division 40th Infantry Division XVIII Airborne Corps U.S. Army Caribbean Command Second United States Army
|
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
| Other work | Annapolis, Maryland Police Commissioner |
Ridgely Gaither was a United States Army lieutenant general prominent as commander of the 40th Infantry Division during the Korean War, and commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, U.S. Army Caribbean Command and Second United States Army.
Gaither was born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 23, 1903 to a family which has included Army officers since the American Revolution and is the namesake of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Gaither graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry in 1924.
Gaither served in positions of increasing responsibility and rank, including assignments in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and China. He graduated from the Infantry Officer Course in 1933 and the Command and General Staff College in 1939.
An early advocate of using paratroopers in offensive military operations, from 1943 to 1944 Gaither commanded the Army Parachute School, receiving promotion to brigadier general.
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