Cherishing the memory of the late parachutist general

The memories of the 1950-53 Korean War, while upheld stoutly in history, fade a little by the day in people's minds. But a majority of octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians in Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere who lived during the period of the Korean War can remember Gen. Matthew Bunker Ridgway (1895-1998). He served as the third Commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, in between his predecessor Walter H. Walker and his successor James A. Van Fleet. Ridgway later succeeded Gen. Douglas MacArthur as Supreme U.N. Commander in the Pacific theater.

Ridgway was chosen as the recipient of the 23rd Korea-America Friendship Award for 2025 at the annual function sponsored by the Korea-America Association in Seoul on Nov. 5.

Ridgway served during the fierce combat of the Korean War, from December 1950 through April 1951. His most outstanding service came during that period. Through Ridgway’s successful strategic operations, named "Thunderbolt," "Killer" and "Ripper," he victoriously retook Seoul and managed to trap 300,000 hostile Red Chinese forces and North Korean troops roughly 70 miles south of Seoul. He took a great risk by giving up key territory, gambling that by cutting through the enemy’s supply lines, the hostile forces would be forced to expend their supplies of food and ammunition.

Ridgway’s had a service record as a battle-hardened paratrooper, even while surrounded by enemies, during World War II in Western Europe and the Mediterranean theaters. His reputation for courage, innovation, boldness and leadership, established through a long string of victories, made Ridgway highly regarded by MacArthur, Gen. Omar N. Bradley and Gen. George C. Marshall. As a seasoned 55-year-old, the West Point graduate was a resilient, respected counter-offensive combat leader.

As a legend who served in several key posts and was swiftly promoted to the 19th U.S. Army Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C., he gained the nickname “Old Iron Tits” for his habit of wearing hand grenades attached to his service vest at chest level. Ridgway is cherished for salvaging the U.N. efforts during the five-month span of his assignment to the Korean War battleground. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

It was amazing to see Ridgway’s great granddaughter Julia A. MacKnight join the ceremony, accompanied by her 5-year-old daughter Aubrey Ruth R. MacKnight, to memorialize their ancestor's brilliant accomplishment 75 years ago. His descendants’ visit to the site of his historic victory, the Jipyeong-ri battle memorial site in Gyeonggi Province, was very meaningful. Guided by Korea-America Association members, it took place the day before the memorial event.

Upon congratulating two on their ancestor's achievements, it is appropriate to emphasize the traditional slogan of the Eighth Army, “forward deployed and combat ready.”

The writer (wkexim@naver.com) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul, writing since 1967.