Charles L. Bolte
Era: World War I
Military Branch: Army
Charles L. Bolte
Mr. Bolte was a veteran of both World Wars.
He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at what is now the Illinois Institute of Technology in his native Chicago in 1917. Later on that year he went into active infantry duty as an officer.
In World War I, Mr. Bolte was a Company Commander and served with the 4th Infantry Division. He participated in the St. Michiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Aisne-Marne offensives.
During World War II, as a Major General, he commanded the 34th Infantry Division in Italy, leading it through the Gothic Line and the winter Apennines campaign, and in the capture of Bologne.
In 1952 and 1953, General Bolte commanded the 7th Army in the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and was Army Commander-in-Chief in post-war Europe. His final post was as the army’s number-two soldier, Army Vice Chief of Staff.
After World War II, he held a variety of senior posts, including Army Ground Forces Chief of Staff, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans. He also served as chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board.
He retired from active duty in 1955 as a four-star general and the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff.
Mr. Bolte died on February 11, 1989, in Alexandria, Virginia.
He was decorated with two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart.
Source: Washington Post, February 12, 1989 (see below)
Title of article: Gen. Charles L. Bolte Dies; Was Army Vice Chief of Staff
General Charles Lawrence Bolte, 93, a decorated combat veteran of both world wars who retired from active duty in 1955 as a four-star general and the Army’s vice chief of staff, died February 11, 1989 at Mount Vernon Hospital after a stroke. He lived in Alexandria.
During WWI Gen. Bolte was a company commander and served with the 4th Infantry Division. He participated in the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Aisne Marne offensives.
As a Major General in WWII, he commanded the 34th Infantry Division in Italy, leading it through the Gothic Line and the winter Appenines campaign, and in the capture of Bologna.
After the war, he held a variety of senior staff posts, including Army Ground Forces chief of staff, assistant chief of staff for operations and deputy chief of staff for plans. He also served as chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board.
In 1952 and 1953, he commanded the 7thh Army in West Germany and was Army commander-in-chief in Europe. His final post, from October 1953 to April 1955, was as the army’s number-two soldier, Army vice chief of staff.
His military decorations included two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart.
After retiring from active duty, Gen. Bolte settled in Alexandria. From 1955 to 1958, he was special assistant to the board chairman of American Car and Foundry Industries. He then served for a time as board chairman of the Advanced Growth Capital Corp. before retiring a second time in the 1960’s.
He also had been active in charitable work, serving in the 1950’s as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Washington area chapter’s Hope Chest Drive and as chairman of the Cancer Crusade of the Fairfax-Falls Church unit of the American Cancer Society.
Also in the 1950’s, he was elected president of the Army and Navy Club and Grand paramount Carabao of the Military Order of the Caraboa.
Gen. Bolt received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at what s now Illinois Institute of Technology in his native Chicago in 1917. Later that year, he went on active duty as an infantry officer.
Between the wars, he served in China and Germany, and graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga: the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Army War College. He also served on the faculty staff of those institutions.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, the former Adelaide Carleeton Poore, of Alexandria: three children, retired Army Brig. General Phillip L. Bolte of Burke, retired Army Col. David E Bolte of Alexandria, and Damara Bolte of Leesburg, a brother, Roswell A of Boise, Idaho; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
