Bolté, Charles L. (Charles Lawrence), 1895-1989

Charles Lawrence Bolté (1895-1989) was born in Chicago, Illinois. A 1917 graduate of the Armour Institute of Technology, he was commissioned in the Officers Reserve Corps and began active duty. In 1932, he finished the Command and General Staff School and graduated from the Army War College in 1937. He rose to brigadier general in 1942 and served as chief of staff of U.S. forces in the British Isles until 1943. He then rose in rank to major general and served as the 34th infantry division's commanding general from 1944 to 1946. After World War II, he was assistant chief of staff for operations and deputy chief of plans for the Army from 1949 to 1951. He was the commanding general of the Seventh Army in Europe in 1952. He retired in 1955. His honors include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart.

Charles L. Bolté was a United States (U.S.) Army officer. Beginning his career as a reserve officer in 1916, Bolte served as a captain and company commander in the 58th Infantry Regiment during WWI. Between the wars, he was stationed in Tientsin, China, and before the outbreak of WWII, he was sent to England as an observer to study war plans. Bolté commanded the 34th Infantry Division in 1944 and was instrumental in leading the breakthrough and capture of Bologna and, subsequently, Axis defeat in Italy. Various staff assignments followed the war, as well as command of the Seventh (7th) Army in Europe in the 1950s.