Matt Ridgway got the news of his new command while he was inspecting a forward artillery position on the Korean front. His succession to all the titles of MacArthur was as sudden and startling as his appointment to the Eighth Army's command 3½ months ago on the death of Lieut. General Walton Walker. "Oh my gosh," he stammered as he read the orders from Washington. Next day, Ridgway and his VIP visitor, Army Secretary Frank Pace, flew to Tokyo.
At 4:30 Thursday afternoon, in neat but well-worn combat fatigues, his celebrated hand grenade dangling from his paratrooper's harness, Ridgway drove toward...
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