Ridgway's Strategic Military Prowess
"If you had looked at a situation map at the end of December, 1950, you would have seen little blue dots all over the peninsula, little isolated U.N. positions -- no sign of coherence or integrity. [Ridgway] shook all that out. He reformed a line across the peninsula from one coast to the other, and then he began a deliberate, buttoned-up offensive a step at a time: good artillery support, good air support, identify your objectives and take them." - Edwin Simmons, Marine Commander
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"They were fighting for themselves, with pride rekindled, and with a determination that they would never again take the sort of licking they had accepted a month before." - General Matthew B. Ridgway
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StrategyThe United Nations' triumph in the war is largely accredited to Ridgway's leadership skills. He never hesitated to relieve inadequate officers and even integrated all army units. Upon reorganizing the army, Ridgway began a counteroffensive. With his forces spread thin, Ridgway realized that he needed a strong front that could withstand the waves of attacking Chinese soldiers. Contrary to MacArthur's strategy, Ridgway attacked slowly and methodically, completely securing each area before moving on. Since this tactic led to the ultimate annihilation of any enemy positions, the strategy became known as the "Meatgrinder," for the massive casualties it inflicted on the Communist forces.
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Matt, you have worked not only a military miracle, but a spiritual one with this army. - Frank Pace, Secretary of the Army
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