Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC1273) United States Army General Officers Designating Flag Of Lieutenant-General Mathew B. Ridgeway During The Korean War Date: 1950-1952 Medium: Cotton; machine sewn Comment: Although the United States Army had used a system of identifying commanders in the field, that system identified the command echelon of the officer without specifying his rank. By World War I, the Army had adopted another flag system that merely indicated the rank of the officer flying the flag. The system employed was simple: using a plain red rectangular field, the general's rank insignia was applied in white in the center, with a single star representing a brigadier-general, two stars representing a major-general, three stars representing a lieutenant-general, and so on. This flag was used by Lieutenant-General Mathew B. Ridgeway while in command of United Nations forces on the Korean Peninsula in 1950-1952. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1273) in 1997 from the estate of General Ridgeway. The exhibition text was written by Howard Michael Madaus, Exhibition Director of the ZFC's Flag Center, utilizing Zaricor Flag Collection archives Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC1273) United States Army Officers Designating Flag Lt.-General Matthew B. Ridgeway Date: 1945 Media: Cotton, machine-sewn Comment: Although the U. S. Army had long used a system of identifying commanders in the field, that system identified the command echelon of the officer without specifying his rank. By World War I, the Army had adopted an alternative system that indicated the rank of the officer flying the flag. The scheme employed was simple: using a plain red rectangular field, the generals rank insignia was applied in white in the center, with a single star representing a brigadier-general, two stars representing a major-general, three stars representing a lieutenant-general, and so on. This flag was used by Lieutenant-General Matthew B. Ridgeway at the close of World War II, prior to his taking command of United Nations forces on the Korean Peninsula from 1950 to 1952. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1273) in 1997 from the estate of General Ridgeway. The exhibition text was written by Howard Michael Madaus, Exhibition Director of the ZFC's Flag Center, utilizing Zaricor Flag Collection archives

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 129. United States Army General Officers Designating Flag Lieutenant-General Matthew B. Ridgway This flag was used by Lieutenant-General Matthew B. Ridgway from his appointment to that rank on 4 June 1945, at the close of World War II, until taking command of U. N. forces on the Korean Peninsula as a full general in April of 1951. Although the U. S. Army had long used a system of identifying commanders in the field, that system identified the command echelon of the officer without specifying his rank. By World War I, the Army had adopted an alternative system that indicated the rank of the officer flying the flag. The scheme employed was simple: using a plain red rectangular field, the general's rank insignia was applied in white in the center, with a single star representing a brigadier general, two stars representing a major-general, three stars representing a lieutenant-general, and so on. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president of the United States from the beginning of its involvement in World War II until he died on April 12, 1945. When Congress designated certain individuals as 5-star generals or admirals, it became necessary to alter the presidential flag which then bore only four stars for the commander- in-chief. Date: 1945 1951 Size: 35.5" hoist x 40" fly Medium: Rayon; machine-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997 from the estate of General Ridgway. ZFC1273

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.