Gaither, Ridgely A Jr., born 23-02-1903 in Baltimore, Maryland, began his career as a military officer in 1924 after his graduation from St. John’s College in Annapolis. His family had included Army officers since the Revolutionary War. Before World War II, he served at various posts in this country, Alaska, then a territory and China, where he was stationed when the Japanese invaded China in 1937.
After heading the Parachute School from 1943 until 1945, he jumped with the 17th Airborne Division, nicknamed “Goldan Talons” 
east of the Rhine River, landing almost on top of a German anti-aircraft battery. In terms of casualties, the 17th suffered a total of 1,346 casualties between 24 and 29 March, when Operation Plunder came to an end The German Generalfeldmarschall der Panzertruppe, Kommandeur XXXXI Panzergruppe, Walter Model
After heading the Parachute School from 1943 until 1945, he jumped with the 17th Airborne Division, nicknamed “Goldan Talons” east of the Rhine River, landing almost on top of a German anti-aircraft battery. In terms of casualties, the 17th suffered a total of 1,346 casualties between 24 and 29 March, when Operation Plunder came to an end The German Generalfeldmarschall der Panzertruppe, Kommandeur XXXXI Panzergruppe, Walter Model
committed suicide there, because of the hopeless situation. The Americans took the position, and later, General Gaither said one group of Germans might have been taken prisoner sooner if he had not shot down their truce flag, which was so dirty he did not immediately recognize it. In addition, he said, he risked being fired upon to retrieve a dental plate in a bag he had dropped in the landing. General Lieutenant, Gaither then served briefly with the 86th Infantry Division, nickname “Blackhawk Division” 
, in the Philippines and then from 1946 until 1949 with troops on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia, becoming a member of the allied commission that established the border and serving as military governor of Trieste. Casualty figures for the 86th Infantry Division, European theater of operations, total battle casualties: 785, total deaths in battle: 161. During this period he also served as president of a War Crimes Court in Florence, Italy.Death and burial ground of Gaither, Ridgely A Jr.
Gaither died of heart failure, at the old age of 89, on 26-10-1992 and is buried with his wives, Dorothy White, born Bassford, who died age 65 on 26-12-1969 and Anne stuart, born Harcourt, who died age 69 on 29-11-1988, on the Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2. Close by in Section 2, the graves of the General, Commander 92nd “ Negro Division”, Edward “Ned” Almond, Major General, Commander 8th Bomber Command Europe, Frederick Anderson, Rear Admiral, Commander Destroyer Greyson, Frederic Bell, Navy Admiral, “Operation Crossroads”, William Blandy, General, Commander 32nd Infantry Division, Clovis Byers, Navy Admiral. Battle of the Leyte Gulf, Robert Carney, Air Force General Lieutenant, Claire Chennault, Lieutenant General, Commander 4th Corps, Italy Campaign, Willis Crittenberger Brigadier General, First African-American General, Benjamin Davis, Quartermaster Lieutenant General, John Lesesne De Witt, Major General and Head OSS, William Donovan, Brigadier General, Speck Easley, Marine Corps Major General, Commander 1st Raider Battalion, Merritt “Wild Mike” Edson, Lieutenant General, VIII Army, Robert Eichelberger, Navy Admiral, Commander Nord Pacific Fleet, Frank Fletscher and Navy Admiral, Commander VII Forces, William Fechteler, Brigadier General, “ Merrill’s Marauders “ in Burma, Frank Dawn Merrill, U.S. 4* Navy Vice Admiral, Commander U.S.S. Hornet, Doolittle Raid, Marc Mitscher.
