From the S&S archives:
Ridgway inspects new M47 tank during Baumholder visit

BAUMHOLDER, June 25 (S&S) — Behind schedule upon arrival here at 3:58 pm today, Gen Matthew B. Ridgway insisted on seeing the full program arranged for him by 2d Armd Div and other 7th Army units.

But he went through a 120-minute program in 73 minutes from the time his L17 Army plane touched down at the Baumholder Military Subpost airstrip until he departed by air for a press conference in Frankfurt.

Program Outlined

Maj Gen George B. Read, Jr., CG of the 2d Armd, outlined the planned program when greeting Ridgway.

Loaded into a convoy of jeeps, the SHAPE commander and his party struck out over tank-pulverized roads of the huge military reservation's training areas.

Some battle demonstrations were viewed from his jeep, at others he dismounted briefly.

However, after a demonstration of a reinforced tank company in attack, put on by Co A, 29th Hv Tank Bn, under command of Capt Melvin Abbott, Ridgway took time out to inspect a new M47 tank. He spent 10 minutes inside the tank.

Sgt Fred Stein, of Co C, 124th Ord Bn, driver of the Co C, 29th Hv Tank Bn, tank, said Ridgway manipulated all the controls, including swinging the turret. Stein quoted Ridgway as saying "It's a fine tank."

Ridgway intended to drive the tank to the next combat display but suggestions from Gen Thomas T. Handy, EUCOM commander-in-chief accompanying Ridgway, and from Read helped persuade him to hurry on.

Col John W. Hansborough, Baumholder subpost CO, guided the Ridgway party on a 15-minute jeep tour from the demonstration area through the post back to the airstrip.

"It was worth a week's leave," Ridgway told Read.

Among those watching the demonstrations were: Lt Gen Manton S. Eddy, 7th Army CG; Maj Gen John E. Dahlquist, V Corps CG; Maj Gen Marcel Descour, CG of the French 1st Armd Div; Col John Gillington, British Army staff member of SHAPE; Brig Gen Boniface Campbell, of the V Corps Arty; Brig Gen John M. Willems, CG, 2d Armd Div Arty; Col Hamilton H. Howze, assistant commander 2d Armd Div; Col William C. Smith, of the 142d FA Gp, 7th Army; Cal John D. Hines, CO of the Nahbollenbach QM Depot;. Read; and Hansborough.

The reinforced tank company in attack was a live ammunition demonstration and was explained to Ridgway by Lt Col John F. Rhodes, battalion CO.

Eight-inch howitzers of the 756th FA Bn fired three rounds for registration while Ridgway watched.