Career
Bolton joined the Army from Huntsville, Alabama in July 1942, and by November 2, 1944 was serving as a first lieutenant in Company East, 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division. On that day, near the Mark river in North Brabant, the Netherlands, he was seriously wounded in the legs by a German artillery shell. Despite these wounds, he took two men and led them in a successful assault against three German positions which were firing on his company.
Wounded a second time, he ordered his two companions to leave him behind and head for the safety of the American lines.
He then crawled the rest of the way back to his company. Bolton reached the rank of colonel before leaving the Army.
He died at age 56 and was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.