Omar Bradley

Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during the World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army.

Post-war

Bradley headed the Veterans Administration for two years after the war. He was made army chief of staff in 1948 and first official Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1949. On September 22, 1950 he was promoted to the rank of General of the Army, the fifth man in the 20th century - and last - to achieve that rank. Also in 1950 he was made the first Chairman of the NATO Committee. He remained on the committee until August 1953 when he left active duty to take a number of positions in commercial life.

Related Topics:
1948 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - 1949 - September 22 - 1950 - General of the Army - 1953

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As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Bradley strongly rebuked General Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the U.N. forces in Korea, for his desire to expand the Korean War into China. Soon after Truman relieved MacArthur of command in April 1951, Bradley said in Congressional testimony, "Red China is not the powerful nation seeking to dominate the world. Frankly, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this strategy would involve us in the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy."

Related Topics:
Douglas MacArthur - Korean War - The wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy

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He published his memoirs in 1951 as A Soldier's Story and took the opportunity to attack Field Marshal Montgomery's 1945 claims to have won the Battle of the Bulge. Bradley spent his last years at a special residence on the grounds of the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, part of the complex which supports Fort Bliss, Texas. He also served as a consultant during the making of the film Patton. Upon his death, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Related Topics:
Memoir - William Beaumont Army Medical Center - Fort Bliss - Texas - Patton - Arlington National Cemetery

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The U.S. Army's M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle are named after General Bradley.

Related Topics:
M2 Bradley - Infantry fighting vehicle - Cavalry fighting vehicle

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