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Omar Bradley

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Omar Nelson Bradley was a prominent leader in the United States Army.

Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley

He reached the highest possible rank, known as General of the Army. This is a five-star rank held by very few people. Bradley was a key figure during World War II and the Korean War. He also served as the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position involves overseeing military policy for the entire United States. His career shows how a person can rise from poverty to lead millions of soldiers.

Bradley was born in 1893 in rural Randolph County, Missouri.

Omar Bradley Portrait
Omar Bradley Portrait

His family lived in poverty and worked as sharecroppers. They did not own a horse, a wagon, or a mule. His father was a schoolteacher who earned less than $40 a month. After his father died, Bradley worked as a boilermaker for 17 cents an hour. He originally planned to study law at the University of Missouri. However, a Sunday school teacher encouraged him to take an exam for West Point.

Omarbradleywestpoint
Omarbradleywestpoint

He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York. He graduated in 1915 with a group called "the class the stars fell on." This name refers to the many future generals in his class.

Bradley was a famous athlete while at the academy. He was a star baseball player and a talented outfielder. He even played football with Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower Football
Eisenhower Football

Although he could have played professional baseball, he chose a military career. During World War I, he served as a captain guarding copper mines in Montana.

Between the two World Wars, Bradley focused on teaching and studying. He taught mathematics at West Point and served as an instructor at the Infantry School.

US Army Infantry School instructors 1930s
US Army Infantry School instructors 1930s

During this time, George C. Marshall was an assistant commandant at the Infantry School. Marshall described Bradley as a dependable and capable officer. In 1941, Bradley became the commander of the United States Army Infantry School. While in this role, he helped develop the officer candidate school model. He also participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers, which were large military exercises.

General Bradley and General McNair
General Bradley and General McNair

World War II brought many major responsibilities to Bradley. He helped transform the 82nd Infantry Division into the first American airborne division. This meant the soldiers were trained to jump from airplanes.

He served under George S. Patton in North Africa. Later, he commanded the First United States Army during the invasion of Normandy. Following the breakout from Normandy, he led the Twelfth United States Army Group.

Collinsbradley
Collinsbradley

This group was massive, containing forty-three divisions and 1.3 million men. This was the largest body of American soldiers ever led by one field commander.

After the war, Bradley moved into high-level leadership roles. He led the Veterans Administration to support former service members. In 1948, he became the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. By 1949, he was appointed the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Louis Johnson swears in Omar Bradley as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Louis Johnson swears in Omar Bradley as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

In 1950, he was promoted to General of the Army. He was the last of only nine people to receive this five-star rank.

Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley

He remained the senior military commander at the start of the Korean War.

During the Korean War, Bradley supported President Harry S. Truman. He helped implement the policy of containment. Bradley also played a role in the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur in 1951. MacArthur had resisted efforts to limit the goals of the war. Bradley left active duty in 1953 but stayed on active retirement for 27 years. He lived until 1981, reaching the age of 88. His life remains a significant part of American military history.

OmarBradleyTombstone
OmarBradleyTombstone
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🖼️ Images & Media (61)
File:Omarbradleywestpoint.jpg
Omarbradleywestpoint.jpg
File:Group photo of the 1915 West Point lettermen.png
Group photo of the 1915 West Point lettermen.png
File:Eisenhower Football.jpg
Eisenhower Football.jpg
File:US Army Infantry School instructors 1930s.jpg
US Army Infantry School instructors 1930s.jpg
File:General Bradley and General McNair.jpg
General Bradley and General McNair.jpg
File:Churchill Shooting M1 Carbine.jpg
Churchill Shooting M1 Carbine.jpg
File:Watching operations from the bridge.jpg
Watching operations from the bridge.jpg
File:Collinsbradley.jpg
Collinsbradley.jpg
File:General Montgomery with Generals Patton (left) and Bradley (centre) at 21st Army Group HQ, Normandy, 7 July 1944. B6551.jpg
General Montgomery with Generals Patton...
File:Marshall arnold and bradley.jpg
Marshall arnold and bradley.jpg
File:LtGen Omar Bradley, LtGen George Patton, and MGen Manton Eddy.jpg
LtGen Omar Bradley, LtGen George Patton,...
File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 BU3380.jpg
The British Army in North-west Europe...

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