Gen. Omar Nelson Bradley (1893 – 1981): ‘The G.I. General’

Omar Nelson Bradley, graduate of West Point, Class of 1915, and gentleman of integrity, was the last of the five-star generals and was “America’s foremost battle leader” during World War II.

He was born in a three-room log house near Clark, Mo., on Feb. 12 (Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in 1809), 1893.

His father, John, was a schoolteacher who walked six miles one way to his teaching responsibilities. On one of those dreary and cold winter days he contracted pneumonia and never recovered, dying at 40. Thus, Omar, at just 14, assumed many more household responsibilities. The Bradley family, at that time, was “poor – very poor.”

The Bradley family was one of faith, and now I quote from his autobiography, “A General’s Life,” published by Simon and Schuster, NY, 1983:

“We walked to the Church of Christ every Sunday, wearing our finest clothes. But in our home there was no grace at mealtime, no Bible reading or other religious overtones. However, both my parents were clearly devout and their faith was strong. They lived a Christian life in every sense of the phrase, and by their example imparted a strong faith to me.” (page 20)

Omar was raised with two first cousin sisters whose mother died, and he also had an infant brother who died of scarlet fever at the age of 2. There were no other children.

Omar enjoyed sports and played sports in school, and as he began preparing for college, his Sunday School superintendent encouraged him to apply for an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

He applied, received an appointment, and entered West Point in 1911. While there he lettered in football and baseball, was a classmate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and graduated with the Class of 1915 as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

In 1916 he married Mary Quayle of Moberly, Mo., and they had one child, Elizabeth.

Omar served in World War I, but did not serve overseas. World War II was where he served with utmost dedication and distinction as a military leader who identified with the soldiers he commanded. Thus, he became known as the “Soldier’s General” or “G.I. General.”

He successfully commanded a division, a corps, an army and group of armies (the 12th U.S. Army Groups), “the largest body of American soldiers ever to serve under an on-field commander.” 

Omar Bradley was: mild-mannered and quiet, distinguished, professional, effective, fair, honest, compassionate (particularly toward the soldiers under his command), and a gentleman of sincere faith in God.

He was one of America’s best soldiers and an outstanding military role model. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Peace!