Omar N. Bradley

Omar N. Bradley was born on February 12, 1893 in Clark, Missouri, USA as Omar Nelson Bradley.

Graduated from the US Military Academy (West Point). Later graduated from the Army's Infantry school, Command and General Staff school, and the Army War college. [1915]

Between 1929 and 1941, was chief of the Infantry school's weapons section, commandant of West Point, and secretary of the general staff in Washington D.C..

Sees battle for the first time in his 31 years in the military when he becomes deputy commander of US II Corps under Gen. George S. Patton. At the time he was a brigadier general. [1943]

(15 August 1945-1949) Head of the Veterans' Administration.

Succeeded Dwight D. Eisenhower as Army Chief of Staff. [February 1948]

Appointed chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. [August 1949]

Promoted to General of the Army (five-star general). Only four other generals have achieved this rank: Henry H. Arnold, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur and George C. Marshall. An act of Congress stipulates that five-star generals and admirals can take an extended leave of absence to lead a civilian life, but cannot retire. This means that from the time Bradley entered West Point until the time of his death, he served over 69 years on active duty, longer than any other soldier in US history. Since his death, no other US general or admiral has received a fifth star. [September 1950]

He was an actor and writer, known for Patton (1970), Never Wave at a WAC (1953) and Big Town (1950). He was married to Kitty Buhler and Mary Elizabeth Quayle.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 93-97. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, 1992.