

General Omar Bradley: Dwight D Eisenhower’s Indispensible Lieutenant
General Omar Bradley proved a capable subordinate to Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied supreme commander in Europe.
by Cole Kingseed
Great commanders need great subordinates. In the campaigns in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was ably served by a number of extraordinary officers, including Mark W. Clark, George S. Patton Jr., and Omar Bradley. Each of Ike’s subordinates contributed mightily to Allied victory, but in the final analysis it was the unheralded Br
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6 thoughts on “General Omar Bradley: Dwight D Eisenhower’s Indispensible Lieutenant”
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Bradley was not the “G.I. General.” He lived in luxury, played bridge with Ike while others fought the war, and he was jealous of Patton.
Patton was the best general of WWII and IKE’s promotion of the less qualified Bradley and Clark showed Eisenhower was intimidated and jealous of Patton’s success. Bradley’s plan for Normandy and Omaha Beach were disastrous. The Batt5of the Buldge also showed Bradley’s indecision. Patton aggressively moved through France and Belgium defeating the German forces at every turn. IKE’s friendship with Bradley clouded his judgment.
Patton was a very aggressive commander but was not concerned with how many of his own men were wounded or killed as long as he he could get the praise he desired above all else. He might have won the war sooner but a whole lot more Americans would have been buried in Europe. Bradley still would have won the war with or without Patton but he cared about his men more then just vain glory. We have seen recently a self loving vain commander in chief who cared only of his own glory and not at all about the American people or even democracy and how has that turned out? Are we a stronger and better country from his leadership or are we fractured and divided even more then we have been since the Civil War? Great leaders bind the country together and petty ones divided
us.
“Self-loving vain commander in chief who cared only of his own glory and not at all about the American people or even democracy and how has that turned out?” That comment didn’t age so well did it as I write this on 8/29/2021 did it. If you read throughout history and about individuals do not understand that sometimes even the vainest and vulgar of men ironically fulfill Humanity’s most divine purpose. What wisdom do you have to say that only a “Caring and Compassionate person” has the competency to complete life’s most difficult task.
My Father, Royal Budahl served with the Red Bull Division throughout their campaigns in Africa and Europe during WWII. They suffered possibly the worst casualties of any unit in American Forces. Although he too liked and respected General Bradley, he had the strongest admiration and respect for General Clark. I am very proud of my Father’s WWII service as well as all allied military forces. Very gallant men.
You’ve got that backwards. Patton cared very much for his men. He often visited the hospitals to check on his men. Sure he expected a lot out of his men but he knew that fighting harder would, in the end, help save lives. He slept in the field with his men. Bradley being brought up poor loved the lavish life and slept in nice surroundings. Patton was a great commander. Best we had. Should have been a 5 star. But politics had a lot to do with that.