Bradley, Omar Nelson (1893-1981)

US general in World War II. In 1943 he commanded the 2nd US Corps in their victories in Tunisia and Sicily, leading to the surrender of 250,000 Axis troops, and in 1944 led the US troops in the invasion of France. His command, as the 12th Army Group, grew to 1.3 million troops, the largest US force ever assembled.

Born in Clark, Missouri, Bradley graduated from West Point 1915 and served in World War I. After World War II, he headed the Veterans Administration 1945-47, was chief of staff of the US Army 1948-49, and was the first chairman of the joint chiefs of staff 1949-53. He was appointed general of the army 1950 and retired from the army 1953. He wrote his memoirs in A Soldier's Story 1951.