Sold – Omar Bradley Expresses His Admiration For Truman As “one of our truly great Presidents”

During World War II, Bradley led the 12th Army Group, a force of four armies (the 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 15th) that numbered over 1.3 million men. The only senior American commander was his old friend, Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the war, Bradley headed the Veterans Administration for two years and is credited with doing much to improve its health care system and with helping veterans receive their educational benefits under the G. I. Bill of Rights. In 1948, President Truman named Bradley army chief of staff and the next year appointed him the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On September 22, 1950 he was promoted to the rank of General of the Army, the fifth man in the 20th century – and last – to achieve that rank. President Truman awarded Bradley the Presidential Medal of Freedom as the cap-stone to his career; it also highlighted how close their relationship had become.

Typed Letter Signed on his 5-star general’s letterhead, from his office in Southern California, June 15, 1970, to West Pointer Sergeant William Van Buskirk who was then stationed in Korea, expressing his thoughts about his former Commander-in-Chief. “What can I say about President Truman? That I cherish his friendship? Much more than that. That I admire and respect him? Much more than that. I think he is one of the finest men I have ever known, and that when the verdict of history is known, he will be considered as one of our truly great Presidents. My thoughts when I last saw him were, as always, that I was standing in the presence of courage, determination, forthrightness and complete honesty. I am proud that he has chosen me to honor with his affection and esteem and privileged to have served such an outstanding American…”