General Omar Bradley was famously humble, quiet, and low-key; so how did he become a household name during the Second World War? It was largely due to the writings of war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Shortly after the successful Sicily campaign, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower instructed Pyle to “go discover Bradley.” The result was a series of articles in Life Magazine. Pyle wrote of Bradley’s strong commitment and care for his soldiers, nicknaming him the “Soldier’s General,” which made Bradley immensely popular on the home front.
Sadly, celebrating Bradley’s legacy has waned with the passage of time.
The goal of the “Go Discover Bradley” website project is to provide a gateway to this famous Missourian for younger generations in our own state, the country, and even the world. The website will be the conduit to learn about Bradley’s military achievements and unique leadership style. We plan to work with the Eisenhower Presidential Library, the Truman Library, the Winston Churchill Museum as well as the Highway 36 “Way of American Genius” to foster cultural heritage tourism.
An interactive, thorough compilation of digital media will encourage students of all ages to explore World War II history.
Understanding General Bradley, his leadership style, his influence on the United States military, as well as his contributions to the post-war era, can help us understand our shared history as well as our own unique abilities. His legacy sparks new inspiration for generations to come.
The General Omar Bradley Memorial, Library, and Museum non-profit is dedicated to preserving and promoting Bradley’s many leadership contributions to the United States. Like Ernie Pyle’s newspaper and magazine articles, the “Go Discover Bradley” website project aims to re-introduce General Bradley using today’s media.
