Fort Bliss in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
"General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Flagpole"
Omar N. Bradley was the last of the handful of World War II generals who achieved the five-star rank, General of the Army. Because five-star general officers remain on active duty throughout their lives, General Bradley and his staff also maintained an office at William Beaumont. Besides his reputation as a brilliant Army officer, General Bradley was known as “the GI’s General,” because of his compassion for his soldiers.
General Bradley died on April 8, 1981, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Kitty Bradley returned to California following his death.
This historic flagpole, which stood in front of General Bradley’s office, had been erected at William Beaumont General Hospital Headquarters, constructed in 1921. In 1972 the original hospital was replaced by the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The flagpole was moved to its present location in July 2001.
Major General (U.S. Army, Retired) and Mrs.
John B. Oblinger
Commanding General, Fort Bliss, 1979-1982
Erected by Major General (U.S. Army, Retired) and Mrs. John B. Oblinger.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 31° 49.333′ N, 106° 25.73′ W. Marker is in Fort Bliss, Texas, in El Paso County. Memorial can be reached from Marshall Road, 0.7 miles north of Cassidy Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker and subject flagpole are located on Fort Bliss Army Base, near the Fort Bliss & Old Ironsides Museum entrance. The museum is generally open to the public during normal business hours, after gaining clearance and access through the main gate. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1735 Marshall Road, El Paso TX 79906, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mexican War Refugee Camp (here, next to this marker); AH-1F COBRA Attack Helicopter (within shouting distance of this marker); V2 Rocket (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pearl Harbor Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Building 1372 (approx. half a mile away); Building 1355 (approx. half a mile away); Second Expansion Period Group (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Post Hospitals (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Bliss.
Also see . . .
1. World War II: General Omar Bradley. In February 1948, Bradley was appointed Army Chief of Staff to replace the departing Eisenhower. He remained in this post only eighteen months as he was named the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on August 11, 1949. With this, came a promotion to General of the Army (5-star) the following September. Remaining in this position for four years, he oversaw US operations during the Korean War and was forced to rebuke General Douglas MacArthur for wishing to expand the conflict into Communist China. (Submitted on January 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Gen. Omar N. Bradley dead at 88; last of Army's five-star generals. Besides General Eisenhower, three other men in the history of the United States have attained the title of General of the Army: Henry H. Arnold, Douglas MacArthur and George C. Marshall. John J. Pershing was awarded five stars and the title ''General of the Armies'' by an act of Congress in 1919. The only other man to have held that rank was George Washington. (Submitted on January 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on January 4, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.