A Must Read Book or Grand Dad You Will Think More of Me

One of the greatest books I have ever read was "A Soldier's Story" by Omar N. Bradley. Bradley was a US General in WWII who served under Patton in Africa and Scicily and then became the top US General in European Theatres after D-Day; he was Field Marshall Montgomerery of Britain's counterpart.

Based on "Brad's" memoirs, General Bradley detailed his rise to the top and his active role to end the greatest threat of mankind. Besides practical insights into running a war such as maneuvering or the need for maintaining supply lines, Bradley went far beyond. Bradley was a soldiers soldier; down to earth with those on the front line yet in touch with the demands of being a General accountable to the World and its' leaders. Brad never once took war for what it was less or more than.

The most basic insight and most commendable to Omar Bradley's philosophy as a leader was that he was not political. Brad understood that he was a soldier who had the charge to win a war and not shape anything beyond that realm. Within that charge was the fact that he realized that soldiers lives were needed to be lost to achieve victory, though he was prudent and practical in his decisions. Omar Bradley was not one to send his troops across open ground against all odds needlessly.

Managing a war for Bradley was not just an art, but a realization that everything was at stake. Balancing every single angle was his daily duty and he performed admirably, yet he un-wavered in destroying the enemy. He was crucial to winning the war and now is hollowed in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bradley never took war or his mission for what it was less than. If it was nothing more than securing a small area he would have performed his task in the same way. The mission was important enough to lay down his and his men's lives. The sheer understanding of his duty, through his exemplification of that duty through his leadership, empowered his men to fight with the utmost vigor to win a war; to win over evil.

In today's age everything is so political that we, as citizens, forget at times that it takes the same commitment as General Bradley and his troops to get things done. By all means if one dissents against a war or engagement it is their right to do so. I believe whole heatedly that the right to do so ought not impede or hinder the ability of our armed forces to be successful in the field and send our boys home. Lives will be lost, but having sound leaders managing our troops should be an assurance that things will get done in the best possible manner.

I think that if Bradley, as if how Patton acted (that is an argument all its own), was such a Prima Donna and political as Montgomery was, things would have turned out much different. After all both Patton and Monty raced to Messina to close off the gap on the Germans in Sicily for glory/politics. Bradley just wanted to end the war for the sake of everyone as the ability as a leader. To win, period, there was no substitution besides ending the Third Reich for him.

Shouldn't that be the idea everyone should have; to win the war? That's what the military is there to do.

By far please read this book...