WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is working to return the personal possessions of General of the Army Omar Bradley to his family.
In January, Sen. Toomey introduced a bill that would allow the Omar Bradley Foundation, an Army-affiliated foundation in Carlisle, Pa., to return many heirlooms to his descendants. The Toomey bill passed the Senate unanimously last week.
“Omar Bradley was a great military leader and I am pleased that the Senate has approved my legislation to return his heirlooms to his family,” said Sen. Toomey. “These mementos and artifacts do not touch directly on his military actions but do tell a uniquely personal story of one of America’s greatest heroes. I hope this bipartisan bill will be signed into law as soon as possible so these items can finally be passed down to General Bradley’s descendants.”
Gen. Bradley died in 1981 and his possessions went to his second wife. She donated the items to the Omar Bradley Foundation in Carlisle. The Army subsequently identified many of the items as not being related to his military service and the Foundation wants to return those items to the descendants of the five-star general.
As a result of the donation from Mrs. Bradley, the items became official U.S. Army property. As such, current law requires that the Foundation put up for auction any items it wishes to relinquish.
Sen. Toomey’s legislation would allow for an exception to this law so that Gen. Bradley’s heirlooms can be returned to his family.
“I am most pleased that Sen. Toomey’s efforts allowed for the passage of legislation authorizing the Army to return family heirlooms, not related to General Bradley’s military service, to the descendants of General of the Army Omar N. Bradley,” said Mike Perry, Executive Director of the Army Heritage Center Foundation. “Sen. Toomey’s assistance will insure the family can retain personal treasures that remind them of one of our most distinguished Army leaders.”
Omar Bradley was a field commander of the United States Army who saw distinguished service in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and later became General of the Army. From the Normandy landings through the end of the war in Europe, Bradley had command of all U.S. ground forces invading Germany from the west. He commanded 1.3 million men, the largest body of American soldiers ever to serve under a U.S. field commander.
