Thoughts on war: US General Bradley on the life expectancy of an infantry soldier (Published on 29/07/2025)
General Omar N. Bradley, born on 12/02/1893, in Clark, Missouri, died on 08/04/1981, in New York City, was one of the leading commanders of the US armed forces in North Africa and Europe during World War II. Among other things, he commanded the 1st US Army during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
In his book “A Soldier’s Story” (1951), he comments on the life expectancy of an infantry soldier as follows (ibid., p. 320 f.):
“Only the 82d Division had taken its objective but it possessed an uncommon incentive the other units lacked. Upon completion of that mission, Ridgway’s troops were to be returned to England. Incentive is not ordinarily part of an infantryman’s life. For him there are no 25 or 50 missions to be completed for a ticket home. Instead the rifleman trudges into battle knowing that statistics are stacked against his survival. He fights without promise of either reward or relief. Behind every river, there’s another hill …. and behind that hill, another river. After weeks or months in the line only a wound can offer him the comfort of safety, shelter, and a bed. Those who are left to fight, fight on, evading death but knowing that with each day of evasion they have exhausted one more chance for survival. Sooner or later, unless victory comes, the chase must end on the litter or in the grave.”
(Head picture: Grave crosses at the US military cemetery in Hamm/Luxembourg,
September 2024)
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