The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-20
Observations
General Omar Bradley
Excellent Choice For
Administrators Job
by HELEN EssARY

I
on the fine achievements Of the
conquering generals and admirals
OF the armed forces OF the United
States. let's settle down for four
and a half minutes and talk about
a really hard job-the job Of Vet
Grams administrator.
The new administrator, as Presi-
dent Truman announced last week,
is to be Gen. Omar Bradley. There
is a general who is a general, so
my friends in uniform tell me.
And a chore that is chore for the
general to do.
To a civilian who hadn't been
hroodiug over the matter. being
the Veterans administrator might
have the sound Of Just another APP
pointment". Maybe a cushy kind
OF a role to play. Swishing about
on parade days and giving orders
to brass hats OF lower rank and 10
grumbling clerks.
On the contrary, | am Informed,
being Veterans administrator for
the next few years is going to be
about a hundred times harder than
winning a big battle. There is not
a single pleasant feature tackled on
the Office except the all-important
one OF every ofiice-the satisfaction
OF getting results.
Getting results in the case OF the
Veterans administrator means, al
most personally. looking after the
health. morals, families and means
OF livelihood OF about 100000
restless. anxious one-time fighters
OF World War II, World War |, plus
the Spanish-American war.
What kind OF fellow is this
Omar Bradley. who has been hand
ed this back-breaking task?
The new Veterans administra-
tor is a modest man, his friends
say. He never tries TO dramatize
himself. But he has dramatized
the infantry. He's a stage mana
ger. Not an actor. He thinks in
terms of the men in his command.
Not Of the wanderful success he
will make for himself. This rare
Characteristic is one OF the many
reasons he will make a swell vet
Grams friend. He will be in the
thick Of things in the war. HIS
promise to his troops on V-Day, I'll
see YOU on the beaches" is regard
ed as one OF the classic remarks OF
the present war.
He is a good administrator, the
records say OF Gen. Omar Bradley.
He is a student. He has been at
tending recent congressional hear
ings on veteran problems. He has
the kind OF humility which only
irst-class people possess. He is
a family man. He likes his old
friends best and gets upset II they
suddenly take TO calling him gen
eral" instead Of Omar. Hes
an outdoor man. Likes TO fish and
hunt and loves dogs. The Army is
his real passion. And he hopes to
go back to 1t some day.
As Veterans administrator, Cen
eral Bradley will need these and
many more qualities. Whatever he
does will be viewed critically by
servicemen and civilians. Labor
and capital are already in a state
about the returning veteran. is,
for example, the mechanic. who has
been trained TO i'll the vacancy left
by the fighting man. to be thrown
out OF work by the returning fight
ing man who is likely to have for
gotten how to be a mechanic when
he was fighting overseas?
But the fighting man will say
you promised to keep my Job for
me when you sent me OF to kill or
be killed. Where is that job?'
Answering such questions will
be but a small lpart OF the prob
lens awaiting the Veterans Ad.
ministration. There will be none OF
the secrecy with which censorship
covers warfare to cloak the activi-
ties Of the Veterans Administra-
ton.
In the conduct OF war. headquar-
tiers, Army or Navy, many quietly
order a change in commands or
stafr. The public never knows what
has happened. But the public will
know about all the happenings
within the Veterans Administra-
ton. Omar Bradley ought TO be
given heroic encouragement. He
didn't want the post. But the Presi-
dent OF the United States said:
Garry on. Omar" Omar. like
a good soldier. obeyed. Besides,
the President OF the United States
Was inst Harry Truman apotbar