Lot 408: Omar Bradley

Omar Bradley
War-dated ALS signed "Brad," one page both sides, 8 x 10.5, January 17, 1944. Letter to Major General John P. Lucas, written from Headquarters in New York. In part: "I understand you are having a nice warm winter down there on the flat plains of Italy where there are nice bridges across all the streams. I also hear that the Germans have quit using mines. Such ideal conditions must make fighting a real pleasure. As you know, we are doing our fighting on paper right now. It will be nice when we can get on with the show and take a more active part. I hear rumors about your getting another command. Congratulations. Sorry we are not going to be along side each other. Maybe we will be when our attacks converge. Keep up the good work and I will meet you in Berlin." In fine condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, and a bit of mild toning. Accompanied by the original free franked mailing envelope, addressed in Bradley's hand to Lucas, franked "Free" in the upper right, with Bradley's signature appearing in the return address area "O. N. Bradley, Lieut Gen." Also accompanied by an unsigned candid photo of Lucas talking to General Mark Clark, with a notation on the reverse stating that the photo was taken at Anzio Harbor on D-Day.As Bradley was writing this letter, General John Lucas was preparing to command his Corps in Operation Shingle, an Allied landing in Anzio, Italy, intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an attack on Rome. The initial landing took place on January 22 and achieved complete surprise with no opposition, but Lucas failed to capitalize on the element of surprise by delaying his advance to prepare for an expected counterattack. While he did so, German troops moved in, gaining a clear view of every Allied position, stopped the drainage pumps, and flooded the reclaimed marsh with salt water, forcing entrapment and threatening an epidemic. It was under these "ideal conditions [that] make fighting a real pleasure," that Lucas' Corps fought inconclusively for a month before the commander was relieved and sent home. As Lucas was leaving combat after his disappointing performance, Bradley was anxious to get involved: "As you know, we are doing our fighting on paper right now. It will be nice when we can get on with the show and take a more active part." His "fighting on paper" would soon become the very real action of the Normandy landings on D-Day, an affair for which Bradley is evidently quite eager. This fantastic letter from the General of the Army just months before his big day, is packed with enthusiastic anticipation for the coming fight.