Omar Bundy

Omar Bundy
Born	June 17, 1861 New Castle, Indiana, U.S.
Died	January 20, 1940 (aged 78) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1883–1925
Rank	Major general
Commands held	2nd Division Philippine Division VI Corps (United States)
Battles/wars	Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal 2nd Division Medal Silver Star Légion d'honneur (France) Croix de Guerre (France)

Omar Bundy (June 17, 1861 – January 20, 1940) was a U.S. Army general who participated in the Indian Wars and the Spanish–American War in Cuba, fought in the Philippine Insurrection and the Moro Expedition, and commanded a regiment on the Mexican border. After serving in France during World War I, he was made a Commander of the French Legion of Honor.

Early life and education

Bundy was born in 1861 in New Castle, Indiana. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1883, and served on the American frontier, participating in the Indian Wars campaigns against Crow and Sioux Indians. During the Spanish–American War he fought with the 5th Army Corps in Cuba, and received the Silver Star for gallantry at the Battle of El Caney. From 1899 to 1902, he served in the Philippines during the insurrection and subsequently, after teaching law at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, participated in the Moro Expedition in the Philippines in 1905–1906. Bundy served within the United States until 1917, where he commanded a regiment on the United States–Mexico border.^[1]

Career

In 1917, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 1st Expeditionary Division, and in June he sailed for France. As a division and corps commander during World War I, he participated in the occupation of the Toulon and Troyon Sectors near Saint-Mihiel, served in the Aisne-Marne operations, and took part in the occupations of Chateau-Thierry.^[2] Following the war, he commanded Fort Lee, Virginia, the 7th Corps Area, the Philippine Division, and the 5th Corps Area.^[1]

For his services in World War I, General Bundy was awarded the French Legion of Honor, Commander, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. However, his bravery in battle has never been officially recognized by the U.S. government.

Later life and death

Bundy retired on June 17, 1925 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. Upon his retirement he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. In January 1934 president Franklin Delano Roosevelt awarded him the 2nd Division Medal.^[3] Bundy died in Washington, D.C. in 1940. He is buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife, Addie Harden Bundy (b. Knightstown, Indiana, August 31, 1860 – d. Washington, D.C., October 5, 1953).^[4]

Legacy

• USS General Omar Bundy (AP-152), launched August 1944, was named in his honor.

See also

References

1. General Omar Bundy Navy history, Department of the Navy.
2. World War I: The Belfort Ruse HistoryNet.com
3. Seventy-First Annual Report of the Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. 1940.
4. Omar Bundy Arlington National Cemetery.

External links