General of the Army Omar N. Bradley and his wife Kitty moved from California to quarters at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in 1977 and lived there until his death. He chose to make El Paso his home because he wanted to live near soldiers, within the sound of Army bugle calls, and because of El Paso’s climate. Their home had previously housed the hospital’s commander. Omar N. Bradley was the last of the handful of World War II generals who achieved the five-star rank of General of the Army. Because five-star general officers remain on active duty throughout their lives, he and his staff also maintained an office at William Beaumont. Beyond his reputation as a brilliant Army officer, he was known as “the GI’s General” because of his compassion for his soldiers. He died on April 8, 1981, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, after which Kitty Bradley returned to California. The historic flagpole that stood in front of his office had originally been erected at William Beaumont General Hospital Headquarters, constructed in 1921. In 1972 the original hospital was replaced by the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center, and the flagpole was moved to its present location in July 2001.